My favorite quote:

"The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is now"

A few applications to the accounting profession

Cloud Tech

Most accountants are not using cloud apps

People are opinionated here and nuance is often overlooked. Regardless, have an understanding of both

I ran a workshop here on general cloud tech https://twitter.com/JStaatsCPA/status/1335614714462654464

A timely example: the latest COVID legislation

A lot of folks with gnarly Januarys have been waiting this one out

Here are some resources to get you started: https://twitter.com/JStaatsCPA/status/1346215424216719360?s=20

Manual payroll processing

Online systems like Gusto won't do everything. The right pick(s) depend on the makeup of your client base

That said, take the time to understand how it works

Here's a Gusto demo account: http://app.gusto-demo.com/demo_account 

Manual 1099 processing

When you're short for time, you do what you've always done

Get an understanding of how http://tax1099.com  and http://track1099.com  work, and you can speak to the pros & cons of each approach

Value billing

First - You have permission to bill hourly

Second - Identify areas in your practice where you can adopt value billing at a micro-scale

Doesn't mean it will take over everything you do, but you learn it by doing it. @ignitionapp puts out the best content here

Video

Nobody likes watching themselves on video. That's normal

But for the same reason that clients don't say 'ew I'm uncomfortable' when you sit down in front of them, they won't be put off by your videos

It's a journey, start small https://twitter.com/JStaatsCPA/status/1296614440381460480

Email Marketing Tools

One of the highest-impact tools to adopt

These allow you to channel your clients through a standardized process via email, automating countless follow-ups

Again, start small https://twitter.com/JStaatsCPA/status/1297964361848442881

Human nature is to feel uncomfortable when you aren't on-trend

Often times this is a barrier to education, and the inclination is to dig in

It can stem from the misconception that 'if only you knew about xyz you'd do this'

The flipside is to approach it as simply an educational journey

You expose yourself to what's out there to be better equipped to advise your clients

It doesn't mean you'll be on-trend, but you will find great confidence in knowing you don't have blind spots