Once upon a time . . .

. . . there was a businessman who worked long and hard to provide for his family and their lifestyle. Each year, soon after his financial year end, he would gather together all his ledgers and papers and rush off to see his accountant . . .

. . . and every year his accountant would report that he had made much the same profit, and that his tax bill would be similar to last year.

The businessman looked quietly at his accountant, tired of this annual slog, and asked "How is it some people seem to grow bigger businesses, make more money and have a better lifestyle - and I just stay the same? I work long hard hours, and this year I’ve worked longer and harder than ever - and yet I remain stuck at this level?"

The accountant reminded him of last year’s meeting, when he asked the same question, and the answer, as last year, was simply "You need to do things differently and do them better. The world changes, and so must you. If, every year, you do the same things, then the results will surely be the same?"

After a long, thoughtful, pause the businessman asked the accountant "Can you show me how to do things differently, and how to do things better?"

"Certainly, I can," replied the accountant, who was different to most other accountants because he specialised in Business Development, "but only if we start now, and don’t let yet another hard year go by before you ask me the same question again next year."

. . . so the accountant and the businessman had a planning session, made many decisions about matters the businessman had never previously thought important, and set in place an action plan. The businessman became excited about the potential unveiled by the accountant, and by the ways of doing things differently and doing them better.

The businessman now looked forward to his accountant visiting on a regular basis to ensure that he was keeping to the plan - he found strength in the objective advice and in discussing matters new. The Key Performance Indicators set in place were monitored at every meeting, and the next stage put in hand. Turnover began improving, as did the margins. Then, as planned, additional staff were needed - and the business got busier and busier - and it grew and it grew - and . . .

This financial year end, the businessman had no need to rush off to see his accountant - he already knew the answer, and he was well pleased. The long hours had become a thing of the past, and holidays again became a reality. He had improved his business and got back the life his business had previously taken over.