Last week, I had the pleasure of retreating to a manor house in the middle of the English countryside to spend the day with accounting professionals of all sizes.
They had gathered for the mastermind session of my accounting community, ProNation https://jointhenation.co.uk/
The agenda was wide-ranging: from the practical realities of using AI in everyday accounting, through to the leadership steps required to progress a junior to senior manager and beyond and the personal wealth potential of firm owners; including the correlation between ambition, authority and career status.
As always, I reminded myself of the “two ears, one mouth” principle. Or, as Stephen Covey put it: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
And so, I listened.
Familiar Concerns
I heard echoes of long-standing issues that plague practice owners:
- Minimalist Management – The temptation to do just enough to keep the firm profitable, rather than aiming higher.
- Fear of AI – Anxiety over competing with resource-rich firms once AI is fully embraced.
- Leadership Disconnect – Misalignment between staff expectations and leadership intentions, worsened by hiring complexities.
Encouraging New Attitudes
Alongside the familiar came new, refreshing themes:
- A Desire to Self-Educate – Firm owners wanting to expand their commercial understanding and build competence for a stronger future.
- A Will to Restructure – The realisation that firms must be reshaped to protect profitability and shield against external threats.
These two gave me hope. They show a shift towards growth, resilience and genuine leadership.
Proactivity: No Longer Optional
As we look towards 2026, one truth is undeniable: proactivity is now non-negotiable.
Owning a practice isn’t about owning a job. It’s about creating prosperity. For yourself. For your loved ones. For your team. For your clients.
Just doing the bare minimum will no longer generate sufficient profit. It will always generate work but work alone won’t create wealth and unless you’re deliberately running a not-for-profit, that’s not your game.
This Week’s Bullet
So here it is, sharp and simple:
Look in the mirror and decide who you want to be.
Want prosperity for yourself? Stop thinking. Start doing.
Want prosperity for your team? Raise prices and share the rewards.
Want prosperity for your clients? Invest the effort to know them, because AI already is, as unveiled at XeroCon Brisbane last week.
Accountants can’t complain. They had a 40-year head start before AI and too many chose not to take it. So:
Do you want a job where you’re just your own boss?
Or a business where you create lasting value?
Last week I wrote about ambition, this week about attitude. These are your differentiators, no matter your size of firm.
To your success
Martin Bissett
