Why I Founded CenterFocus

My dream for CenterFocus was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. I started a challenging job in July 2018, and I went into the pandemic, struggling to keep up with demands and work and at home. As the pandemic’s realities became more apparent in the summer of 2020, my workload increased, and I faced new difficulties personally and professionally. By the beginning of 2021, I was burnt out, unable to perform well at work or be present and engaged at home.

Once I realized my problem, I knew I needed a change, but I didn’t know how to find the right path. I thought through many options, and starting my own accounting business felt intriguing, but I felt too overwhelmed with options and ideas to make a clear decision. Finally, recognizing that I needed help, I began working with Dan Hahn, a Job Search and Career Decision Coach at A Portland Career. Working with Dan gave me more clarity on my unique strengths and what was most important to me as I looked for the next steps in my career. Dan helped me realize three essential things.

1. I believe work should be part of living your best life, not what you can do so that you can afford what you truly love. We spend most of our time working, and I know firsthand that struggles at work can profoundly impact life away from work. If work is part of living a life you love, your overall quality of life improves, and you’re better able to handle unexpected challenges and difficulties.
   
   
2. I love working with non-financial people and helping them better understand financial data. I’ve watched so many intelligent, talented people freeze up when they need to understand accounting or tax regulations. I have also found that the logical, analytical nature of people in my profession causes many of us to miss the emotional reaction other people have to our work and speak in ways or use complex terms. I love working with people on a more individual basis to help them better understand financial data and feel less intimidated or overwhelmed.
   
   
3. I love practicing accounting. When I did a strengths analysis with Dan, my top five strengths were learning, restoring, achieving, analysis and harmony. Practicing accounting allows me to use all of my strengths. As the business world evolves, there are always new things to learn. I can take a messy set of ledgers or poorly designed processes and restore them to proper form, creating peace and harmony. The cyclical nature of the work means there is a never-ending list of objectives to achieve and tasks to complete. Finally, as a CPA, I can provide financial analysis and give deeper insight to those I work with.
   
   

By the end of April 2021, I knew that starting my own accounting practice was the right path for me. Throughout my career, I dreamed of starting a business but never felt ready to leap. However, once I had laid out my needs and options clearly, I moved forward with confidence.

My dream became real in July 2021 when I left full-time employment to work full time on my business. Although my business is still young, I know I’ve made the right choice for my family and me because it allows me to create a life that I love and help other small business owners do the same.

If you’re interested in learning more about me, find out why I love accounting and why horseback riding makes me a better accountant. If you’d like to work with me to improve your quality of life, click here to schedule a free introductory call.