This year is over and I made it!

Phew! If I had to sum up 2024 in one word, it would be whirlwind. I can honestly say this has been the busiest, most disruptive year ever—but somehow, the most rewarding. I guess that is what happens when you throw all your cards in the air to see where they land.

After a 25-year love affair with Brisbane, we started the year with a huge decision: to move away. Shockingly, we sold our home in just three days. That is a lot of change in a very short period of time for anyone. But add in running a busy bookkeeping practice from home, and you can imagine the extra layer of stress in my life.

I have always leaned into the idea that cloud accounting meant I could work from anywhere. Well, this year, I was forced to put that to the test. For seven months, we were like flotsam and jetsam, floating between house-sitting gigs, beach houses, and Airbnbs, with my office packed neatly into a tiny Xero backpack while our new home completion was delayed for month after month. But somehow, it all worked!

EOFY? Done. Turnover? Up 20%. Oh, and in my “spare time,” I started a new bookkeeping practice. Why wouldn’t I? We also moved six times. Then, as the cherry on top, in November, I was so very honoured to be named as the winner of the 2024 Australian Finance Industry Bookkeeper of the Year award. Like I said, it has been an incredible year.

Through all the chaos, I have learned some important lessons:

1. A single suitcase isn’t enough. After seven months of living out of one, I was ready to throw every piece of clothing out the window. My thrifty upbringing did not allow for that, but when we finally moved into our new home a couple of weeks ago, I literally kissed my favourite shoes.
2. I really can work from anywhere. Everyone got paid, all BAS were lodged, and my clients even adapted to different time zones. My office is wherever I am.
3. You do not need a big-city address to make a big impact in this industry. Innovation, passion, and communication are what matter most, not your postcode.
4. I am exhausted! Change and growth are wonderful, but I am ready for 2025 to be a year of “steady as she goes.” Stability, sleep, and sandy toes are all I want.

Despite the craziness, 2024 has been amazing. The highs, the challenges, and the moments of connection with clients and peers made it unforgettable. To everyone who has been part of this journey – THANK YOU. Your trust and support mean everything.

Here’s to a new year full of possibility, but maybe with a little less upheaval. Wishing you a 2025 filled with joy, success, and plenty of wins—big and small. I will be kicking it off with a glass of bubbles then a long nap.

Cheers to new beginnings,

Stay Appy!