CA Ventures’ Post

10 YEARS!?!?! Today is my 10 year anniversary with Mr. Whetstone (aka Whitestone, aka Weston, aka every other name that is wrong). 10 years of day after day after day after day! It's super real when you are empty nesters and mostly remote workers! Tonight we will have our fancy dinner where we will also have our Annual Contract Renewal (ACR) discussion. On our 1st year anniversary, we created the ACR as our check-in to see if we wanted to ride-or-die this thing out another year. We discuss any concerns we have and give our annual letter rating of each other. Last year, we both got "A"s. A few years ago I received a "B+." I'm still not over it. I gave him one too... This year, I'm hopeful, but who really knows until that moment 😅 . The ACR reminds us not to take each other for granted and assume that the status-quo is okay. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't! And, let's be clear, I am pretty great and a "trophy wife" (that's our joke, calm down - but it's true). I hope that we all treat our jobs the same way. Just like we get reviewed annually or semi-annually, make sure you are giving them a performance review too! Did you get the training you needed? Were they supportive of you? How was your boss? Things like that. The company will always look out for their best interests so make sure you do the same. ACR 'em! Here's to 🤞 that I receive an "A" this year and this man decides to thug it out with me another year. I anticipate he will receive a good rating from me as well - he kinda earned, to be fair. But I ain't telling him that yet and we still have 9 hours until dinner where I could potentially change my mind 😂 . I'll keep you posted. Check my name for indicators. No hyphen? Well there it is. #acr #annualcontractreview #performancereview #audityourcompany #fridayfun #anniversary

Celebrated my 3rd year work anniversary with my wonderful Finance team in a wedding 'team building' theme. Why this theme? Just like getting married, building a high performing team is anchored on trust, respect, and commitment. That we treat each and everyone as part of the team's success. That if one gets stumbled or becomes weak, you can count on the other members to hold you tight until you are back on track and can stand on your own feet again. I am truly blessed that most of them stayed with me during my 3 years journey (and counting) in PB where almost half was added throughout those years. Such an honor to share with them this momentous event and I will forever be grateful that this also helped me become a better version of myself. To my Finance Team, I will never get tired of reminding you to: 1. Choose your battles! 2. Choose to be kind and good no matter how difficult people are! 3. Do it right even if no one is watching you! 4. Own your mistake, own your success! 5. Only choose to be happy! #workanniversary #teambuilding #teamwork #teamappreciation Penbrothers

Anna Sebastian, a bright and talented 26-year-old CA who tragically lost her life due to extreme work pressure. Her heart breaking story sheds light on the importance of taking care of our mental and physical health in the face of demanding work environments and her mother penned letter so that no one else suffer to such extent. Decade ago when i qualified CA i analyses that would i be able to work with so called big 4 & such work culture and answer was clear & hence neither got in to it and never wanted to get in to it, many of my friends joined big 4 and most of them left in year time. Analyses your personality and work ethics you follow and make decision accordingly. Even if you are ambitious to join such organisations remember this that the moment you feel that it is getting stressful, break the relationship with that situation. I know it is very easy said than done, but at least, that is much better than taking a toll on your health and compromise on family time. Also do remember that wherever we work there would always be problems in our life but always do analyse the problem completely, think like this what worse can happen & prepare yourself to accept it and then optimise the situation. Always Remember friends that no job is worth compromising your health. Deadlines can wait, but your health cannot. We must prioritize ourselves before anything else. Always set boundaries, ask for help, and remember that work is only a part of life, not the whole of it. Anna brave girl deserved better, and her story should push us to make sure no one else has to endure this kind of pressure again. Please share with your friends and family and live healthy life. View express are of my personal view and not associated with any individual or organization 🙏

This morning I had the privilege of attending Mr. Cooper's DEI Coffee Chat with Mike Weinbach, president and Kurt Johnson, EVP & Chief Financial Officer. Kurt, who is also an Executive Sponsor for our PACE Employee Resource Team, lead the discussion. We covered topics such as leadership and how we can make Mr. Cooper a more safe and non-judgmental place to work. The event was brought to us by our Office of DEI in partnership with the Working Families Group and Diversity Champions of India Employee Resource Teams. We started off with a little humor and learning that Mike always prefers a cup of English Breakfast tea over a cup of coffee. Although I'm a remote employee and have never stepped foot into a Mr. Cooper office, I felt right at home, 1,000 miles away from headquarters. As I continue to grow in my career with Mr. Cooper I treasured this opportunity to learn priceless lessons on how to be a successful people leader. Some lessons I walked away with include:   - Being empathetic and giving up control are key factors in being a great people leader. - Multitasking is a superpower and being able to compartmentalize each and every task you face throughout your day is important so that you can be fully present with whatever you're doing. This allows you to get the job done, and get it done right! - It's ok and actually important to disconnect sometimes. Family, health and fitness, both mental and physical, should be prioritized. This allows you the ability to stay well rounded and rested so you can face tomorrow's challenges. - Absorb information. Ask questions and follow up. - Be observative. People can be great examples of what to do and what not to do.   Our leadership team at Mr. Cooper sees the importance of keeping DEI at the forefront of our company as well and sees their involvement as critical. We discussed more ways we can get involved in our communities and make DEI a more meaningful and inclusive space. Everyone has a different starting place but it's important we bridge the gap and start making the race a fair one. On top of our efforts with DEI we recently reached our goal of becoming a trillion dollar servicer and we are not stopping here! I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish next. 

𝑰'𝒎 𝒃𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍. Grateful for the opportunity to connect with the people around my clients. Grateful to be on my clients' minds even when they're traveling. Grateful to witness my clients' milestones in life—seeing them get engaged, attending their weddings, and welcoming new additions to their families. Being a Financial Consultant means being a part of my clients' life journeys while adding value to their lives. #Gratitude #ClientRelationships #FinancialConsultant

🎉📈 Celebrating my first month at 🇺🇦 Accountancy Action 🇺🇦 📈🎉 Wow, what a whirlwind it has been! Today marks my one-month anniversary at Accountancy Action, and I couldn't be more thrilled to share my journey with all of you. In this short span of time, I've successfully placed five talented individuals into new roles and survived the first of what I'm sure will be many team nights out at Hijingo Bingo which was an absolute vibe!. It's moments like these that truly solidify the bonds within our team and make coming to work each day an absolute pleasure. But it's not just about the work; it's also about finding that balance between professional fulfilment and personal happiness. I'm truly grateful for the work-life balance that 🇺🇦 Accountancy Action 🇺🇦 has afforded me. Gone are the days of long commutes on crowded trains and tubes or endless hours stuck on a train platform wondering 'will the train ever arrive on time?'. With the office just a mere 10-minute drive away, I've reclaimed precious time to enjoy the things that truly matter in life, whether it's spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply taking a moment to relax and recharge. Cheers to one month down and countless more to go! #AccountancyActionAnniversary #WorkLifeBalance #TeamGoals #accountancyaction #financerecruitment

A celebration of team: Meet Helen   This week we are celebrating Helen Liu’s five-year anniversary at SHEIKE. Helen has played a pivotal role during her time at the brand as our Senior Financial Accountant, looking after all things finance-related alongside our accounts team. In celebration, we sit down with Helen to take a moment to reflect on this milestone and her journey at SHEIKE so far.   OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FONDEST MEMORY OF WORKING AT SHEIKE? The people who I work with are definitely the highlight. I’m surrounded by a team who works hard and plays hard, and it’s made my time here so much more fun.   WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS STARTING OUR THEIR FINANCE CAREER? Attention to detail, no matter how small will go a long way.   WHAT ARE THE THREE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT ALONG THE WAY? Understand your audience and apply a different approach to the matter accordingly. There is no such thing as a stupid question. If you’re not certain about something, keep asking. Show appreciation and gratitude. This will strengthen your relationships with your team. 

Because my team is fantastic and our systems are rock solid… I could fully enjoy my 20th wedding anniversary with my husband in Napa this past week. It’s important to take breaks and recharge your batteries. It's about finding a new environment to clear your head. Traveling can be a great source of inspiration. But it can also be stressful if you're worried about work piling up and haven’t fully prepared your team for your absence. So, before your next vacation, be sure to do the following: - Communicate Early: Let your team know well in advance. This gives everyone time to adjust plans and priorities. - Delegate Responsibility: Assign clear roles and responsibilities. Ensure someone is there to make decisions in your absence. - Develop SOPs: Ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are up-to-date and accessible. This is your team's guidebook in your absence, ensuring continuity and consistency. - Set Expectations: Clarify what needs to be done and by when. Prioritize tasks to keep the focus on what’s most important. - Availability: While truly disconnecting is the goal, let them know how to reach you in an absolute emergency. - Trust: The most crucial part. Trust your team. You’ve trained them, now let them show you what they can do. P.S. A massive shoutout to my Pinzur Communications team for seamlessly managing everything while my husband and I soaked in the beauty of Napa. You truly rock! Feeling immensely grateful. #PublicRelations #Leadership #Teamwork #WorkLifeBalance #Gratitude

It's funny how changing one word changes an entire conversation. On friday we had our usual 2pm company wide catch up over teams with the whole company. Historically the question is asked around the room "what's your win for the week and what's on for the weekend?" but this week I changed it up while Iain Enticott is on his 7 week leave living his best life and I asked the team "what's something your grateful for this week and what's on for the weekend?" Initially everyone was thrown and not sure how to answer so i jumped in first and talked about how i was grateful for Cara who is our receptionist because this week was madly hectic and she is the first line in the company answering calls which means sometimes people are happy and sometimes not so much and she bears that for everyone and continues to always have a sunny disposition. What happened next was something great to see as we went round the room, instead of the usual win we got deeper and we said things we were grateful for in the company and the people who we work with to make our week better. You could see and feel the shift in room as people opened up and expressed themselves in a different way to what they were used to. One word made a profound difference to the entire conversation. So try it out. Change your words. Ask things in that slightly different way and see what results you get. What are you grateful for this week? #GratitudeAtWork #TeamAppreciation #PositiveWorkplace #CompanyCulture #EmployeeGratitude #WorkplaceWellness #MindfulLeadership #GratefulFriday #TeamConnection #ReflectiveQuestioning

🌟✨ Sharing a Heartfelt Moment of Gratitude! ✨🌟 I just had to share this beautiful moment that truly warmed my heart! It's moments like these that remind me why I love what I do and the incredible impact we can have on each other's lives. 💖 So, let me tell you about this wonderful exchange I had with our valued client, Dave. Dave reached out to me with the most uplifting message, expressing his gratitude for the exceptional service he received. But here's where it gets even better – Dave didn't just stop at expressing his appreciation; he went above and beyond by providing me with a couple of warm referrals. 🙌 Dave's generosity and trust mean the world to me. His referrals are a testament to the quality of our VA service and the relationships we build with our clients. I'm deeply touched by his gesture and promise to give his referrals the same level of care and support that he's experienced with us. 🚀 This exchange is a beautiful reminder of the power of connection and kindness. It's about more than just business; it's about building meaningful relationships and making a positive impact in each other's lives. 💫 So, here's to Dave Dickson, to meaningful connections, and to the incredible journey of supporting each other's dreams. Thank you for being a shining example of what it means to pay it forward. 🌟 With heartfelt gratitude, Mel and the A Team🌸 #Gratitude #ClientAppreciation #Referrals #SupportiveClients #BusinessRelationships #KindnessInAction #PayItForward #VAService #PositiveImpact #MeaningfulConnections #BuildingBridges #virtualassistants #outsourcing #virtualassistantau #businesscoaches #networking