Darren Cioffi: Drift: Why Profitable Businesses Fail (And How To Stop It)

In this episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, Mike and Ron sit down with Darren Cioffi to challenge a common belief among firm owners: that growth comes primarily from more leads or better marketing tactics. Instead, Darren reveals that sustainable growth is built on consistency, relationships, and a clearly defined message that resonates with the right audience. Darren shares how accounting professionals can simplify their marketing efforts by focusing on what truly works—building trust, staying visible, and creating meaningful connections over time. He highlights the importance of showing up consistently, refining your positioning, and leveraging your existing network to generate higher-quality opportunities rather than chasing volume. Throughout the conversation, Darren encourages a powerful mindset shift from constantly searching for the "next best strategy" to committing to a focused, repeatable approach. By doing so, firm owners can reduce overwhelm, strengthen their brand presence, and create a more predictable path to growth. If you are looking for practical insights on how to market your firm more effectively without adding complexity, this episode offers actionable strategies for building momentum through consistency and connection. Purchase Drift: Why Profitable Businesses Fail (And How To Stop It):https://lnkd.in/ebGGm4P3 Darren's Website:https://www.myprosperitytree.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-cioffi-4b79a48/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/darren.cioffi.645279/ Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

In this episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, Mike and Ron sit down with Michael Boly to challenge a common misconception around credit: that a high credit score alone guarantees access to funding. Instead, Michael reveals that lenders are looking far deeper—at the structure, depth, and behavior within your credit profile, not just the number. Michael breaks down how entrepreneurs can strategically optimize both personal and business credit to unlock better funding opportunities, higher limits, and more favorable terms. He explains how understanding what banks actually look for—such as utilization, credit mix, and account history—can dramatically shift your ability to access capital and fuel growth. Throughout the conversation, Michael emphasizes a critical mindset shift: from simply "having good credit" to intentionally designing your credit profile to work in your favor. By taking a more proactive and informed approach, business owners can position themselves to leverage credit as a powerful tool rather than a limitation. If you are looking to better understand how credit really works and how to use it strategically within your business, this episode offers practical insights on building a stronger financial foundation and creating more opportunities for growth.   Zero Fund Website:https://zerofund.net/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/michaelboly/ TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@zerofundapp Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In this episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, Matt Granados challenges a common belief among firm owners: that team issues are people problems. Instead, he reveals how most challenges stem from broken or misaligned systems, not the individuals within them. Matt shares how accounting leaders can redesign their processes to naturally reduce burnout, increase motivation, and create more consistent performance across their teams. He introduces the idea of intentionally engineering workplace culture, rather than leaving it to chance, so it actively supports both growth and well-being. Throughout the conversation, Matt encourages a powerful mindset shift from managing people to improving systems. By doing so, firm owners can unlock greater scalability, stronger team engagement, and more sustainable success. If you are looking for practical leadership strategies to rethink how your firm operates, this episode offers actionable insights on building systems that empower your team and drive long-term results.   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-pulse-inc/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lifepulseinc/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LifePulseInc Podcast:https://www.lifepulseinc.com/podcast Corporate Partner: People Processes - https://peopleprocesses.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In today's episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice, we sit down with Chuck Staszkiewicz to explore what it really takes to build, scale, and successfully exit a business. Chuck shares his journey of growing a trades company from the ground up to $22 million in annual revenue over 12 years, along with the hard-earned lessons from 25 years in the industry. He offers a candid look at what happens after the exit, including the often-overlooked identity shift founders experience once they sell their business to private equity. The conversation also highlights how Chuck now helps other business owners through The Opus & Golds Group, providing practical strategies across numbers, marketing, sales, leadership, operations, and mindset. This episode is packed with real-world insights for anyone looking to scale the right way and build a business that's not only profitable, but truly exit-ready. Website:Opusgolds.com Instagram:@chuckstaszkiewicz Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/chuck.staszkiewicz Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In this episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, we're joined by Dr. Don Wood to explore the powerful connection between trauma, mindset, and peak performance. Dr. Wood explains how childhood experiences can become unresolved trauma later in life and how they often show up in subtle but impactful ways. He introduces the concepts of "atmospheric conditions" and "emotional concussions," helping listeners understand how past events shape present behaviors, stress responses, and decision-making. The conversation also tackles big questions around anxiety, panic attacks, and addiction—challenging common assumptions and offering a new perspective on whether these patterns can be changed. Dr. Wood shares how "rebooting the mind" can unlock higher levels of performance, and whether shifting mindset alone can truly lead to extraordinary outcomes. This episode offers a fresh lens on mental performance, showing how addressing the root cause—not just the symptoms—can create lasting change in both life and business.   Website:http://www.gettipp.com/ Instagram:http://instagram.com/drdonwood LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdonwoodphd/ TikTok:http://www.tiktok.com/@drdonwood Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In today's episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice, we sit down with Craig Dacy to unpack the simple but powerful changes that more than doubled his firm's sales close rate in 2025. Craig walks through the key metrics his team began tracking to identify where prospects were dropping off, and the three strategic tweaks that transformed their sales process. From refining their messaging and intake process, to reframing the purpose of consultations, and simplifying conversations so prospects weren't overwhelmed with information, each adjustment helped create a clearer and more effective client experience. The episode also explores how building a consistent follow-up system helped convert more conversations into committed clients. It's a practical look at how small, intentional improvements in your sales process can lead to major results for your firm.   Website:https://www.dacyfinancialcoaching.com/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@therapybusinesspod https://www.youtube.com/@CraigDacy   Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/   Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In today's episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice, we explore what it truly means to build a purpose-driven, profitable business. Profit for Good: How Purpose-Driven Businesses Turn Passion into Sustainable, Profitable Impact reframes profitability as the starting point for generosity, not the reward at the end. Through real client stories, we share how passion projects became sustainable, revenue-producing businesses once clarity, structure, and intentional profit were put in place. The conversation highlights how Profit First creates the confidence business owners need to say "yes" to impact without sacrificing financial stability. We also discuss the powerful mindset shift from "I'll give when I have more" to "I give because I'm profitable on purpose," and how accountants and advisors can help clients align money, mission, and long-term sustainability. This episode is a reminder that profit isn't selfish — it's what makes lasting impact possible.   Website:http://venusmichael.com http://one21accountability.com LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/in/venusmichael/ Instagram:http://www.instagram.com/one21accountability/   Corporate Partner: BILL. - https://www.bill.com/   Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: In today's episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, we explore the critical shift every founder must make to scale successfully by moving from operator to true leader. The conversation breaks down why being buried in emails, meetings, and day-to-day decisions isn't leadership and how CEOs can intentionally reclaim their time before burnout forces change. We discuss when it's actually the right time to hire help, how to scale yourself first, and why founders' syndrome is one of the most common blind spots holding growing companies back. The episode also examines how to build a culture of feedback that works and why it starts with the CEO, how leaders can better support and engage Gen Z employees, and why a Chief of Staff can be a powerful secret weapon for focus, strategy, and speed. This is a must-listen for firm owners ready to lead their businesses forward, not just manage them.   Website:https://verticalelevation.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/growgreatteams/       Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-6964e222-7e50-8320-a1f4-a74865833991-16" data-testid= "conversation-turn-120" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "0ee1fffe-efff-4322-896d-d0176209d9d4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-176" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In today's episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, Mike Michalowicz is joined by Ron Saharyan and Liz Szporn to talk about Mike's newest book, The Money Habit, and the launch of Money Habit Mentors. The conversation explores why money challenges are rarely about math and almost always about behavior. Mike shares the thinking behind The Money Habit and how it builds on the principles of Profit First to help people create lasting personal financial habits. Ron and Liz discuss what this shift means for accounting and advisory professionals, and why guiding clients through personal money behavior is becoming an essential extension of trusted financial advisory work. They also introduce the Money Habit Mentor designation, explaining how it equips professionals to help clients move from financial stress to clarity, confidence, and long-term control of their money. This episode offers insight into the growing opportunity for accountants and bookkeepers to deepen client relationships by addressing the human side of money—not just the numbers. If you work with clients who struggle financially despite earning well, this episode provides a clear look at what's next in advisory and why behavior-based systems matter more than ever.   Website:https://moneyhabitmentors.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/money-habit-mentors Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587433470833 Instagram:@moneyhabitmentors   Corporate Partner:People Processes - https://peopleprocesses.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

Show Summary: *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-6964e222-7e50-8320-a1f4-a74865833991-16" data-testid= "conversation-turn-120" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this Insider's Access episode of the Grow My Accounting Practice podcast, hosts Ron Saharyan, Liz Szporn, and Mike Michalowicz explore what it takes to scale advisory services in 2026 without burning out. They challenge firm owners to make the "CEO Pivot," stepping out of the technician role and into true leadership, even in an AI-driven world. The conversation highlights why empathy and human connection have become competitive advantages as automation takes over precision work. The hosts unpack how to price and position advisory through a Tiered Service Model, why burnout persists even when Profit First is in place, and how firms must shift from reporting on the past to guiding clients toward the future. The episode also addresses avoiding shiny object syndrome with tech, letting go of the wrong clients to grow into the CEO role, and building scalable teams of "Guides" so advisory doesn't rely solely on the owner. They close by defining the firms that will thrive in 2026: those that combine the Profit First mindset with critical thinking, human connection, and intentional leadership.   Website:https://profitfirstprofessionals.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/profit-first-professionals Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ProfitFirstProfessionals/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/proud_to_be_profitable TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@profitfirstpros YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ProfitFirstProfessionalsInc.   Corporate Partner:People Processes - https://peopleprocesses.com/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!