HOW TO HONOR YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR
Accountant Keila Hill-Trawick on starting a business and helping everyone find their financial independence.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Keila Hill-Trawick’s firm, Little Fish Accounting, which has been in business for two and a half years, is about making financial conversations clear and empowering for clients. As you may gather from the name, this is a business for the little guys — small businesses and founders looking for guidance and a personal approach to their company’s financial planning.
We spoke to Hill-Trawick about her inspiring journey to solopreneurship — and got some entrepreneurial insight along the way. When it came to taking the leap, Hill-Trawick offered gems on her own transition.
Find your passion
Keila transitioned from an in-house job, as an accountant with the Federal government (at the US Patent and Trademark Office), that once represented “security and consistency” when she began to feel siloed by the work. When her job was no longer fulfilling, her soul searching made it clear that it was time for a change, and she explored a career on her own terms.
Get support from your community
On support from her circle, Hill-Trawick shares, “My husband was the first person to tell me, ‘you don’t need another job, you need a hobby.’ He has been a firm supporter and believer in my work, and my ability to to do it full-time.”
Pull in experts to do what they do (not just what you do) best
You can’t juggle it all, and finding the right teammates can make all the difference in feeling supported, and ready to grow!
“My sister has been there since the beginning (literally). Not only does she serve as Little Fish’s Marketing Manager, she’s been a constant sounding board with the uncanny ability to both support my dreams and also help prioritize what’s reasonable to expect given the size of my desires compared to the size of my team.”
Set your business boundaries
With autonomy comes the opportunity to create the type of work environment that allows you to do your best work. Whether that means specific hours for breaks or email etiquette, your best work happens when creating a balanced and holistic life for yourself.
“Setting aside specific days to take calls has made a huge difference in my business. It allows me to focus on other areas during the rest of the week, including working on the business, managing my team, and actually doing the work. Another boundary has been working outside my house. Having dedicated office space, whether inside or outside the home, has gone a long way in forcing me to create room for my business (literally) that doesn’t crowd out actually living in my home.”
Keep learning
Hill-Trawick says she’s still learning not to take things personally.
“Every ‘no’ isn’t a direct reflection of me, and the ‘yeses’ are that much sweeter because they represent the right fit. I’m also getting more comfortable with the fact that I’m not a machine — I’ll make mistakes, and get tired, and have normal emotions, and those things are not indicators of weakness, but rather recognition that above all things I am more than a business. I am a human being that runs a business.
Hill-Trawick pushes forward with her highest vision of the business as her North Star, perfectly aligned with the advice she shared. “I want to operate from a space of abundance, in the constant and affirming belief that my creation supports the women I hire, the communities I serve, and the population at large,” says Hill-Trawick. “The more information I share, the more businesses can win as a result.