Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carrie Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Carrie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Starting my business was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. Having had a successful corporate career for 21 years, I started to feel like I was meant for more. I was ready for a change, and then the pandemic happened. We started working from home and I realized how much I loved having more flexibility to spend time with my kids. I also started to see how people’s finances were being turned upside down by the pandemic which no one had anticipated. As a CPA, I’ve always been a money-minded person, but as the pandemic was unfolding I realized that I had skills that could really make a difference in other people’s lives. That’s when I made the decision to become a Financial Coach. I formed Running Valley Financial Associates in the fall of 2020, completed training courses, and starting building my business. I also started setting money aside in preparation to transition from corporate life to entrepreneural life. By the fall of 2021, I decided to take that risk and leave my stable corporate career (and income), and become a full-time entrepreneur. I had always dreamed of having my own business, being my own boss, and having the ability to directly impact the well-being of others. While it was a big risk, leaving something I’d known for 21 years and stepping into something very unknown, I also felt that the timing was as right as it could ever be. I didn’t want to look back on my life and have any regrets because I was too afraid to make the leap. Now it has been over a year, and I can say it was the best decision I could have made. My quality of life has improved and I am finding so much joy in the ability to help others achieve financial freedom. My advice for others in this situation is to be brave and go after your dreams. You’ll never know unless you try. I also had the strong support of my husband, family, and friends which is essential when starting out on your own. So I would encourage people to take the leap, but make sure you have support of those around you, financial security to get you through the beginning stages of your business, and to find a group of like-minded individuals that are on the same path as you are and spend time learning from them. Surround yourself with other business owners and form connections with people that can help you along the way.

Carrie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up on Running Valley Farm, my family farm in rural North Dakota, I learned the value of community, partnership and hard work. I graduated from the University of North Dakota and then headed south to Florida to start my career in corporate America in 2000. I had always wanted to start my own business, but I was unsure about what I really wanted to do and never thought it was the “right time”. I had a lengthy corporate career and I often felt that was the only option. When the pandemic hit and I started working my corporate job from home, I realized how much I loved being more available for my family. I ended up taking a Dave Ramsey course on Financial Coaching, and it clicked for me. I remember having the “aha” moment when I realized that Financial Coaching was how I was meant to serve others. The desire to have more flexibility in my schedule, coupled with the fact that the pandemic was turning many families’ financial situations upside down, I felt that this was the “right time” to start my business and where I could make a positive impact for others immediately.
Since then, my business has grown. In addition to providing financial coaching to individuals and families, I now also provide coaching and support for small business owners – whether it is helping them get started on the right foot or helping them to understand their business finances. As a licensed CPA, I also provide tax preparation and advising for individuals and small businesses.
It has been an amazing journey so far, beginning with having an idea, giving it a name (my business is named after my family farm), starting everything from scratch, and seeing it grow as a vehicle for helping others.

I am a helper by nature, and I love using the financial skills that I have to help others change their life situations. I provide common sense Financial Coaching to individuals and small businesses, which involves setting specific goals such as: becoming debt-free, learning to budget, having an emergency fund, saving for large purchases, and helping them build wealth so they can live the life of their dreams. A big part of this process is working with the client to change their behaviors when it comes to money. The key to transformational, lasting change when it comes to your finances is solid financial habits!
I am also a Certified Public Accountant, so through my business I also provide tax preparation services for individuals and small businesses, as well as helping small businesses analyze their finances to maximize profits.
I take great pride in providing exceptional customer service. Dealing with financial topics is often a source of anxiety and stress for people. I work hard to create a safe, encouraging environment where people can feel at-ease to ask questions and learn without criticism or judgment.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been maintaining a genuine care for others and their situation and a philosophy of serving others to the best of my ability. When you think about your business as a vehicle to help serve others and remain giving-focused, the receiving will come (in the form of clients and revenue). People around you will see that mentality and will be more likely to not only work with you, but refer you to others. I focus on building relationships with my clients and other business owners so that they can also become referral sources for me to grow my business. As a CPA and Financial Coach, my work is based on integrity and trust. Once someone gets to know, like, and trust you, they are much more likely to send more business your way. My business has grown immensely due to word of mouth and referrals through neighborhood pages on social media.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am an avid reader and a self-improvement junkie, so I tend to gravitate toward books that can inspire and make me better – not only from a personal standpoint, but from a business standpoint. A few of my favorite books I’ve read recently are We Should all be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers, Believe It by Jamie Kirn Lima, Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan, and EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. Probably the book that has set the tone my entire working life has been 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. When I first started my corporate career, my company offered a training based on that book and the lessons I learned have stuck with me ever since.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.runningvalleyfinancial.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/runningvalleyfinancial
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/runningvalleyfinancial
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/runningvalleyfinancial

Image Credits
Branding by B&E Photography, Elena Burley