We recently connected with Ella Thomas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ella, thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

I am a firm believer of “Living Your Life on Vacation Mode”. This year I decided to make some changes to my professional career and chose to reduce the work load I had and focus more in Quality vs Quantity. This radical change help me be more strategic with my finances and my time and consequently helped me realize that if we do not live on “Vacation Mode” every single day, when we do choose to go on vacation, we wont be present nor would we be able to enjoy our vacation.

Therefore, I recommend you do something for you every single day that makes you be grateful for your freedom and for having the freedom to structure your own schedule.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Me:
I’ve always been an innate go-getter. Every job I’ve had, I approached with dedication and a drive to excel. From a young age, I noticed how much I enjoyed staying busy and striving for growth. When I became a mother to my first son, I realized I wanted a career that would not only allow me to keep learning throughout my life but also provide balance and fulfillment.

How I Got Into the Business:
During the COVID pandemic, I made the decision to leave my full-time bookkeeping job and pursue my dream of working independently. I began offering bookkeeping services as an independent contractor and soon landed my first client. From there, everything began to fall into place. Today, I am incredibly grateful to run my own bookkeeping and accounting business, where I get to do what I love while helping my clients stay organized and compliant.

What Problems I Solve for My Clients / What Makes Me Unique:
What sets me apart from other firms is my unwavering professionalism and positive attitude. I treat every client’s needs with the utmost care and seriousness. My commitment to excellence ensures that my clients always feel respected, supported, and confident in their financial systems.

What I Am Most Proud Of:
I’m deeply proud of my journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Every challenge, especially the difficult moments when I questioned whether I could keep going, taught me resilience and shaped me into the person I am today. Now, I apply those lessons in my business, which makes my success even more rewarding.

What I Want Potential Clients to Know About Me:
I am passionate about my work and take this career very seriously. I understand that not every client will align with my approach, but if you’re looking for someone who is reliable, professional, respectful, and spiritual, I’m here to help.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the COVID pandemic, I decided to shift my focus to working as an independent contractor and successfully landed a few bookkeeping clients. Around the same time, I was offered a full-time Office Manager position that felt like a dream opportunity—almost like an answer from the Universe.

However, juggling the demands of the new job, my growing bookkeeping client base, and my responsibilities at home quickly became overwhelming. Despite giving it my all, I began to realize that the Office Manager role wasn’t the right path for me. What I thought was the perfect opportunity turned out to be a stepping stone, helping me see where my true calling lay.

Making the difficult decision to resign from that position was a turning point. It allowed me to fully dedicate myself to my passion—bookkeeping—and ultimately led to the success of my business today. Looking back, I’m grateful for the experience because it taught me the importance of trusting my intuition and following the path that aligns with my goals.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Life has presented me with numerous initiations that have taught me the essence of resilience. Each experience has shaped my ability to persevere, not only in my personal life but also in my business and professional career.

One of the most pivotal challenges I faced was in 2023 when I separated from my business partner. In 2020, when I landed my first client, I reached out to her for support. After discussing it, we decided to launch a business together. I was thrilled to embark on this journey with someone by my side. Deep down, however, part of my excitement stemmed from a fear of venturing out alone.

As life unfolded, changes came for both of us. She received an incredible opportunity with another bookkeeping firm, and I felt called to dedicate myself entirely to my business. These changes led us to the difficult decision to dissolve our partnership.

This transition forced me to confront my fears of running a business solo. It was a dark and uncertain time for me, but I knew this was a defining moment. I leaned into the discomfort, determined to stay strong, build my confidence, and prove to myself that I could navigate this journey independently.

Remarkably, after the separation, my business began to flourish. I gained new clients, learned vital skills like marketing and social media, attended business events, and figured out how to run both a household and a business solely from my profits. Each step brought new challenges, but also new growth.

Looking back, I see that this chapter of my life was necessary. It taught me to trust in my resilience and embrace the power of transformation. Today, I feel like a phoenix—rising stronger and more confident than ever before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sbssandiego.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbssandiego/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-thomas-950337121/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SBSSanDiego