We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sabrina James a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sabrina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I believe everything happens twice. First in our imagination and second, when we manifest it into our reality. Success is not easily defined; it is up to each individual’s perception of what success means to them.
What does it take? I believe it takes clearly defining your idea of success, imagining it (seeing and feeling yourself having that lifestyle), researching the steps to achieve it, and doing the work.
In 2018, I began reading a book called ” Power of the Subconscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy which changed my perception of life and put me on the pathway to running a successful business. This book helped me to become aware of my thoughts and gave me instructions on how to utilize mental tools that would bring my desires into reality.
Sabrina, 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?
I’m the Founder/CEO of AccounTAXstic LLC. I’m an Accountant, Licensed Tax Preparer, and an Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor. I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) while earning my Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in Accounting and Finance from Georgia State University. I’m fueled by my passion for helping small business owners and individuals manage their finances, increase profits, and expand their businesses.
My accounting/tax career began 12 years ago as an accountant for several multi-million-dollar Residential/Commercial Real Estate companies. My expertise ranges from tax preparation for clients with multi-state taxes, individual and corporate taxes, tax planning, and accounting services; to more in-depth services such as payroll, bookkeeping, account reconciliation, budget analysis, and financial planning.
What sets me apart from most accountants is I was featured in Bloomberg Tax for my dedication to ensure each client receives accurate results and gains financial control of their business. My goal is to deliver professionalism, responsiveness, and expert advice, that will give each client peace of mind regarding their finances.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
How it started?? I hated sitting in traffic for close to an hour every morning. I would have these thoughts about life offering more than this job for the next 20 or 30 years. I began listening to several different podcasts about financial freedom and the importance of having multiple streams of income. During this time, I had one corporate job which I did not enjoy. I ponder upon which skills I had to offer to individuals/ small businesses to earn more money. I started marketing myself and got a few bookkeeping clients on the side. Later, I received my Maryland Tax Preparer License. I was laid off from my job during Covid which open the door for me to take on more clients. As my business grew, I found an office space and hired a staff. I’m grateful my business has been expanding ever since.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Before I became an accountant, I was a Property Manager for six years at an apartment complex. I went on maternity leave for a few months, during that period the apartment complex was sold to new owners. It was difficult during the recession to find a property manager job until I received a call from a recruiter asking me if I was interested in becoming a property accountant. I’m not quite sure how she found my resume, but she noticed I had several years of experience using a popular real estate software (Yardi). I thought I would give it a try, since it was a temporary position. I didn’t realize how much accounting experience I had as a Property Manager such as coding invoices, processing payroll, applying rent payments to ledgers, etc. I fell in love with accounting and decided to pivot my career from property manager to an accountant.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.accountaxstic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accountaxstic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accountaxstic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountaxstic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/accountaxstic
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/accountaxstic-columbia
Image Credits
Catrise Cannady