The Sharon Francisco Show
By: Sharon Francisco
Language: en-au
Categories: Business, Entrepreneurship
I’ve been thinking about starting a podcast for years. To share the good, the bad, and the ugly that I’ve experienced in business. I feel like it's time to share some of the lessons, and I hope that it will resonate with you, and that you actually take action so that you and your business keeps growing. I’m Sharon Francisco, a business coach for bookkeepers, but what I talk about here on the podcast will help all sorts of businesses and business owners. I hope you enjoy it!
Episodes
The Formula for Change — Why You Keep Wanting More… But Staying the Same
Jan 08, 2026We all say we want change.
More money.
More time.
More freedom.
Better health.
Holidays that actually happen.
A business that doesn’t rely on us being “on” all the time.
And yet… year after year, nothing really shifts.
In this episode, we unpack why — and it has nothing to do with laziness, lack of discipline, or motivation.
Instead, we dive into a simple but powerful framework that has shaped change theory for decades: The Formula for Change.
Once you unders...
Duration: 00:12:54Planning for 2026 Without the Eye Roll — How to Actually Follow Through
Jan 01, 2026Planning can feel like the same yearly ritual: you get excited for five minutes… then life happens… and suddenly 2026 becomes a photocopy of 2025.
In this episode, we flip that.
This isn’t “set goals and hope for the best.” It’s a practical way to stack the odds in your favour so your planning actually turns into action — and action turns into outcomes, in business and in life.
We start with a powerful Steve Jobs idea about living life on purpose — then move straight into the systems that make planning stick.
In this episod...
Duration: 00:21:45Why We Don’t Give Ourselves Time Off (Even When We Desperately Need It)
Dec 25, 2025So many bookkeepers and accountants say they’re “taking a break”…
but the laptop comes with them.
The emails still get checked.
Payroll still gets done.
And that’s not a holiday.
In this episode, we unpack why stepping away feels so hard — even when you’re exhausted — and why this isn’t a discipline or mindset problem at all. It’s biology, psychology, and identity quietly running the show.
We explore what’s actually happening beneath the surface when rest feels uncomfortable, guilt-inducing, or impossible.
<...
Duration: 00:16:08Ron Baker on the Next Era of Bookkeeping and Accounting
Dec 18, 2025The profession is evolving — fast. In this episode, Sharon is joined by Ron Baker to unpack why value pricing had its moment, why subscription pricing is the natural next step, and how bookkeepers and accountants can step into a future built on transformation, not tasks.
In this episode we cover:
How firms move from compliance into deeper, higher-value workHow subscription pricing removes scope tension and time pressureWhat the “transformation economy” means for professional firmsWhy AI amplifies judgement rather than replacing itKey insights:
Pricing should reflect outcomes, not effort.Transformation create... Duration: 00:50:54Money Beliefs We Never Question — But Should
Dec 11, 2025Most of us never learnt how to have a healthy relationship with money — especially women who built their business alongside raising families. For many bookkeepers, the partner became the “financial safety net,” and without realising it, the business was built on the idea of supporting, not leading.
This episode explores the identity shift required to step into financial independence, confidence, and self-trust.
In this episode we cover:
How the “supported partner” mindset keeps women under-earning without noticingStability transfer — moving from relying on someone else’s income to trusting your ownWhy money isn’t about greed, i... Duration: 00:31:39When You’re Stuck — How to Stop Ghosting Yourself
Dec 04, 2025We all hit seasons where things feel heavy — the business feels hard, energy is low, decisions stall, and everything starts to blur. Most people respond by blaming themselves or going into avoidance. But you’re not broken — you’re just at a point where something needs to shift. In this episode, we explore how to move from self-judgement to curiosity, so you can find your next step instead of staying stuck.
In this episode we cover:
The mindset shift: from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What’s my plan?”Why no one is the first person to face what... Duration: 00:24:26Why People Do What They Do — Understanding DISC
Nov 27, 2025Ever wondered why some clients want every detail and others just want the quick version? Or why some team members thrive under pressure while others quietly shut down? In this episode, we break down the DISC framework as a practical way to understand behaviour, communicate with more ease, and reduce friction in your bookkeeping business and life.
In this episode we cover:
The four DISC styles — Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and ConscientiousnessHow each style shows up in business, decision-making, and stressWhy many bookkeepers sit in S/C — steady, supportive, detail-focused — and how that affects boundaries and le... Duration: 00:22:25When You’re Exhausted, Foggy & Not Getting Answers
Nov 20, 2025If you’re tired, foggy, overwhelmed and feel like “something’s off” — but every GP visit says you’re fine — this episode will feel like a breath out. Dr Adrian Clegg joins us to unpack why so many women in midlife aren’t getting the answers they need, and what’s actually going on underneath the fatigue, dizziness and brain fog.
In this episode we cover:
The real reasons midlife women feel exhausted and foggyWhy so many symptoms get labelled as “stress” or “anxiety”How the upper neck (the atlas) can affect dizziness, migraines and energyThe simple tests... Duration: 00:46:11When the Common Denominator Is You — Leading Above the Line
Nov 13, 2025Some business problems just keep showing up — tricky clients, cashflow issues, team turnover.
When that happens, there’s one question worth asking: what’s mine to own?
In this solo episode, we explore what it means to lead above the line — with ownership, accountability, and responsibility — and why our business results are often just a mirror of how we show up.
I share the story of a high-D leader who drove outcomes but couldn’t bring people with him, and a contrasting moment from my own business that showed how simple, human leadership builds real...
Duration: 00:24:44The 100-Year Life — The Deeper Truths
Nov 06, 2025What if midlife isn’t the slowdown everyone talks about — but the decade where your power truly expands?
In this solo episode, we explore The 100-Year Life by Professor Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott — a powerful reframe on ageing, wisdom, and work in a world where we’re living longer than ever before.
This conversation is for every woman who’s ever whispered, “Am I still relevant?” — and for anyone who’s ready to turn that question into a declaration: Absolutely YES.
I share the personal story of how, during my divorce, I reprogrammed my th...
Duration: 00:15:34Stay Sassy and Stay Curious — Finding Courage Beyond Comfort
Oct 30, 2025What if the best parts of your life are sitting quietly on the other side of fear?
In this solo episode, we dive into what it really means to stay sassy and stay curious — to challenge the predictable path, to question “is this it?”, and to rediscover the spark that makes life feel expansive again.
From 92-year-old marathon runner Mathea Allansmith and 102-year-old social media star Ivy Bean, to the women on the land who battle droughts and fires with grit and grace — this episode celebrates the spirit of those who defy the odds and choose adventur...
Duration: 00:20:30Steady Hands, Strong Hearts — with Rob Marshall (ICB GM)
Oct 23, 2025What keeps bookkeepers grounded when life and lodgements pile up? In this uplifting conversation with Rob Marshall— professional bookkeeper, General Manager at ICB, and a proud advocate for small business communities — we unpack the habits, boundaries, and mindset that help us build businesses we actually want to live in.
In this episode we cover:
Lessons from the community: how genuine connection builds trust, clients, and longevity.The wake-up call: Rob’s 2017 “widow-maker” heart attack — and how it changed everything.No more martyrdom: breaking the habit of being a slav... Duration: 00:59:13Why Being Yourself is Your Superpower — with Jane Anderson
Oct 16, 2025What if the moment you stopped hiding was the moment everything changed?
In this uplifting conversation with Personal Brand expert and 14x author Jane Anderson, we explore how personal brand, integrity, and courage can open doors — not just in business, but in life.
Jane was one of the first mentors who helped me see that being myself wasn’t too much — it was my greatest advantage. We talk about confidence, connection, and how to build a business that feels as good as it looks.
Mentioned in this episode:
• The one line tha...
I’m Always Tired, Foggy, and Cranky – And It’s Not Just Menopause
Oct 09, 2025Tired, foggy, cranky — and told it’s “just menopause”? In this episode, I share how brain fog nearly derailed me, the turning point I found in functional medicine, and why you should never settle for “this is just how it is.”
Mentioned in this episode:
Why it’s not always menopauseCoping strategies that keep us stuckMy eight-month transformation with functional medicineThe lesson: never stop searching for answersAn invitation to send your health questions for my upcoming guest doctor---
👉 Also: The Entrepreneurial Bookkeeper — grow your business without sacrificing your health: sharonfrancisco.com/program
Communication Is the Response You Get
Oct 02, 2025If you’re not getting the response you want — from clients, team, or even loved ones — it’s not them, it’s how you’re communicating.
In this episode, I unpack one of my favourite NLP principles: communication is the response you get. You’ll hear why “they should just know” is a myth, how silence often gives permission, and why tricky conversations are where growth happens.
With stories from business and life (including our “Love Account”), you’ll leave with simple, practical ways to speak with clarity and kindness — and get better results everywhere.
Mentioned in this...
Duration: 00:25:59Scaling with Confidence — Navigating the Tug-of-War Between Growth, Systems, and Self-Care
Sep 25, 2025Scaling isn’t just about numbers — it’s about balancing growth, systems, and self-care. For bookkeepers, accountants, and business owners, that often means pricing struggles, letting go of control, and creating boundaries that stick.
In this episode, I share how Dr Carol Dweck’s research on fixed vs growth mindset applies directly to business. A fixed mindset keeps us stuck in fear, while a growth mindset opens the door to confident pricing, effective delegation, and space to lead strategically.
You’ll walk away with practical tools to recognise where mindset may be holding you back — and how to s...
Duration: 00:22:27What Bruce Springsteen Taught Me About Marketing
Sep 18, 2025Most of us didn’t start our businesses thinking about marketing and sales. Our client base often grew organically — through referrals, word of mouth, or just showing up. But here’s the truth: relying solely on referrals can be risky. If they dry up, or the wrong types of clients come through, we’re left building a business by default rather than design.
In this episode, I share why marketing and sales aren’t dirty words, but essential tools for attracting the right clients — the ones who align with your goals and value your expertise. From clarifying your message...
Duration: 00:24:03The Truth About Belief, Endurance, and a Bucket of Rats
Sep 11, 2025Sometimes the thing that keeps us going isn’t stamina, skills, or even sheer grit — it’s belief.
In this episode, I share a story about rats (yes, real ones) that completely changed how I think about endurance, business, and why so many of us keep “swimming” even when we’re exhausted. You’ll hear how a 1950s experiment revealed the hidden power of belief, and how it shows up in the way we run our businesses and live our lives.
We’ll explore why some bookkeepers and accountants never feel like they can take a break, what ha...
Duration: 00:12:34The Money Fog — When Smart Women Stop Looking at the Truth
Sep 04, 2025Even the smartest, most capable bookkeepers and accountants sometimes avoid their own numbers. Not because they’re lazy or bad with money — but because it feels uncomfortable to face the truth.
In this episode, we uncover the hidden habits that sabotage profit, from not tracking client profitability to skipping superannuation for ourselves. We’ll explore the money beliefs that keep us stuck, why our best clients often end up funding the worst ones, and how Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money sheds light on why we do it.
Most importantly, we’ll dive into simple, pr...
From Burnout to Breakthrough — Mark Moore’s Leap into Business
Aug 28, 2025What makes someone walk away from a secure corporate career just before a global pandemic — and end up building a thriving bookkeeping firm almost by accident?
In this episode, I sit down with my very first guest, Mark Moore, to uncover the real story behind his leap from burnout in the hotel industry to building a bookkeeping business that not only survived COVID but grew because of it. From the challenges of raising a premature baby, to the reality of starting a business with almost no safety net, Mark shares the raw truth about resilience, risk-taking, and wh...
Duration: 00:58:30Why You Need to Stop Saying “I’m Just a Bookkeeper”
Aug 21, 2025“I’m just a bookkeeper.” It sounds harmless, but that one little word — just — can shape your entire business identity.
In this episode, I dig into how your self-image affects everything: your prices, your boundaries, your time freedom, and the calibre of clients you attract. We’ll look at how quietly self-worth shows up in business — and how it holds you back without you even realising.
I also share a powerful scene from The Perks of Being a Wallflower that shifted my thinking about worth, and how we accept in business what we think we deserve — not...
Duration: 00:08:32The Quiet Truth About Confidence (And How to Build It)
Aug 21, 2025Confidence isn’t something you’re born with — it’s something you build. In this episode, I dive into the real roots of confidence, including the powerful moment in my childhood that shaped how I show up today… and why so many women still feel like outsiders in business and life.
We’ll unpack what confidence actually is (and isn’t), the role of failure, imposter syndrome, and why confidence grows not through thinking or perfection — but through doing. I also share insights from The Confidence Code and the research that proves what I’ve seen over and over in my coa...
Duration: 00:11:33The Story You Tell Yourself Is Running Your Business
Aug 21, 2025Our deeply ingrained beliefs and inner dialogue shape how we show up in business — often without us even realising it. In this episode, I talk about how impostor syndrome, procrastination, and outdated identity stories sabotage our success… and what to do about it.
You’ll hear real-life examples, including how I grew up on a remote sheep station and what sheep walking to dry tanks has to do with your pricing, your habits, and your business patterns. (Yes, really.)
I also share tools and mindset shifts from Dr Joe Dispenza that have helped me — and my clien...
Duration: 00:17:37Glass Half Full, French Husband, and a Fresh Start
Aug 18, 2025Welcome to the very first episode of The Sharon Francisco Show! In this episode, I share why I created this podcast, what you can expect in future episodes, and how mindset has shaped everything in my life — from backing myself through failure and reinvention, to finding love (in a very French way).
You’ll hear what this show is really about — honest stories, bold mindset shifts, practical business insight, and a deep belief that you don’t have to play small. We’ll talk about procrastination, people-pleasing, pricing, identity… and why being “glass half full” is more than just optimi...