In the latest episode of the "Get Off The Treadmill" podcast, host Chuck Blakeman chats with Clayton Achen, founder of Achen Henderson, a cutting-edge virtual CPA firm. Clayton, a passionate advocate for small businesses, shares his unique journey from a sales career to becoming a significant force in accounting, focusing on tax, cloud accounting, and technology.

The conversation explores the seven stages of business ownership from Blakeman’s book, “Making Money Is Killing Your Business:”

1. Startup: Excitement without practical challenges.


2. Survival: Financial struggles and time constraints.


3. Subsistence: Breaking even but with high risk.


4. Stability: Profitability with a sense of incompleteness.


5. Success: Balance of money and time, offering more freedom.


6. Significance: Established leadership and systems for even more freedom.


7. Succession: The business operates independently, providing maximum freedom.

Clayton discusses his personal transition from stage four (Stability) to stage five (Success), emphasizing the role of clarity and intentionality in achieving this shift. He highlights the importance of building the right team and realigning financial and operational strategies to strike a balance between time and money.

Despite facing setbacks and revisiting earlier stages, Clayton remains committed to creating a business that supports freedom and sustainability. He invites listeners to connect with him for further insights or to join his mastermind group, the 3 to 5 Club.

Listeners can reach out to Clayton at clayton@achenhenderson.ca or visit AchenHenderson.ca. Chuck Blakeman encourages subscribers to stay tuned for more valuable business growth tips and strategies.