Some of the best business lessons don’t come from a textbook or a seminar.

They show up in conversations with friends, in books we read, and in the small choices we make each day.

Recently, a few themes kept popping up in my own week, about habits, asking for help, imperfect action, and redefining what success means.

They’re lessons that apply to life in general, but they’re also incredibly relevant to anyone running a business, keeping up with bookkeeping, or just trying to stay on top of it all.

Let’s break it down.

1. Baby Steps Really Do Count

James Clear’s Atomic Habits is full of practical strategies for making positive changes.

But here’s the thing: you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to implement every piece of advice at once. That’s the fastest route to burnout.

Instead, baby steps matter most. Think of them as small investments in your future self.

For example:

• Instead of overhauling your bookkeeping, start by reconciling one bank account.

• Rather than setting ten goals for your business this quarter, pick one and focus deeply on it.

• Tie a new habit to an existing one, like reviewing yesterday’s sales every morning while sipping your coffee.

Those incremental steps may not feel huge, but over time, they build momentum. Progress compounds. And before you know it, you’re miles ahead of where you started.

2. The Value of Asking for Help

I loaned my Windows PC to a friend who needed to open a QuickBooks Desktop file.

That simple favor saved her $800.

On another occasion, I hopped on Zoom to help someone quickly blur sensitive info in a video.

For me, it was ten minutes. For her, it saved hours of frustration.

These moments reminded me: asking for help and offering it go a long way.

As business owners, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we have to do it all ourselves. We don’t.

Whether it’s asking a colleague about software, hiring a VA, or outsourcing tasks you don’t love, leaning on others can free you up for the things that matter most.

It also works both ways. When you’re the one helping, you build trust, strengthen your community, and create goodwill.

3. Imperfect Action Beats No Action

It’s better to do something poorly than not at all. 

A more modern way of saying G. K. Chesterton’s “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly”. 

How often have you delayed sending an email, posting online, or launching a service because it wasn’t “perfect” yet? The truth is, waiting for perfection keeps you stuck.

Instead:

• Post the video even if the lighting isn’t great.

• Send the invoice even if the formatting isn’t perfect.

• Launch the service even if you plan to refine it later.

Every imperfect attempt gives you feedback, teaches you something, and builds momentum.

You’ll never get to perfect without first going through imperfect.

4. What Is Success, Really?

A friend told me she was considering some big changes in her life and worried it meant she was a failure. That sparked a conversation about how we define success.

The dictionary says success is “reaching a goal or accomplishing something you set out to achieve.”

Notice what’s missing? Any mention of money, comparison to others, or a single universal standard.

Success is personal.

For some, it’s financial independence. For others, it’s having time with family, building a business they love, or simply feeling in control of their books.

When you define success on your own terms, you free yourself from the endless cycle of comparison. You also give yourself permission to celebrate wins that might otherwise go unnoticed.

5. How These Lessons Apply to Bookkeeping

Let’s bring this back to the practical side of business, your bookkeeping. These same themes apply:

• Baby steps: If your bookkeeping feels overwhelming, pick one thing to tackle this week, maybe reviewing your expense categories. Small actions still move you forward.

• Ask for help: Don’t hesitate to lean on professionals or resources. A little guidance can save you hours (or dollars).

• Imperfect action: Don’t wait until your books are flawless to look at your Profit and Loss. Running the report now, even if messy, gives you insights you wouldn’t have otherwise.

• Redefine success: Maybe your success isn’t about doing your books perfectly. Maybe it’s about understanding them well enough to make confident business decisions.

6. A Free Resource to Help You

If you’re ready to take a baby step with your bookkeeping, I’ve got something for you: the Review Your QuickBooks Course.

It’s a free, self-paced course that walks you through how to review your books step by step. Think of it as training wheels for understanding your numbers. You’ll build confidence without feeling overwhelmed, and you’ll know your financial reports actually reflect reality.

It’s the perfect way to put some of these lessons into practice.

Final Thoughts

Success doesn’t come from grand gestures or waiting until everything is perfect.

It comes from small steps, asking for help when you need it, taking imperfect action, and deciding for yourself what “success” looks like.

So this week, give yourself permission to:

• Do one small thing to move forward.

• Reach out for help if you’re stuck.

• Take action even if it’s not perfect.

• Define success on your own terms.

And if bookkeeping is part of the equation, check out the Review Your QuickBooks Course. It might just be the baby step that makes a big difference.