There’s More to Me Than Being an Accountant

If you know me, you’ll probably know me as Glenn from Swan Saunders, accountant, mentor and business coach.

But there’s a little more to me than accounts, tax returns and spreadsheets!

I’ve spent over 20 years working in accounting and business management. During that time, I’ve experienced business from both sides of the desk. I’ve advised business owners, managed teams, been part of a business partnership and eventually taken the leap to establish my own accountancy practice, Swan Saunders, in 2023.

Along the way, I’ve also developed my passion for business coaching and mentoring, helping other business owners navigate the challenges that come with running a business.

And believe me, there are plenty of those!

So, why Glenn’s Notebook?

I’ve wanted to create somewhere I can share my thoughts, experiences and opinions without everything having to revolve around accounting.

Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be frustrating, exhausting and, at times, a little lonely. There are decisions to make, people to manage, bills to pay and never quite enough hours in the day.

Having experienced many of these challenges myself, and through working closely with other business owners, I’ve developed plenty of thoughts about what it really takes to run a business.

Some of those thoughts might be useful. Others might spark a debate. And occasionally, I might just want to get something off my chest!

That’s what Glenn’s Notebook is all about.

What can you expect?

Small business in the news- From government announcements and changes in legislation to the rising costs of running a business, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on current news stories and what they could mean for small business owners.

Not just repeating the headlines, but looking at how decisions made elsewhere affect the people actually running businesses.

The realities of running a business – I’ll be sharing my personal opinions on the challenges facing small businesses, from employing people to finding customers, dealing with rising costs and trying to achieve some sort of work-life balance.

I’ll also talk about my own experiences, including the decisions I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learned and the things I’d probably do differently if I had my time again.

Life outside the office – There’s more to life than running a business, and I think it’s important to make time for the things that matter outside work.

I’m involved in charity work and enjoy supporting my local community, including volunteering with my local Rotary Club.

I’ll be sharing some of those experiences, the events I get involved in and the fantastic work being done by local charities and volunteers.

Coaching, mentoring and lessons learned – Through my coaching and mentoring work, I get to have some fascinating conversations with business owners.

Without sharing anyone’s confidential information, I’ll explore common challenges, different ways of thinking and the lessons I’ve picked up from more than two decades in business.

And because I’m still running my own businesses, I’ll also share how I’m putting some of that advice into practice myself.

I certainly don’t have all the answers!

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there’s rarely just one right way to run a business.

What works brilliantly for one person might be completely wrong for another. We all have different ambitions, circumstances and ideas about what success looks like.

I’m still learning, still making mistakes and occasionally wondering why I thought something was a good idea in the first place!

That’s part of the reason I wanted to start writing. It’s an opportunity to share my perspective, reflect on my experiences and hopefully start some interesting conversations along the way.

And I promise it won’t all be about business. There will be the occasional personal story, some charity updates, perhaps a little humour and probably an appearance or two from Mr Pickles, my loyal sausage dog.

So, welcome to Glenn’s Notebook!