#374 Shiny Objects vs. Smart Systems: Choosing the Right Tools for Your Firm
Technology is changing the way we work, fast. For accountants, especially CPA moms running firms or juggling multiple hats, the pressure to “keep up” with every new app, platform, and AI tool can feel overwhelming. But in a recent episode of the CPA MOMS Podcast, Alicia Katz Pollock reminded us that innovation doesn't have to be intimidating. It can actually make your lifeeasierwhen approached the right way.
Why Accountants Often Resist Tech Changes
Alicia explained that accountants are often trained to value precision and consistency, so it makes sense that change can feel disruptive. Adopting new software may bring a temporary loss in productivity, unfamiliarity, and even a perceived loss of expertise. But those short-term growing pains? They're part of the process, and they lead to long-term freedom.
Instead of seeing new tech as a threat, Alicia suggests reframing it as an opportunity to delegate the repetitive and focus on higher-value skills like analysis, client advising, and strategic guidance.
Vetting Tools (Without Falling for Every Shiny Object)
Alicia’s advice for avoiding “shiny object syndrome” is simple. If you’re doing the same task manually more than three times, it’s time to find a tool that can automate it. But not every tool is worth your time. That’s why she encourages firm owners to vet software carefully, involve their teams in the decision process, and avoid switching tools just because a new one is trending.
For solopreneurs, the key is to identify where one change would make the biggest difference, and focus there. Don’t try to overhaul your entire system overnight.
Why Niching Down Makes Tech Easier
One of the most powerful insights Alicia shared? Firms that niche down have a much easier time building a streamlined, consistent tech stack. When you serve the same type of client over and over again, you can master the tools that best serve that niche, rather than learning a dozen systems for a dozen industries. Not only does this save time, it allows you to serve your clients more efficiently and expertly.
The Human Edge in an AI World
As AI becomes more integrated in platforms like QuickBooks, some accountants fear losing relevance. But Alicia believes the opposite is true. In fact, this is the time to lean into the very things AIcan’treplace: empathy, judgment, nuance, and emotional intelligence.
“We’re not just bookkeepers anymore,” she said. “We’re counselors. We’re advisors. We help clients make decisions that change their businesses and their lives.”
By embracing tools that handle the data, you can focus more on thestorythe data tells, and the real people behind the numbers.
Ready to build a practice that works smarter and stays human? Join a like-minded community of CPA moms athttps://cpamoms.com/start
Alicia Katz Pollock is the “Queen of QuickBooks” at Royalwise.com. Alicia’s Royalwise OWLS (On-Demand Web-based Learning Solutions) provides QuickBooks Online training and coaching to accounting firms, bookkeepers and small business owners. As a Top 50 Women in Accounting and Top 10 ProAdvisor, Alicia is a top-rated conference speaker.
Alicia’s podcast, The Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, hovers in the Top 50 for US Business News. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching, with many QuickBooks textbooks on Amazon. Through her signature training portal, Alicia provides scalable training solutions for accounting firms, reducing turnover, enhancing staff productivity and offering a standout value-add for clients, solidifying her as a transformative industry figure.
