Is Your Business Growing—Or Just Expanding?

Lately, my conversations with clients have centered around one big question:

How did 2024 measure up to your vision for success and growth?

Which naturally leads to another: What defines growth for you? What are you wanting next?

As we’ve been reviewing last year’s numbers, the discussion then naturally shifts to what’s ahead.

For R Accounting, 2023 was about scaling—bringing on new clients, growing our team, and refining our services. But 2024 had a different focus. This past year, we’ve been building a stronger foundation—investing in our internal structure, fine-tuning processes, and ensuring our team is set up for long-term success.

Now, as we look ahead to 2025, we’re not just planning for the next 12 months—we’re thinking in terms of 1, 3, and 5 years.

And in the middle of all this planning, I heard something that stuck with me:

"Work is what you do. Stewardship is how you manage what you’ve been entrusted with."

This idea is not new to me, but it made me pause—to ensure that stewardship remains the lens through which I evaluate growth. Not just as a business owner, but as a leader responsible for my team, my firm, and the people who trust us with their businesses.

Why Stewardship, Not Just Hustle, Drives Real Growth

It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of more—the next client, the next revenue goal, the next big opportunity.

But when we focus too much on what’s next, we risk neglecting what’s now.

I’ve always believed that real success isn’t just about scaling—it’s about scaling well. That means being intentional, making decisions that align with our values, and ensuring that growth doesn’t come at the expense of quality.

So instead of constantly asking, What’s next?, I’m taking a step back to consider:

✅ Am I leading my team well?
✅ Am I honoring the trust our clients place in us?
✅ Am I making decisions that support long-term sustainability?

But beyond those questions, I’m also making some personal promises to myself in this process:

✔ I will not let urgency dictate my leadership. Growth will be intentional, not reactive.
✔ I will create space for deep thinking, not just daily execution. Big-picture strategy needs room to breathe.
✔ I will invest in relationships as much as results. Clients and team members matter more than the numbers alone.
✔ I will not measure success solely by revenue, but by impact. The way we serve, support, and lead makes the difference.

Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination

I’m a planner by nature—I like to map out goals, think through strategy, read the room, know the exits and outline options to ensure we’re prepared.

But I’ve also learned that if I get too focused on where we’re going, I can miss the importance of where we are right now.

The truth is, the journey is where the real work happens. It’s where we refine, adjust, and grow into the business and leaders we’re meant to be.

If we focus on stewarding what we have today, we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.

Our Key Priorities:

🔹 Empower our team – A strong team drives better service, smarter decisions, and meaningful results.

🔹 Optimize our processes – Efficiency and quality go hand in hand, ensuring we scale sustainably.

🔹 Lead with purpose – Long-term success is built on strong values and intentional actions.

And for me personally:

🔸 Protect my time – Saying yes only to what truly moves the firm forward.
🔸 Develop my leadership – Supporting my team without micromanaging, but also without stepping away too far.
🔸 Keep the big picture in focus – Making decisions today that align with the long-term vision.

Final Thought: Leading With Stewardship

The success of this firm isn’t about how fast we grow—it’s about how well we manage what we have.

Promotions, revenue, and new opportunities will come in time, but my focus is on leading with excellence now.

Instead of chasing the next thing, I’m committing to stewarding what’s in front of me:

✔ Leading today as if the future depends on it—because it does.
✔ Investing in people, not just processes.
✔ Prioritizing sustainability over short-term wins.

Because when we take care of what we’ve been entrusted with, the right doors open—at the right time.

Best..

Sheri