Is being totally daunted normal? - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

gerry · Senior Member

Is being totally daunted normal?

Julie Dawn · Senior Member

Hi Gerry,
Dont worry you are not the only one........I am also just starting out and been working in accounts for over 10 years......and also feel very daunted about my new venture! I havent found any clients yet though but have a meeting with an accounting business tomorrow afternoon.
Its strange that I have been preparing management accounts for limited companies and yet feel nervous about doing bookkeeping for small companies!
Julie

gerry · Senior Member

oh thank goodness I am not going totally mad then!!

I know what you mean, I have too produced management account for million pound turnovers and yet am struggling with my clients credit card, what is that all about?

I hope it gets easier or maybe that we need to find our confidence again.

Good luck with you meet tomorrow and thank you for the support.

Gerry

Julie Dawn · Senior Member

Yes I think its a just a case of using the confidence we have at work....I am sure after 6 years in my current job my boss would of said something by now if I wasnt up to it!! Thanks I will let you know how it goes!
Julie

Terri · Senior Member

I had no experience all before I started studying bookkeeping. My first client had paperwork starting from Feb 06 so I have had to work on all three years of his accounts all at once which at times feels a little daunting. I am sure that with time and experience my confidence will grow and I am sure that your old confidence will return with time. I have two small children who I look after 24 hours a day 7 days a week, I am very confident at looking after them and most of it comes as second nature, however if someone was to leave a small baby with me for a few hours, I know that I would be a nervous wreck :D You soon get used to how you do things and thats when your confidence improves.

Weebly_one · Veteran Member

You are not alone, a crisis of confidence is always common if you have not been doing this job before, or even when you take on a new client.

I have found networking locally has helped me with discussing problems as I have met other local bookkeepers - although you would think we are in competition there seems to be enough work to go round, as personality also comes into me getting jobs where I get on well with the client. Having other book-keepers to chat over issues with is a real help.

If you are in the Milton Keynes/Aylesbury/Northampton area then I am happy to put you in touch with the groups I attend, or look out for groups in your area.

If you like women only networking try Athena, which although I am not a member you can go free to theor coffee mornings called Capuccino Connections. Or another group is Ladies who Latte, which in my area are happy to welcome men along too as long as you don;t mind female dominated conversation!

Weebly_one · Veteran Member

Gerry,

Also before you spend money on a Sage course per se, try and find a local Sage trainer or book-keeper to offer you one on one training on the clients books itself - you will find it is much more cost effective than an abstract course in a sterile classroom where you won;t be able to apply half of what you learn!

Julie Dawn · Senior Member

Hi Weebly One, I am in the Luton area. I did have a quick meeting yesterday with another accounting company who may be able to put some bookkeeping business my way in a few months which is good news.

gerry · Senior Member

Hi Weebly one

Unfortunately I am in the Southampton area so am out of your networking area, I am interested though in how you get to find out about these groups, sharing with other people would be great, I'll look into that further.

Also, very interested in your comment about one to one sage training, I didn't know this exsisted, any idea how I go about finding one.

Thank you very much for this advice

gerry

Annielabrador · Member

Gerry, I am terrified too! I am currently waiting for my level 1 exam results from ICB to come back and feel nervous about whether I have passed or not even though I have worked in accounts for 23 years!
Regarding SAGE, I had never used it before my last job and was pretty much given the computer and and a password. I bought myself an idiots guide to SAGE from amazon and found it was very easy. To be honest I wouldnt bother going on a SAGE course as it is such a simple system that with a simple handbook you should be fine.
Good luck

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Hi there,

I've been using Sage for a good few years now and have been on a couple of sage courses and have picked things up fairly easily.

It's not something that I have thought of doing before but i would be more than happy to give you any help you might need on Sage. Is there anything in particular that you are struggling with?

Just drop me a line with any queries - shame we are not a little closer or we could have met up for an afternoon and I could run through a few things with you.

gerry · Senior Member

HiAnne and Ann-marie.

Its been a while since I have been online as i have been on holiday. I really appreciate your replies tho and have an update for you.
As I was thrown into the deep end with Sage, i did buy the idioits guide and have learnt as I have gone along, I even managed the year end and I must admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought, I guess fear of the unknown is worse that the actuality.
Also, i have found that my confidence is returning, I think taking on any new client and accounts package will be daunting but now I have conquered enough to get by I am hopeful that the confidence will continue to flo.
Thank you Ann-marie for your offer of help, i am ok at the moment but i am sure that something will come up soon so you may hear from me again.
I can actually say that the horror of being daunted is now being replaced by enjoyment so my advice to anyone else in the daunting period is to hang in there!!!

Gerry

Terri · Senior Member

I am glad that you are feeling more confident Gerry and getting more enjoyment out of what you are doing, I feel daunted at times, but I do enjoy what I do and I think that it is definitely the career for me.

Terri

Jason Dormer · Member

Being daunted is good, it means that everything is being considered and taken seriously - its those that are too cocksure when starting up who usually come unstuck.

Good luck!