Case Study: INQUASIVE
Helping Businesses Thrive: Certum Solutions x Inquasive Success Story
Running a business comes with a lot of moving parts—especially when it comes to managing finances effectively. For Michael, the founder of Inquasive and The Disciplined Listening Method, keeping up with bookkeeping, reporting, and financial planning was becoming a challenge, taking time away from what he does best.
That’s where Certum Solutions stepped in. By implementing the right accounting tools and strategies, we helped streamline his processes, giving him back valuable time and financial clarity.
The results? Smoother operations, better decision making, and peace of mind.
Read on to see how we helped—and how we can do the same for your business.
*The following case study and client success story has been transcribed from video to text formatting. Information to view the video format can be found below.
Katie: We have partnered together to help you in your business for some time now. What originally brought you to Certum Solutions?
Mike: “I followed advice that I got long ago, that said: ‘When you run a business, you should really focus on what you're passionate about and what you're good at.’ Our resources are all limited, especially time. So I focus the time and energy I have, on the things that have the biggest impact for me. Then I find very capable, trustworthy, and talented people to do the things that I don't have the time, passion, or the expertise for. So the bookkeeping and the financial end was something that I personally didn't have the passion for, but recognized the importance of, and my research led me to you.”
“We had, I think, two meetings before we actually started doing business together. And through that time, I was able to get to know you, I was able to get to know your team, really able to work through how we were going to work together, what the relationship would look like, what I could contribute to the process, etc. And I have to say that so far everything has met or exceeded the expectations set in those first conversations.”
Katie: “Certum Solutions has provided you services for Bookkeeping + Training, Could you elaborate a little on how that’s helped?”
Mike: “Yes, the training is important for me. I certainly understand the importance of understanding where you're at financially with your business, budgets, forecasting, and receivables... all of these things. But for somebody who is consistently on airplanes, in front of groups, in meetings, and doing different things, I don't always have the time to make sure that my brain is wrapped around it. So, not only do I trust your team to be doing the work accurately for me behind the scenes, but also to be consistently training me up on how can I use the tools.”
Katie: Mike, you’re wonderfully talented, extremely smart, and the author of the Disciplined Listening Method. We've had numerous classes together where you've taught our team a whole lot about how to operate in business as well.
Katie: “Tell me a little bit about your background and what brought you to write this book? And is there anything in our team that you feel like we represent that may be in line with what you teach?”
Mike: “I appreciate you giving me space to talk about my book. So very long story short, I was a school teacher, turned certified forensic interviewer, turned executive resource. So really the common thread through all of that is, teaching. And with the disciplined listening method, what we wanted to do was integrate the non confrontational interview and interrogation best practices, with the business communication research and best practices. Really to teach people the skills, perspectives, and techniques they need to apply, in order to improve their strategic observation skills. Really, capture all of the intelligence we're being presented with in the context of any conversation, but then also apply the ethical persuasive communication skills to encourage people. To share sensitive information under vulnerable circumstances in the face of consequences, which is what we all do in our family businesses all day long. I feel like in my work with you, and your team, you really do that well.
Like tying your shoes, you do it all the time, right? That's what your expertise is. But for me, it's not. So when somebody is a technical expert and they're trying to listen to somebody else, it can be very easy for them to zone out, tune out, think about something else that's going on, or inadvertently almost show judgment, bore, or discontent with the conversation... because how can another human being not understand what I understand so well? And then on the flip side it's very easy when you're having those conversations to talk over somebody's head, talk too fast, not take the time to answer questions, or to leave out information that really might be relevant to somebody who doesn't have the same understanding you do. But, in ALL of my conversations with your team, I have never run into that issue one time.
Everybody's made me feel comfortable. They've never embarrassed me, judged me, made me feel stupid for any of the things I have or haven't done in my career, and have done a great job educating me and leveling me up along the way.
Katie: What would you tell someone else who may be on the fence about choosing us as an accountant or bookkeeper or a software trainer?
Mike: “Besides just choose you? In all, in all seriousness, anytime we're looking to choose a partnership for ourselves or our business, that's a layered decision. There's the budgetary concerns and there's the time concerns and there's the relationship concerns and there's all of those things that need to be considered. So I would ask people to look at it strategically. Whether it is how many hours a day, a week, a month, do we have to do all the things that are involved in our business where, how much energy do I have in a day or week or month and where is it best spent? How much do I maybe trust myself or the people that I started my business with because we had a shared passion to keep the financial end of our business straight at all times? And not just on a spreadsheet that we understand, but that in books that the IRS will understand or the state accountant will understand all those things as well. So looking at it strategically and understanding. Not just, welp, this is how much it's going to cost me and this is how much time it might save me.
Really getting beyond that.
To say, okay, where's the real benefit? Where does it free me up? How does it help me achieve more of the goals of my business? And then really sit down as the business owner and say, what type of partner am I looking for besides the technical expertise? What am I looking for them to bring to the table? Is it the availability to reach out at any time with questions?
Are they going to not just treat me with respect, but are they going to follow up AND answer the question I wasn't smart enough to ask, based on the question I did ask? Are there layers of products and services that they can offer me? That maybe I don't need right now, but as my business grows and develops. Now, because we have the relationship in place, we can grow into it together. Are they somebody who works with a wide variety of businesses and might have the opportunity to introduce me to somebody else who can help me along the way? These are ALL things that they should be asking themselves!
I have a confession to make...take those initial meetings, as interviews.
So, when you have that first initial meeting...go in and interview them and their team. Ask youself, are they being upfront and honest and interactive? Then make the decision if they're right for you or not. My expectation is, they will come to the decision, that it is the right fit.
By taking that strategic approach and understanding those goals prior, coming into the conversation is what will create the clear picture after, that it is the right fit and not just have people going on the gut feeling. Even if they do choose to go with you based on only a gut feeling, that might be good up front, but is it really good long term? Having worked with you and your team, I know that's what you're really looking for.”
To learn more about Michael and his business or to watch the video version of this case study, please see the links listed below.
Case Study Video Version: https://youtu.be/PI-aIP1BBkM