Meet Morgan Livingston | Bookkeeper & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Livingston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was working in a job that I wasn’t happy in and I remember thinking that even if I left that job I would probably end up in a similar situation. Every business has its own issues and office politics and I felt like no matter where I went, it would be the same. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the only way to avoid that would be to work for myself.

I also realized that throughout the course of my career, I always had to take a pay cut to start a new job. This concept is baffling to me. I know that’s not how it is for everyone and every position but for an administrative assistant, that’s how it always was. Every time I started at a new company, I basically had to start at the bottom and work my way up.

I’ve never felt truly valued in any of my positions. The only time I felt valued is when I would give my notice and they would tell me how much they would miss me when I was gone.

Lastly, I never wanted to be tied down to a specific location because of my job, If I wanted to move, I didn’t want to have to start back over at the bottom.

Although I have lived in Colorado my entire life, I still like the idea of location freedom.

So I guess to sum it up, I had many reasons to start my own business but the biggest reason is that I value myself and I am determined to create the life I desire without allowing someone else to determine my worth.

What should our readers know about your business?
I offer bookkeeping services to small businesses. What sets me apart from other bookkeepers is that I’m a very empathetic person. I tend to really put myself into my clients’ shoes and do all that I can to help them even if it’s not included in our contract. I’m a very caring and considerate person and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I want to know people like truly know them. I’m not one for small talk.

Growing my business has not been easy. I’m an introvert and am usually most comfortable behind my computer but the biggest lesson that I have learned is that people and community are so important even if you are a soloprenuer. My biggest challenge has been getting out of my comfort zone and really putting myself out in front of the people that I can best serve. There is something ingrained in me that says if I talk about myself then I am being selfish so I rarely do. But what I’ve realized is that by never talking about myself, people in my life actually don’t really know very well. So I’ve learned to ope up more and be more vulnerable. I’ve learned that it’s ok to not have all the answers all the time. People are good, understanding, and forgiving.

I want the world to know that I love God, I love people and I truly believe that I was put on this earth to do the work that I do and to help others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite place to be is in the mountains. So If I had someone visiting I would probably take them camping. I like to get out of the city as much as possible but if we were to go to Denver I would probably take them to Postino’s for lunch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom is my biggest cheerleader. She has always been supportive of any decision I’ve made. What I love so much about my mom’s support is that when I come to her with a new hair-brained idea, she doesn’t say “that’s not going to work.” She gives me the space to try and even fail at times. And she supports me either way. She reminds me all the time how proud of me she is and how much she believes in me. She asks me about what’s going on in my business and is genuinely interested.

If it wasn’t for my mom, I would have never been able to pursue any of my dreams. I wouldn’t have been able to try and fail and struggle along the way. She has helped me in so many ways, I could never thank her enough. And now we are actually in business together operating a small boutique.

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to mention 2 people but I would also like to make a shout-out to My aunt Linda. She has been my mentor in business for more than 13 years. She has taught me how to be a strong and confident businesswoman. She also has given me so many opportunities to learn and grow my skills and knowledge. I attribute the majority of my knowledge and experience to her and working with her for so many years.

Website: https://baneberrybookkeeping.com/

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