Deborah Harris has spent 25 years of her life with a partner whose Accounting business was always looking backwards. Accounting is about looking over things that have happened, which is good for knowing where you’re at currently but doesn’t help determine where you need to go.

Realising this was something she was passionate about, Deborah began to build a business with Jeremy that looked to this future. Starting with CFO engagements, it enabled Deborah to start building products which helped entrepreneurs to look at how they could grow. Whilst ensuring the business they had didn’t suffer from poor cash flow, which is one of the top five reasons 70% of small business fail in their first year.

A New Business Growing
 

For a time the pair were delivering both the Accounting and CFO work under the same business, but there came a need in the Summer of 2019 to separate them. Deborah and Jeremy launched ‘The Grow CFO’. This new separate enterprise was focused on helping entrepreneurs not only to survive but to thrive as their business grew.

When COVID hit in early 2020, the business didn’t suffer financially. They found people always need support with their finances and growth, but the products Deborah and her team offered no longer served the needs of business pivoting in crisis times.

In her personal life, Deborah also had some personal investment challenges i.e. money to invest but unsure of where to put it. To tackle her challenges, she took a number of routes.

Growing Within Genius Group

Deborah has been a member of the Genius Group community for over five years and an active member of Crystal Circle, so when the opportunity came to get more involved with the teaching arm and getting to interact with entrepreneurs directly Deborah seized it.

The summer of 2020 saw Deborah presenting in the Crisis Leadership Academy and then go on to run not one, but two, micro-schools within the Entrepreneur Summer School, enabling her to assist over 70 students to manage their cash flow and pitch their new ideas.

It was within these spaces Deborah was able to test and fine-tune her products. In particular, a Cash Flow Playbook that enabled Entrepreneurs to fully assess their financial situation and begin planning for the future they wanted.

Once many of the kinks were ironed out, Deborah was able to translate this into a 1-2-1 product, which then opened up her ability to help on different stages of need and increase her businesses income from education-based products. Something she plans to do more of in the future.

Working on Growth

But it wasn’t just a year of delivering great services. Deborah also took the time to work on her business. By attending Wealth Dynamics Masters in December 2020, Deborah explored new ways to work with the Entrepreneurs of the future. Her belief that the ½ a billion people affected by cash flow issues in small business was a task much bigger than she and her company could solve but she knew she could be a part of the solution.

Her WDM Winning plan involved the move towards an Entrepreneurial Bank. One that funded ideas and much-needed tech that traditional banks wouldn’t touch. Deborah also began dreaming up simpler ways to help, such as scorecards to help early entrepreneurs get to grips with their numbers sooner. Congratulations again Deborah for the WDM APAC win!

The Growing Results

The biggest focus for Deborah moving in 2021 is the impact she makes. From 10x-ing the value of her own business in 2020 to the AUD$300 million growth value of the businesses she worked with, Deborah remains passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow and supporting them in creating a greater impact on the world.

The results of Deborah’s efforts speak for themselves. With her teaching schools achieving over 100 students in total, and fourth months of continued record growth in her business. Her team tripling in those same four months. It really has been Deborah’s year, and as she moves into 2021 with plans to help other CFOs invest their money into impact-driven businesses. She truly is inspirational.

Problems Faced

Products no longer fit for purpose
Money ready for investment without a plan

Solutions Found

Became Faculty for Genius Group to deliver products
Joined Wealth Dynamics Masters for future planning
Member of Crystal Circle for mentoring and advice at the right level

Results Produced

Successfully Run Microschool
New multi-level products and income stream
4 Months of Record Growth in Business
Grew team x3 in 4 Months

Deborah’s Links

Genius U - https://www.geniusu.com/users/202545
https://www.gillmckerrow.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahtheentrepreneur/
Growcfoco.com
https://twitter.com/philanthropydeb