Play The Prevention Game

When I recently introduced myself to a few local business owners, I wrote something to the effect of, "Oftentimes, you don't realize how severe a headache has become until it's gone."

Books and bills—nobody loves them. They are, perhaps, the ultimate headache. Yet they're also some of the most important tools.

During the growing pains of a business, bookkeeping is often one of the first responsibilities to drift to the bottom of the list. Eventually, outsourcing becomes a necessity. I'd like to offer a different way of thinking about it.

Don't outsource your bookkeeping because you're overwhelmed. Outsource it before you are.

The goal isn't simply to solve problems. It's to prevent them. If your books already feel like a burden—too complex, too time-consuming, or something you dread opening—it's probably time to make a call.

The more I think about it, the more I realize this isn't just true in business.

As a cowgirl, I've learned the same lesson in horsemanship. Nearly everything we do on horseback—especially in the mountains—is about prevention. We teach the horse to yield, stand quietly, cross water, and trust us long before those skills are needed. Because when something goes wrong miles from the trailhead, the consequences can be significant.

Good horsemanship isn't reactive; it's preventative.

I think good bookkeeping is much the same.

Neither one is particularly glamorous. Both require consistency. And both have a remarkable way of giving you confidence when life inevitably throws something unexpected your way.

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