My Progress - Week 8
This week felt different in a very noticeable way. Instead of spending most of my time planning or refining ideas, I found myself responding to interest and thinking through real interactions. This business is no longer just something I’m preparing for - it’s something that’s beginning to take shape in real time.
Since putting flyers up last week at Niagara College and Brock University and having my Facebook ad go live, I’ve started to receive a few client inquiries. That alone changed how I approached everything this week. What surprised me most was that the interest wasn’t limited to students. Hearing from people outside that group made me realize that the business may have a broader reach than I originally expected, which was both exciting and a bit overwhelming in a good way.
Because it’s Christmas and I had a lot of family around, I decided to use that time as an opportunity. After receiving a few inquiries, I realized I struggled a bit with my comfort level in those initial interactions, so I walked through a few mock client intakes with family members to get more comfortable with the intake process and how I explain things. They were more than willing to help, asked thoughtful questions, and gave me honest feedback. A few of them have even asked if I can assist with filing their taxes, which was incredibly encouraging and helped ease some of my nerves.
What stood out to me this week is how much confidence comes from doing, not just preparing. Responding to inquiries and practicing intakes showed me where I feel strong and where I still need to slow down and be more thoughtful. It also made me more aware of how important communication is - not just knowing the information, but explaining it clearly and calmly.
Balancing all of this during the holidays hasn’t been easy. Christmas brought a lot of competing priorities, and there were moments where it felt like everything was happening at once. At the same time, it gave me a realistic look at what running a business alongside real life actually involves. Things don’t pause, and learning how to work within that has been an important realization.
This week reinforced that Balanced Returns is something I genuinely want to continue building. Using my tax knowledge in real conversations reminded me why I enjoyed my Canadian tax courses in the first place. Being able to apply what I’ve learned, even in small ways, has made this feel like the beginning of the career path I’ve been working toward over the past three years.
Right now, I feel a mix of excitement, nerves, and motivation - but more than anything, I feel ready to keep moving forward.
