Our guest was Tristan Bagri, who left his corporate job to found his own Accounting firm TSB CPA. 

I can personally attest to Tristan’s honesty, humbleness, and professionalism through our numerous conversations over the years. And in the episode, it will become apparent, as we reflect on his path to taking the leap in starting his own firm. We explore topics such as how he overcame being an introvert at a young age, attribution & lessons learned at previous jobs, and how his mindset has evolved over the years to conquer mental barriers, anxieties, and social pressure. I think this episode will be relevant not only for Accountants, but really for anyone feeling stuck in a corporate environment, and exploring other paths & thought processes.

Where to find Tristan:

https://www.tsbcpa.ca/ - Website

https://www.youtube.com/@tsbcpa - Youtube

Timestamps:

(0:01:38) - How Drew & Matthew met Tristan. Internet privacy paranoia, and face cams off

(0:05:08) - Marketing & putting yourself on the internet as an introvert

(0:06:58) - How working at a call center helped Tristan burst out of the introvert bubble

(0:08:53) - Roundtable: How everyone became an introvert, and any regrets?

(0:17:18) - How Tristan’s early life & interests influenced his career choice

(0:18:28) - Getting into Accounting at BCIT

(0:20:08) - Learning on the job, things they don’t teach you at school. And alternate paths

(0:26:16) - Different branches of Accounting & Tristan’s first jobs

(0:29:17) - The Big Four vs smaller firms

(0:32:35) - Getting an Accounting job + experience, meaningful connections

(0:35:23) - Similar anxieties in Software; landing a FANG job

(0:38:57) - External influences and pressure when younger to make the right decision

(0:42:16) - CPA: The value of BCIT compared to Universities; same curriculum

(0:44:55) - Being a cog in the machine at a typical job

(0:48:06) - Making the jump to start a business

(0:51:32) - How to decide when you’re ready and have enough experience?

(0:55:42) - Changing your mindset into being ready and embracing discomfort

(1:01:11) - How did it feel after finally committing to the business ful)l-time?

(1:07:41) - Leveraging socials and technology to streamline processes

(1:11:55) - Being honest, humble, and not being afraid to say “I don’t know”

(1:18:50) - Focusing on the present, and positiv)e-thinking

(1:22:14) - Books and methods to help with mindfulness and reframing your mentality

(1:26:38) - Bonus: Wrapping up & thoughts about the podcast

(1:28:48) - Definition of fulfillment