Shivani Gupta

Welcome to the AskShivani Podcast. I'm really excited I got to meet Jeremy Jones a few months ago through my connections through Entrepreneurs Organization or EO, as we call it. And I thought that he would be fabulous when he presented to us to have on this particular podcast.

Let me tell you a little bit about him. Before we dive into some questions with him. Starting in 2001 in the public practice Jeremy continue to broaden his skill set. And he got a lot of experience in different levels and aspects of accounting, taxation and business advisor. He's now got a very solid knowledge of taxation laws as well as commercial footing. And he's got a lot of amazing big clients that he works with. He started Pitcher Partners as a graduate and now has built up his profile into being a partner with them. While on his accounting career, he also moved into state out of Queensland, Brisbane, but he always wanted to be able to return to Pitcher Partner in Brisbane. And to continue that partnership, he's now in a leadership role. His areas in his expertise lies in family-owned businesses, and how they achieve financial goals. And recently, Jeremy was talking to us around my forum, around incentives and how to build that in. And so, Jeremy, I know I could probably read your CV for another five minutes, but I just really wanted to welcome you to the podcast, and thanks for joining me.

Jeremy Jones

Thank you for having me.

Shivani Gupta

Yeah, whenever I read things like this, Jeremy, there's so much history and background in terms of who you are and what you got to do that. So, tell us a little bit about, you know, what are the adversity or challenges? In terms of you know, it's always the highlights and lowlights as I call it, what are the great things and not so great things that have really transformed you into who you are. Tell us a little bit about that journey and as a partner in Pitcher Partners.

Jeremy Jones

Yeah, it’s sort of an interesting journey. I don't necessarily know whether I've had too many adversities throughout my life. But there are always challenges as you go through them. And it's not just some even line all the way to where you are, there are ups and downs, and it's a bit of a roller coaster. And it's just about dealing with each of those as they come. And just tackling a problem with that, trying to be at the endpoint straightaway. It's really funny, we've got a lot of graduates coming through our office each year. So we take on 10-15 graduates. And the one thing that I always say to them along the way is you've got a 40-year career ahead of you. Don't try and cram everything into your first two years now, we hear a lot of them that want to get their CI or they want to become a manager. But that only comes with time and experience, you can be the smartest person in the room. But without any of that time or experience you’re under your belt.

People that have clients genuinely want to hear that experience from you. So, it takes some time to get where you are. And so for me, it's just been about enjoying that journey, and not rushing everything along the way. On now, I guess probably more than halfway through my career, but I've still got a long way to go. So even though I've made it that position where I want to be a partner, I still got a long way to actually go. But for me, it's always just about having a little bit of that perspective as well. So just having a habit, having to think about where I am in my career, where other people are in just - yeah, really sort of realizing that, I've had a good career. And I've still got a long way to go.

But yeah, I don't know necessarily about challenges. I think each period of time brings with it its own challenge. There are certain points in my career where I have found it a little bit more challenging. I look back probably a couple of years ago when I had three young children. So, and three kids under the age of four, and trying to get to partner so moved from manager to partner. I look back now and don't know how I actually did it. I think I was going through a bit of a, I don't know, perhaps a mental breakdown at the time. But at that point in time, it was just a matter of, you just do what you need to get through and I've come out the other side of that and look back and think yeah, that was a bit of a challenging time but something that I wouldn't change because it's you know, It's my main who I am and realize that well, what I'm looking for, both in my career and outside of my career, family as well.

Shivani Gupta

Awesome, that's great. You know, so many people can relate to that when you're trying to get your career off to a particular level. And then you're also managing down families. In fact, we were just talking about that before we hit the record button today, in terms of what about when other challenges come your way, obviously, challenges come your way through work, and particularly being at the level that you are people challenges, client challenges, but also with your family. Like all these other challenges, sometimes, you know, people have other challenges around health or aging parents, but some people have like a process, or they have a ritual or methodology. Like when challenges come your way. Like, do you have this system being a great accountant? Or like, how do you go about dealing with it? How do you process, and how do you get through the solutions, really interested in that process that you go through?

Jeremy Jones

Yeah. So, I think that's interesting. You know, when I first became a partner, I found that it was always just problems coming my way. And in hindsight, so you know, I first became a partner about six years ago now. And in hindsight, that's logical. Because if it was easy, it would have already been answered or done by the time it gets made. So now, I'm dealing predominantly with problems, some larger, some smaller, but in some way, there's a problem that's to be gone through. I think, for me, it's always about just breaking it down into those manageable chunks. So not looking at the whole problem, necessarily, if it's a rather big problem, but just breaking it down into bite sized chunks. And if you can work through those bite sized chunks, then it provides some greater clarity, and everything just doesn't seem so overwhelming.

So, I think that's a person. And that was something that I was once told by one of my mentors that I was going through, don't try to deal with it all, just manage little chunks of it, and get your way to the end. And that's really helped me through my career. But outside of that, so that's the sort of methodology in working through issues. You know, I won't necessarily talk about technical issues in accounting and tax, but generally, from just any general problems that I come across, it's breaking things down. But the other thing that I always find that as well as just talking through issues with other people that have experience, you know, and, you know, I'm lucky enough that I've got 19 fellow partners within our organization, and it's, again, I'm really lucky that I can go in for upon their experiences. So those were 40 years in the, in their career, or within the industry, generally, they've seen almost everything, not completely everything, but almost everything.

So going and talking to some of those people, if you're genuinely reaching out for some help, or for some guidance, you will almost always find someone that was willing to have a talk to you, within, again, within my profession. So for me, I don't have one mentor, but I've got lots of people that I can pour upon, along the way and throughout our office here. But not only throughout our office, other people that I've worked with throughout my career, that I can actually go to them and actually draw upon some of that experience.

So, I think for me, it's all about just willing to ask, that willingness wants to help, and almost always people will provide that and hope to you. And finally, I think the other thing that I look at always is just the support of the colleagues around me. So that's not only talking about my fellow partners, but talking about other staff members, but senior and more junior. Because I was once told a problem shared is a problem halved. And it's just something that's always stuck with me if I've ever got a problem. I don't need to necessarily deal with it alone. So, I might go to those other staff members or colleagues or whomever they might be, and share the problem with them. They may not have the right answer, they may not have answer, but at least you've shared that problem with them. And it's quite amazing that just the way that mental relief it actually gives you are actually sharing that and having that discussion with them and that actually is my social life as well. So, family life and just again, I talked about I've got three young boys at the moment. So right at the moment, they said at nine and 11 and there have been people having families well and truly before me so drawing upon the experience of other fathers or parents out there. It's amazing what people will bring to the table and be able to help you out with. So yeah, for me, it's really either breaking the problem down into chunks or talking it through with other people. And almost always that provides some sort of resolution to any challenges.

Shivani Gupta

Yeah, that's great. Now I understand, Jeremy that you've been wanting to be an accountant since the age of 13. And it was pretty clear to you that this is what you wanted to do. And I loved your note to me, which I know you might not believe it, but I did.

So that's kind of the past, what about looking into the future, what are some of the future aspirations they may be around work, they may be around your family, but they also may be around for you personally. So, share with us what some of your future aspirations are, again, please choose the timeframe you like whether it's a year or 10 years, or whatever it may be. Share with us your future aspiration.

Jeremy Jones

I think I might have mentioned that before, you know, I'm on a bit over probably halfway through my career. And even though I've made it to that position of a partner, we always as partners just see ourselves as progressing. Even though it's partners that are stepping out of practice, they will still be learning from that outside in the general industry. But we also learn a lot from the younger staff coming through as well. So, they teach us things, which is really good to see.

But for me, it will be about that continued career progression through to becoming what is a senior leader within the firm and a senior partner, which I know that I have gotten to this point, but I've still got a long way to go to be seen as what I'd see as a senior partner, and I've got a lot to do still to my clients on the way. So, you know, I've sort of got a bit of a mental idea about where I want to be, which is, you know, sort of around the age of 60, or 65, to be finishing up in my career, and then branching out into retirement, but I don't have any aspirations of moving into different roles or different professions. So, as I say, I've still got a lot to go in my distinct career. So, I sort of see that, yeah, I'll continue to become a senior person within the firm or a senior leader within the firm and someone that they can come to, and know that I can give those experiences or help with the challenges that arise.

And it's quite funny, because I see it now with some of our more junior staff members that are actually coming through, they are trying to deal with challenges. And it is something that I have seen through my career, and I'm able to help guide them through what they think, insurmountable problems are actually not that insurmountable. So for me, I'm looking to get to that senior leader position, but they're on from that, but I would like to also then give back to the community as well in some fashion, through some charity, or some other organizations. And when that will come, I don't know quite at the moment. My view is probably for the moment, it's all about family. And so you know, my time outside of my career, which I'm continuing to progress is all about family.

So, my weekends are filled with sports, which I love to do. But it's a sport with keen sport. So, I don't really have the time to devote to those organizations. But I have seen a lot of our fellow or my fellow partners getting to the point where they're getting at the end of their career, they have a lot to give back to both the profession, and the community. And they do that for charitable means. Because we can offer a lot up to 35 or 40 years within an industry and do and so. I think for me, that's where it will be. That's where my profession will lead me to.

I think from our personal side of things, it's really about getting to my children through those formative years that the youngest ones at seven, he's a challenge, a great challenge, mind you, but a challenge nonetheless. Getting him through to adulthood, and thereafter. Really trying to do a bit of travel. For me. I'm not well-traveled. I know a lot of people are out there but for me, I sort of look at tomorrow time as my travel time. So, a lot to look forward to. But yeah, a lot of water to go on and talk before I get there as well.

Shivani Gupta

That's great, Jeremy, and like you might have answered part of this next question, but other philosophies that you live by and I know it comes through in the way that you speak and how you conduct yourself and obviously around your boys and their sport, etc. Tell us a bit about you know, philosophies and sometimes they are quotes and sometimes there are people that you follow, your own values, and then your own philosophies in terms of how you want to live. Tell us a bit about that in terms of how do you move forward and what philosophies you use when you have to make decisions, etc.

Jeremy Jones

Yeah, I mean, it worked for me, and I have touched on it slightly. It really, for me, its family comes first. And I was once told this by a rather successful businessperson that I knew that he would put family above everything, because whatever would happen in his career, or whatever would happen with his job, he would know that he could always fall back on his family. And that's what drove him throughout his life. And I sort of look back and think, yes, that's exactly what happens with me as well.

I know I work hard when I'm at work. But when I am at home, it's about well devoting that time that I've got to my family. And yeah, it's one of the reasons why I've chosen Pitch Partners, personally, because it is very family oriented. A lot of partners that I know, I know their families, I know their spouses, their kids, we've sort of grown up together. And I looked for an organization. And its sort of just grown with me throughout the years. But I look for an organization where it drives that family atmosphere. Now we've got Christmas parties, where spouses and children come along, we've got family days, throughout the year, it's just to get some of that connection between the work and the home life. So yeah, for me, family, comes first and foremost. But outside of that, I think, really, in my general business dealings, the value that I like to try and live by is just being kind and genuine, to the people you work with, your clients, your colleagues, whoever it is, you're actually dealing with. Just genuinely been fine. You just don't know what they're going through. And almost everyone that I met in any job that they're doing, they're just trying to do their best. I don't know too many people that don't want to do their best in what they're actually doing. So, I think for me, it's about that respect, and their kindness and genuineness. And that's really held true throughout my career.

You know, a lot of people hear about the ATO and think that the ATO is a big bad police within Australia. And that's so far from the case when I actually deal with them. Generally, on the other end, while I provide them with respect, almost always, they're going to provide me with respect in return. So there's not this real adversarial approach between me and when I'm dealing with the ATO. And for the most part, they're just genuine people that are trying to get through their day, trying to provide for their families as well. So that's an example for me. But it would be similar to every other person, just genuinely working out there, whether it's a retail worker trying to deal with their customers, or a professional dealing with their clients away, whatever it is, yeah, I think, just trying to be genuine and kind. Because you really don't know what people are going through. So that's probably the second one that I live by.

And just the other ones, which are a part of what I've always worked towards, and what my family, again, has driven us towards is just hard work. You know, if you're going to be at work, you might as well put the full effort into it, you're spending on time doing things that you want to continually enhance or advance your personal self, so yeah, might as well put full effort into it, and it pays dividends in the end. And that's sort of for me led into another thing that someone wants, told me to have a plan, because if you've got a plan, then you've got to focus on something to work towards. And that is something that I have just always lived by. And but it wasn't until someone actually said to me, if you focus on something, it will come through. And so for me, that may not always be the case. But for me, it was when, I wanted to become an accountant. I sort of worked towards that. I wanted to have a family so I work towards that. And everything that I've looked forward to in my life has come through.

So yeah, I mean, then that hard work having a plan being prepared. And then the final one is again, probably which most people I think would generally espouse is just integrity, honesty and things of that they're actually doing. So for me, you know, I think I am fairly honest and barely or have a higher degree of integrity in what I do. And, for the most part, all of our clients have that same sort of respect, so not doing anything illegal or wanting to do anything that's deliberately going against the ethical standards that I try to uphold. And anyway, yeah, there's a few things that I live by, but it all comes back down to probably family first.

Shivani Gupta

Amazing, I love that. There's a few things and we can always have a longer conversation on, you know, working hard and making sure that we do that. And you know, I think there are some people that just get that and have that built in off and from your family values and, and others that don't do so. And I'm always worried about the productivity index falling in Australia, and you know, how we get more people to be able to do that. But that's for another conversation. And at a family level for young boys, lots of stuff to solve lots of, you know, clients to serve. What about for you? What do you do for your own mental wellness, Jeremy? Do you have rituals or practices? do you do them daily, or do you do them once a month, tell us a bit about what you do to manage your own mental wellbeing.

Jeremy Jones

And again, it probably comes back to some of the people that I have had from my career that helped mentor me again, not in that formal capacity, but just people that I've looked up to and inspired to. And one of those people said, just you've got to take time out for yourself. And it's quite amazing. I've talked to a number of partners around the office here. And there is something throughout the week that they do just for themselves, not for a long time, but just for themselves some one particular partner here for an hour and a half. They will watch a movie every week. And it's a certain time that they just set aside. And, that's their indulgence. They have ice cream and watch a movie, for others, you know, can be their own things.

For me, I've got a Sunday afternoon walk. I did it yesterday. So today is Monday. But yeah, I did it yesterday. It's 3:30 pm. Sometime around there for about an hour and a half or two hours. I've got a route that I actually walked with that, if I don't do that, I don't set myself up for the week. And it's just a way of clearing my own mind and get into that fresh air into the lungs. And yeah, so for me, it's that hour and a half walk on a Sunday afternoon just on my own.

But outside of that, as well, If I'm really struggling with something, you know, something that's really tough or getting me down or problem that I can't quite get away, though. It's about getting away from the desk. And so once again, I was told by another mentor, if you're really struggling, just get up from the desk, go for a 15-minute walk, half an hour walk around the block, the focus of that will bring back to whatever you're trying to achieve will be amazing. And so that is something that I will still do, I will regularly do, I could do a walk where I just get away from the desk to try and get some perspective back and get some fresh air into the lungs. And funnily enough, I have found that some have just engaged through our firm an entity called Epic Bookworm.

And one of the things I have these things called pulses where it's a survey every week when I just manage or monitor just the well-being personally. And so, there are eight questions, but one of the questions that regularly comes up there is “have you gone outside and bought some fresh air throughout the day recently?” And I asked them about that question. And they said yeah that people with better mental well-being are those that get outside and get some fresh air. And it's quite amazing that that's something that I didn't quite know was right, or something that I did well, but it's something I've lived by. So yeah, I think for my mental wellbeing. Yeah, it's really about that taking time to get away and for myself.

The other thing that I would love to do as well is just present at the moment. I've talked a lot about family here. When I'm really sort of struggling with a particular concept or topic. all know that I won't be present in the moment. So you know, I might be at the dinner table, but I won't really be there. For me If I know that I've got to snap out of that, in my mental wellbeing, my family sort of brings me back into reality a little bit, just shows me a bit of that perspective. So, yeah, I think being present in the moment, as well as that time out for yourself, in whatever you're doing, particularly down times, that helps me in any way for my mental wellness.

Shivani Gupta

That's amazing. Thank you. And it's so funny, isn't it? That simple questions like that, you know, the firm gets asked every Monday morning and getting that work done and doing the different things that you do often it's that simplicity, to be able to do that from mental illness. And it's such a big issue. So it's, you know, something that I really like to focus on. Jeremy, if people want to contact you, follow you and they go, hey, I need some help with what I do. Tell us what's the best place to find you? And perhaps any platforms that you might be in as well.

Jeremy Jones

Yeah, I'm still a big fan of telephones, telephone calls. And that's much many of my junior staff. They don't love emails, but yet, I can always be called on the phone. So, my workplace here is Pitcher Partners in Brisbane, which is +61 7 3222 8444  but then obviously through email as well. So that's the common form of communication, which is [email protected] and then LinkedIn. So, I'm not as good on the social media side of things, but certainly got the LinkedIn profile as well. So, I can be contacted there it’s https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jones-88311891/

Shivani Gupta

Yeah, Jeremy, thanks for that amazing session that you ran to me a few weeks ago. I got a lot of value out of that. And thank you for being on this podcast. I so appreciate you.

Jeremy Jones

You're most welcome. Thank you for having me.