THREE EMPOWERING INSIGHTS TO THRIVE WITH AI

Earlier this month, I had the great fortune of participating in the CPB Ignite 2025 Conference — as a delegate, a trade show booth operator, and a speaker.

This event always feels like coming home to family.

The hallways buzz with colleagues-turned-friends, conversations that spark fresh ideas, and a collective energy that reminds me why I love these people so much.

But this year was different. For the first time, I stayed for the entire conference. I fully immersed myself in the sessions, the networking, and the side conversations over coffee, and it was worth every minute.

Two keynote speakers especially stuck with me:

• Hamza Khan, who reminded us that optimism and hope are powerful antidotes in times of chaos and change.

• Avery Swartz, who challenged us to think about AI not just as a tool, but through the lens of ethics and environmental impact.

  
  

Both perspectives sharpened my own takeaways, which can be summed up in two big themes that were impossible to ignore:

1. AI and its role in the future of bookkeeping and accounting.

2. The ongoing challenge of getting founders to truly buy in.

Neither of these are new. But at Ignite this year, they felt more urgent and more real.

Takeaway #1: AI Is Here to Stay

AI isn’t a someday thing anymore. It’s not “coming” — it’s here, already woven into the tools and systems we use daily. The question isn’t if it will impact our profession. The question is how we choose to adapt.

Curious, and likely a question I should have asked a lot earlier given my line of work, I decided to ask Chapt GPT  directly:

“What information would you need from me to build a financially viable and accurate financial forecast?”

Here’s the verbatim response I got:

What I’d Ask You For

To build a cash flow forecast that’s actually useful (not just a pretty spreadsheet), I’d want to gather both quantitative data and contextual insights:

A. Revenue Inputs

• Current revenue streams (products, services, programs, etc.)

• Price points for each stream

• Seasonality or cycles (e.g., peak months, slow months)

• Pipeline/forecasted deals and likelihood of closing

B. Direct Costs

• Cost of goods sold (materials, supplies, packaging, etc.)

• Variable costs tied directly to sales (commissions, transaction fees)

C. Operating Costs

• Payroll (including employer contributions, benefits, bonuses)

• Rent, utilities, insurance

• Marketing and sales expenses

• Tech stack and subscriptions

• Professional services (accounting, legal, coaching, etc.)

D. Debt & Other Obligations

• Loans: principal + interest, repayment schedules

• Credit cards or lines of credit

• Taxes payable (corporate, sales tax, payroll remittances)

E. Cash Position & Assumptions

• Current bank balance(s)

• Desired minimum buffer or safety net

• Owner’s draws or dividends

• Any “what ifs” (growth plans, hiring, expansion, new revenue streams)

I’ll be honest, when I read this, I got excited. Because this is exactly the work we already ask founders to take ownership of. It’s the work we coach them through.

It also hit me hard: the accuracy of AI is directly tied to the quality of the inputs. Garbage in, garbage out. Which is why The Cashflow Canvas™ remains so relevant — it helps financial professionals guide founders through capturing the right information, validating assumptions, and making sure their “inputs” are grounded in reality.

Takeaway #2: Optimism Is a Strategy

Optimism is often dismissed as soft or secondary, but in times of rapid change, it’s a strategic advantage. Hamza Khan’s keynote reminded us that optimism and hope are powerful antidotes when the ground beneath us feels uncertain.

For founders, optimism isn’t about ignoring the tough realities of cash flow, debt, or payroll pressures. It’s about having a framework that shows them a path forward — even when challenges loom large. This is why I see The Cashflow Canvas™ as a source of more than just financial clarity. It’s a confidence builder.

When founders map out their numbers visually, they can literally see how the pieces fit together. The fog lifts. Instead of being paralyzed by “what ifs,” they shift into “here’s how.” Optimism transforms from an abstract mindset into an actionable plan.

And for financial professionals, optimism is equally critical. We’re not just managing spreadsheets; we’re guiding people. Helping founders feel hopeful — and equipping them with a clear path to follow — is one of the most powerful services we can provide.

Takeaway #3: Belief Fuels Action

Numbers are vital in business — but belief is what makes them stick.

Too often, financial reports are delivered to founders like a foreign language. They nod, maybe even agree, but nothing changes in their day-to-day behaviour. Why? Because numbers alone don’t drive action. Belief does.

When founders believe in their numbers — because they understand them, they’ve validated their assumptions, and they’ve tested the scenarios — something shifts. The budget isn’t a document gathering dust; it becomes a playbook they’re eager to use.

That’s the power of The Cashflow Canvas™. It’s not just about producing a forecast — it’s about engaging founders so deeply in the process that they take ownership of the outcomes. They hand in their financials on time. They show up to review meetings ready to discuss progress. They even start to get excited — yes, excited — about measuring their results.

Belief fuels consistency, and consistency fuels results. That’s the transformation that turns a founder from reactive to proactive, and it’s what keeps financial professionals indispensable in an AI-driven world.

The Bottom Line

Here are the three lessons CPB Ignite ’25 drove home for me:

1. AI is here to stay. Its power depends entirely on the quality of inputs. Solid data, strong prompts, and clear assumptions are what unlock valuable outputs. That’s where bookkeepers come in — helping founders clean up, clarify, and contribute the kind of numbers AI can actually work with.

   
   

2. Optimism is a strategy. Hope isn’t fluff; it’s fuel. Founders need optimism to keep moving forward in uncertain times, and The Cashflow Canvas™ provides exactly that — a tangible plan they can believe in, one that transforms doubt into direction.

   
   

3. Belief fuels action. Numbers matter, but belief is what makes them meaningful. When founders understand, validate, and trust their numbers, they shift from passively receiving reports to actively using them. That’s when numbers become behaviour — and behaviour becomes results.

   
   

The future belongs to financial professionals who can combine the speed of technology with the power of human connection.

I'm proud to state that’s what The Cashflow Canvas™ was built for — a people-powered process that turns raw numbers into clarity, confidence, and a master plan. For founders, it’s the Yellow Brick Road to the bank and beyond. For bookkeepers, it’s the path to staying relevant, impactful, and indispensable.

If you’re ready to not just survive but thrive in the AI era, explore The Cashflow Canvas™ Certification Program here.

Together, we can help founders build strong — and stay strong.

About Nail The Numbers

At Nail The Numbers, we’re not just crunching numbers — we’re guiding a global movement to help Founders find their path to financial power. Our mission? To strengthen the minds and bottom lines of 1.7 million business owners worldwide, and we’re well on our way.

We’re the go-to financial training academy for business owners and the force behind The Cashflow Canvas™ — a founder-focused, three-part process that transforms numbers into art, budgets into master plans, and businesses into bankable investments.

#StrengthInNumbers

About Taunya Woods Richardson

Taunya is well-known for her straight-shooting, bottom-line-building approach to founder finance. As the Founder of Nail The Numbers, she brings 30+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and neuroeconomics to our mission of strengthening the minds and bottom lines of Founders across North America.