If you had told me years ago that I would enjoy speaking in front of people, I would have had a hard time believing you.
I used to be terrified to speak up in meetings. Today, leading discussions is a part of my work that I love. Even when the conversation gets difficult. Sometimes, especially then.
Becoming a Fractional Integrator has taught me a lot about running a business. But some of the biggest lessons have been about myself: where I fit, what gives me confidence, and how I want to spend my time.
Finding the Work That Fits
My background is in accounting. I'm a CPA, and I went on to become the COO of an accounting firm. That experience eventually led me to EOS® and the Integrator role.
I've shared the story of that transition before. What I'm still discovering is how much this role fits the way I naturally work.
I enjoy helping people make sense of a problem. I like bringing a discussion back to what we need to decide, who will own it, and how we'll move forward. The work asks me to use my financial knowledge alongside my experience with people and operations.
There is something powerful about realizing that the things you naturally do can become the foundation of work you love. For me, finding the Integrator role gave those strengths a place to grow.
Key Skills That Transfer to the Fractional Integrator Role:
Financial expertise and analytical thinking
Operations management experience
Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
People management and communication skills
Knowing My Subject—and Feeling Valued
The change in my confidence has surprised me most.
I know my subject. I have experience to draw on, and I understand the issues we're working through. That gives me a reason to speak and something useful to contribute.
But there's another part that matters just as much: feeling valued.
Being in a room where people want my perspective has helped me become more comfortable sharing it. Over time, I've discovered that I actually enjoy speaking in front of people. Something that once frightened me has become a source of satisfaction.
That experience has made me think about the people sitting quietly in other meetings. I know what it feels like to have something to say and struggle to say it. It makes me appreciate how much the environment we create can affect whether someone contributes.
The Moments I Love Most
One of the clearest signs that I'm doing the right work comes when a leadership team is working through a big issue.
There's heated discussion. People care deeply, and they have different opinions about what should happen next. The drama starts to escalate, and the conversation risks getting further away from a solution.
I love being able to help stop that escalation.
We can slow down, work through the issue, and get to a solution that everyone can get behind. The disagreement doesn't have to disappear for the team to make progress. People need a way to reach a decision they can support together.
Those are the moments when I think, "This is exactly what I'm meant to do." They're also what "Execution Without Drama" means to me in practice. A difficult conversation can end with clarity and a shared commitment to move forward.
What Effective Conflict Resolution Looks Like:
Slowing down the conversation when tensions rise
Working through issues systematically
Finding solutions everyone can support
Creating clarity and shared commitment
Learning Where My Responsibility Ends
One of my hardest lessons has been accepting that sometimes I want something more than the firm owner does.
I can see possibilities. I can care about the team, the business, and what we could accomplish together. I can bring energy, structure, and follow-through.
But I can't want more for their firm than they do.
That is a difficult thing to accept when you care about your work. Seeing a path forward doesn't mean the owner is ready to take it. They have to decide what they want and be willing to commit to getting there.
I'm learning to recognize that boundary. My responsibility is to bring my experience, be honest about what I see, and help the team execute on the commitments we make. The owner's commitment has to come from them.
Building a Life I Enjoy
The impact of this work reaches beyond my professional life.
I love what I do. Owning my business has also given me the freedom to own my time and spend my days doing work I enjoy.
That freedom matters to me. So does the feeling that my work makes good use of who I am.
Becoming a Fractional Integrator has helped me find my voice, understand my strengths, and learn the limits of what I can carry for someone else. It has also given me more say in how I live my own life.
Final Thoughts: The Journey Continues
I'm still learning. But I no longer have to wonder whether I enjoy this work or whether it fits me. I get to experience that answer every day.
The journey to becoming a Fractional Integrator has been transformative—not just professionally, but personally. It's taught me that the right role can help you discover capabilities you didn't know you had and give you confidence in areas where you once struggled.