BRW Tax & Accounting - Savvion HQ

Terminal cancer diagnosis, losing pets, hitting rock bottom financially—2025 felt like a country song written for the world. When all your reserves are gone, and your carefully laid plans go sideways, you have to dig deep.

March 12th. The day the pandemic was announced. We watched $800,000 in business vanish overnight. Standing in our kitchen, I told my team, 'We're not letting any of you go.' I had no clue how, but we were going to make it work.

From a young age, the world of hospitality and pleasing others felt like the only path. Little did I know there were other options. It's a journey of discovering what truly resonates.

After three months of centering, the vision became clear. During the merger, a key insight emerged: 'Don't lose sight of the fact that this is a startup.' It's a new concept, a true startup, even with a history.

Looking back, it's a blessing we couldn't get financing for our early ventures. It prevented us from pursuing potentially bad ideas and racking up debt. This forced us to be resourceful and strategic, ultimately building a stronger foundation.

Merging departments meant shedding HR branches, a process that triggered a profound grieving experience. In a moment of raw emotion, I voiced my despair, convinced it was a mistake and unable to accept giving up those branches. The devastation was overwhelming.

In 2015, an offer for ownership felt wrong. I realized this wasn't my calling. With my partner's support, we decided to venture out on our own, fueled by innovative ideas and a shared vision for the future.

Facing $100,000 in uncollected receivables, we thought it was the end. Two weeks later, everything was recouped. It felt impossible as we packed to move back home, but a change in approach turned it all around.

Imagine merging companies, losing most of your accounting team, clients leaving, going invisible on Google, a hurricane destroying your home, a parent's terminal diagnosis, and losing pets—all in one year. This is the story of hitting rock bottom and finding a way to recover and rebuild.

AI can offer answers, but does it truly capture your unique circumstances? Bouncing ideas off a person ensures all crucial factors are considered, leading to a more comprehensive understanding than a perfectly formulated question alone.