The Sharon Francisco Show

Belonging is a basic human need, yet so many women quietly armour up when they feel out of place. In this episode, Sharon shares personal experiences of not fitting in, what that taught her about self protection, and why the need to belong follows us everywhere, no matter our age, confidence, or success.

In this episode we cover:

• What really happens when women feel like they do not belong

• Why quietness, distance, and independ...

Most people dread birthdays or quietly tolerate them. In this episode, we flip ageing on its head and talk about why getting older is a privilege, how perspective changes with age, and why staying engaged with life is a choice you get to make every year.

In this episode we cover:

• Why birthdays are worth celebrating properly, every single year
• The best part of ageing: caring less what people think and living more authenti...

Michelle Hume spent years telling people she was “just a bookkeeper”… even while quietly carrying big responsibility, serving clients she genuinely loves, and running at full capacity.

Then something shifted.

After 12 months working together, Michelle has hired (and is hiring) team members, is systemising her business, and is stepping into a bigger identity — one where she isn’t the bottleneck, and her business do...

We all say we want change.

More money.

More time.

More freedom.

Better health.

Holidays that actually happen.

A business that doesn’t rely on us being “on” all the time.

And yet… year after year, nothing really shifts.

In this episode, we unpack why — and it has nothing to do with laziness, lack of discipline, or motivation.

Instead, we dive into a simple but powerful framework that has shaped change theory for decades: The Formula for Chan...

Planning can feel like the same yearly ritual: you get excited for five minutes… then life happens… and suddenly 2026 becomes a photocopy of 2025.

In this episode, we flip that.

This isn’t “set goals and hope for the best.” It’s a practical way to stack the odds in your favour so your planning actually turns into action — and action turns into outcomes, in business and in life.

We start with a powerful Steve Jobs idea about living lif...

So many bookkeepers and accountants say they’re “taking a break”…

but the laptop comes with them.

The emails still get checked.

Payroll still gets done.

And that’s not a holiday.

In this episode, we unpack why stepping away feels so hard — even when you’re exhausted — and why this isn’t a discipline or mindset problem at all. It’s biology, psychology, and identity quietly running the show.

We explore what’s actually happening beneat...

The profession is evolving — fast. In this episode, Sharon is joined by Ron Baker to unpack why value pricing had its moment, why subscription pricing is the natural next step, and how bookkeepers and accountants can step into a future built on transformation, not tasks.

In this episode we cover:

• How firms move from compliance into deeper, higher-value work
• How subscription pricing removes scope tension and time pressure
• What the “...

Most of us never learnt how to have a healthy relationship with money — especially women who built their business alongside raising families. For many bookkeepers, the partner became the “financial safety net,” and without realising it, the business was built on the idea of supporting, not leading.

This episode explores the identity shift required to step into financial independence, confidence, and self-trust.

In this episode we cov...

We all hit seasons where things feel heavy — the business feels hard, energy is low, decisions stall, and everything starts to blur. Most people respond by blaming themselves or going into avoidance. But you’re not broken — you’re just at a point where something needs to shift. In this episode, we explore how to move from self-judgement to curiosity, so you can find your next step instead of staying stuck.

In this episode we cover:

Ever wondered why some clients want every detail and others just want the quick version? Or why some team members thrive under pressure while others quietly shut down? In this episode, we break down the DISC framework as a practical way to understand behaviour, communicate with more ease, and reduce friction in your bookkeeping business and life.

In this episode we cover:

• The four DISC styles — Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, a...

If you’re tired, foggy, overwhelmed and feel like “something’s off” — but every GP visit says you’re fine — this episode will feel like a breath out. Dr Adrian Clegg joins us to unpack why so many women in midlife aren’t getting the answers they need, and what’s actually going on underneath the fatigue, dizziness and brain fog.

In this episode we cover:

• The real reasons midlife women feel exhausted and foggy
• Why so many symptoms g...

Some business problems just keep showing up — tricky clients, cashflow issues, team turnover.

When that happens, there’s one question worth asking: what’s mine to own?

In this solo episode, we explore what it means to lead above the line — with ownership, accountability, and responsibility — and why our business results are often just a mirror of how we show up.

I share the story of a high-D leader who drove outcomes but couldn’t brin...

What if midlife isn’t the slowdown everyone talks about — but the decade where your power truly expands?

In this solo episode, we explore The 100-Year Life by Professor Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott — a powerful reframe on ageing, wisdom, and work in a world where we’re living longer than ever before.

This conversation is for every woman who’s ever whispered, “Am I still relevant?” — and for anyone who’s ready to turn that question ...

What if the best parts of your life are sitting quietly on the other side of fear?
In this solo episode, we dive into what it really means to stay sassy and stay curious — to challenge the predictable path, to question “is this it?”, and to rediscover the spark that makes life feel expansive again.

From 92-year-old marathon runner Mathea Allansmith and 102-year-old social media star Ivy Bean, to the women on the land who battle ...

What keeps bookkeepers grounded when life and lodgements pile up? In this uplifting conversation with Rob Marshall— professional bookkeeper, General Manager at ICB, and a proud advocate for small business communities — we unpack the habits, boundaries, and mindset that help us build businesses we actually want to live in.

In this episode we cover:

• Lessons from the community: how genuine connection builds trust, clients, and longe...

What if the moment you stopped hiding was the moment everything changed?

In this uplifting conversation with Personal Brand expert and 14x author Jane Anderson, we explore how personal brand, integrity, and courage can open doors — not just in business, but in life.

Jane was one of the first mentors who helped me see that being myself wasn’t too much — it was my greatest advantage. We talk about confidence, connection, and how to bui...

Tired, foggy, cranky — and told it’s “just menopause”? In this episode, I share how brain fog nearly derailed me, the turning point I found in functional medicine, and why you should never settle for “this is just how it is.”

Mentioned in this episode:

• Why it’s not always menopause
• Coping strategies that keep us stuck
• My eight-month transformation with functional medicine
• The lesson: never stop searching for answers
• An invitation to ...

If you’re not getting the response you want — from clients, team, or even loved ones — it’s not them, it’s how you’re communicating.

In this episode, I unpack one of my favourite NLP principles: communication is the response you get. You’ll hear why “they should just know” is a myth, how silence often gives permission, and why tricky conversations are where growth happens.

With stories from business and life (including our “Love Acco...

Scaling isn’t just about numbers — it’s about balancing growth, systems, and self-care. For bookkeepers, accountants, and business owners, that often means pricing struggles, letting go of control, and creating boundaries that stick.

In this episode, I share how Dr Carol Dweck’s research on fixed vs growth mindset applies directly to business. A fixed mindset keeps us stuck in fear, while a growth mindset opens the door to confident...