The client reached out and said, "Josh, our customer wants a discount. Can I still record the revenue on this deal?" Honestly? I wasn't really sure. My team didn't know either. And the client needed an answer fast.

So I opened ChatGPT and explained the situation.

Within two minutes, I had an answer. But I wasn't about to just copy and paste it... I mean, let's be real, ChatGPT probably hallucinated half of it.

So I asked for the source.

Then I actually read it. And there it was. The accounting literature backing up the answer.

Turns out you can record the discount as long as these specific criteria are met.

That moment changed everything about how I work.

Because I didn't just solve one problem... I unlocked a completely new way of working.

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Most people are asking the wrong question.

They're asking "Will AI replace me?" when they should be asking "How can I use AI to become 10x more valuable?"

Here's the uncomfortable truth...

AI won't replace finance professionals.

But finance professionals who use AI WILL replace those who don't.

We're in the middle of a massive transformation. QuickBooks has AI agents now. New companies are raising millions to build self driving ledgers. Microsoft invested billions in Copilot.

This isn't coming.

It's already here.

And the gap between those who adapt and those who don't? It's growing every single day.

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I already told you about the revenue recognition question.

But that's just the beginning.

I use ChatGPT for complex accounting questions all the time now. The key? Always ask for the source. Always verify. Don't just blindly trust what it says. But as a starting point? As a research buddy who can quote accounting literature and back up any advice I give? Pretty sweet.

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I connected ChatGPT to my Gmail.

Now it reads and summarizes new emails. Drafts replies for my approval. And pulls out the five to ten that matter most.

I even have ChatGPT send me a daily 8am digest of the most important emails I need to respond to.

Way less mental drain. Way more focus.

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I connected my calendar too.

ChatGPT can summarize my day, spot conflicts, find open windows, and draft reschedule notes that I can send.

It sounds simple. But when you're juggling client calls, team meetings, and trying to find time for deep work? It's a game changer.

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So many times I'm in a meeting sharing really important info... the kind of thing I wish was already written up in a full standard operating procedure so anyone on my team can just handle it going forward.

Well, now I just record the meeting, upload the transcript into ChatGPT, and ask it to turn that conversation into an SOP.

ChatGPT drops the SOP for me, outlining steps, tools, responsibilities, even clarifying follow up items if anything sounds unclear.

And honestly?

There are tools built specifically for this now. AI note takers that record, transcribe, and share summaries with you directly in their platform.

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One of my favorite productivity tools is voice dictation.

Tools like Whisper or built in dictation let you speak naturally into a microphone.

They don't just transcribe your words... they clean them up with proper grammar, punctuation, even remove the stutters like "um" and "uh" so it sounds polished.

My productivity instantly went up because the rate at which you can talk is SO much faster than the rate at which you can type.

And if you're on your phone? The gap is even bigger.

I use this everywhere. Walking to the gym. Chatting with a colleague on Slack. Even sending ideas straight into ChatGPT.

It's like having an assistant who writes everything you think... just cleaner, faster, and ready to act on.

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Intuit recently rolled out AI agents in QuickBooks that attack the month end close.

Easier importing. Enhanced categorization. Anomaly detection. Faster bank recs with clear flags for what needs your approval.

And Intuit isn't alone. We're seeing a new wave of AI first ledgers. Companies raising serious rounds of investment to build self driving books.

Agents that ingest transactions, auto classify, spot anomalies, and guide reconciliations. Cutting review time and tightening your close every step of the way.

The bottom line? The month end close is getting transformed with AI agents.

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Platforms are getting even smarter with AI.

We're seeing tools that can read data straight off a PDF, auto categorize expenses, match them to the right GL account, and even assign them to the right approver. No human touch needed. Every accounting tool you use is getting an AI upgrade. Whether it's month end close, accounts payable, reconciliations... they're all transforming right now. And it's happening FAST.

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Here's the thing... most prospects land on your website when you're not there.

They've got maybe a few minute window to learn everything that you do. And they're probably checking out five other firms at the same time.

If you miss that moment, it's pretty much wasted effort.

So imagine having a 24/7 agent on your website.

That's exactly what modern AI chatbots can do. Instantly engage visitors. Explain what you do. Collect their info and follow up. Some can even handle FAQs, qualify leads, or book meetings right onto your calendar. It's basically customer support that never sleeps.

And for most firms? That means turning lost traffic into real conversations.

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If I had to name the single biggest ROI I've had in my career, it's simple... coaches.

I've hired people to help me scale my firm, grow my audience, and level up every part of my professional life.

Now I love working with experts. But now we all have one in the palm of our hands.

I talk to ChatGPT every single day about everything. My work. My cooking. Even my relationship.

I don't treat it like a source of truth where I just blindly listen to what it says. Instead, I treat it like a thought partner.

I challenge it. It challenges me.

And the dialogue that comes from that? That's where the real learning happens.

The fact that it can search the internet, reference sources, and bring in fresh data makes it an absolute game changer for learning.

If you're someone who's hungry for growth, who's curious, who wants to get better every single day? You just got one of the biggest upgrades in the history of education.

I got the answer to that revenue question. The client was happy.

And now? I talk to ChatGPT about everything.

Not as a source of truth... but as a thought partner who challenges me, helps me think through problems, and makes me better every single day.

So here's my question for you...

What's one area of your work that feels like it takes way too long?

Hit reply. I'm curious what you're wrestling with.

Have a great weekend.

Till next time,
Josh