From Founder to Future: A Legacy of Leadership

As we come to the end of the year, we also come to the end of an era at Accounting Therapy. Our Founder, Shea O’Neal is retiring after 29 successful years. In lieu of our traditional blog for December, we wanted to take a moment to honor Shea by sharing her reflections on letting go and sharing Alexis’ reflections on the honor—and responsibility—of stepping into a company built on such a strong foundation of grit, heart, and unwavering values.

Letting Go: The Hardest (and Best) Lesson I’ve Learned as a Founder

By Shea O'Neal, Founder of Accounting Therapy, Inc

When I started Accounting Therapy, I wore every hat—from visionary to bookkeeper, tech support to head cheerleader. Like many founders, I did not like wearing some of these hats, but I thought I had to do it all. After all, no one could care as much as I did… right?

Wrong.

One of the hardest and most valuable lessons I’ve learned is this: growth only happens when you let go. Not of your vision, never of your values—but of control over so many things.

I’ve had the privilege of hiring incredible people and working with people hired by our incredible team—folks with talents I don’t have, who see things in ways I never could. And over time, I’ve learned to trust them. To let them lead. To get out of their way. 

It’s not always easy, but it is worth it.

I learned that leaders do not always stand in front. It's been years now since I cleared the path and stepped aside as our leader knowing the rest of the journey is in capable, passionate hands. Others do care as much, and much more in areas where my talents do not lie.

So, if you’re a fellow entrepreneur, or team leader holding on too tight, here’s your reminder: sometimes, the best way to lead… is to step aside and let your team shine. 

Thanks for being part of this incredible journey.

—Shea

Trading Excel for Easels: Celebrating My Mom’s Retirement

By Alexis Sadler, CEO of Accounting Therapy, Inc.

After 25 years of working side-by-side with the woman who built this business from scratch, I get to write something I never thought I’d write: my mom is officially retiring. Like… for real. Not “I’m slowing down” or “I’ll be around if you need me” or “Call me if the bank feed breaks.” 
Actual retirement. 
 
And honestly? I’m excited. 
Excited for me. 
Excited for her. 
Excited for the future of this business. 
Excited that she finally gets to have a life that isn’t 98% QuickBooks and 2% coffee.

The Woman Who Worked Through Every Night, Weekend, and Childhood Event 
 
Growing up, nights and weekends were not “family time.” They were “mom has a deadline” time. She worked hard. Harder than most people ever will. And she did it all so we could have a good life and so this business could grow into something real. And while it wasn’t always easy having a front-row seat to her hustle, it taught me the value of hard work—and that might be one of the greatest lessons she ever gave me. I’m endlessly grateful for everything she gave up to build this life for us. 
 
So watching her reach this moment — a moment she truly earned — makes me unbelievably proud. This is her chance to breathe, rest, and maybe even figure out what people do on vacation when you’re not worrying about clients and deadlines.

A Legend… and Her Never-Ending Excel Files
 
If you’ve ever worked with my mom, you know:
She. Loves. A. Spreadsheet.
 
She will spend three hours creating the perfect Excel template — formulas, formatting, dropdowns, color-coding — a masterpiece of organization and future usability…
 
…and then she’ll save it, never look at it again, and make a brand-new one from scratch next month.
 
It is her love language.
And honestly, it might also be her villain origin story.

What She Built Into Me (Besides the Ability to Spot a Bad Bank Reconciliation in Three Seconds) 
 
Everything I know about business ethics, customer care, and taking care of my team came from her. 
 
She taught me: 
• Do the right thing, even when it costs you time. 
• Treat clients like humans. 
• Treat your team even better. 
• Make decisions for the long-term, not the quick win. 
 
This company runs the way it does because of her. 
I lead the way I do because of her. 
And I love the work the way I do because she showed me what it looks like to be committed.

The Future: Bob Ross, Italy, Wine, and Maybe Finally Rest
 
So what do I want for her now?
 
I want her to finally have time to sell those treasures she’s created — the Bob Ross paintings, the crafts, all the things she never had time to finish because life was just… busy.
 
I want her to travel to Italy to visit me (and hopefully get so obsessed with the beauty, the wine, and the peace that she eventually follows me there). I want her to paint overlooking the Adriatic Sea and drink a glass of Montepulciano like she doesn’t have a migration due tomorrow.

And For Me?
 
This is my moment to evolve the business.
To take everything she built — the best parts, the strongest parts, the ethical backbone — and grow it into the next version.
 
It’s bittersweet, but mostly it’s exciting.
Because I know I’m standing on a foundation she poured herself.
 
Mom, if you read this:
I love you.
I’m proud of you.
And I hope your retirement is full of joy, paintbrushes, sold artwork, and Italian sunsets.
 
Also… please don’t secretly log in and fix things in QuickBooks.
Let me have this moment.

—Alexis

PS. To close this blog, the entire Accounting Therapy team wishes you all a holiday season filled with gratitude and joy. See you in 2026!