Akshar Business Consulting Ltd

📍 Helping Finance Leaders Transform FP&A, Budgeting & Reporting | Power BI | AI-Driven Insights

Key Achievements & Impact:

✅ Accelerated forecasting speed by 75%+ by implementing connected planning solutions
✅ Eliminated manual finance processes through automation, improving efficiency and accuracy
✅ Developed single sources of truth for financial data, enhancing reporting consistency across departments
✅ Enabled real-time analytics with Power BI, driving data-driven decision-making
✅ Guided finance leaders in transitioning from traditional budgeting to xP&A models, improving agility


Leadership & Transformation Initiatives:

🚀 Led digital transformation projects to modernize FP&A functions for mid-to-large enterprises
💡 Implemented AI-powered forecasting models, reducing financial risk and improving resource allocation
📈 Upskilled finance teams in advanced analytics & automation, ensuring long-term success
🔍 Integrated disparate financial systems, improving cross-functional collaboration and financial visibility


I help businesses unlock financial intelligence, optimize decision-making, and drive sustainable growth by combining finance expertise, technology, and automation.


📞 Let’s Connect: https://calendly.com/abcltejas/30min | tejas@aksharconsulting.co.uk

Founder & Lead Consultant | Akshar Business Consulting

FP&A Strategy Consulting

Senior FP&A Consultant

The Value Creation Partnership

Supporting the Value Creation Partnership in the delivery of Financial Planning and Analysis Transformation programs.

Independent Operating Partner - FP&A Transformation

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis

Interim Head of Commercial Finance

YO! Sushi

Synamedia

• Deployed global digital reporting leveraging PowerBI, driving insights across the business while delivering 'a single source of truth'
• Supporting the implementation of Anaplan highlighting the key challenges and providing foresight to ensure maximum benefit for the organisation

FP&A Modeller

Unilever

• Lead the forecasting and month-end cycle simplification and automation while repatriating the same back to the UK reducing the headcount resource to less than half

Transformation Manager (Interim)

Currys plc

• Integrated and streamlined planning, budgeting and forecasting processes resulting to increased financial visibility and forecasting accuracy by implementing driver based budgeting
• Drove actions to improve the reporting on financial performance aligning to businesses strategic initiatives and to achieve overall business success

Financial Planning Manager - Supply Chain & Repairs (Interim)

Whitbread

• Delivered a new investment appraisal model (incl. NPV, IRR, Payback and Rate of Return calculations) for up-to-date concepts offering for any innovations. Appraised property investment and disposal opportunities in maximising returns

Investment Appraisal Manager (Interim)

Cobham Wireless

• Spearheaded major transformation project as Finance Business Partner to turnaround a loss-making business to being profitable through outsourcing, restructuring including asset impairment and strategic redirection.
• Designed 5 year and annual planning as well as monthly forecasting models for complete the financial suit (P&L, Balance sheet and Cashflow) achieving 98% accuracy. Leveraged financial modelling and scenario analysis to support management decision process.

Senior Finance Manager FP&A 

Finance Transformation Specialist | Delivering Finance Digitalisation: Efficiency & Effectiveness Improved +100% | Business Intelligence & Budgeting / Forecasting Technology | FP&A Thought Leader🌟 See recommendations⬇️

PE partners and boards don't lose sleep over spreadsheets.
They lose sleep over decisions made on numbers they cannot trust.
Manual reporting and fragmented data don't just slow you down; they directly impact valuations, delay exits, and erode investor confidence.

𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛
I partner with CFOs and Heads of FP&A at PE-backed companies to global enterprises who need robust financial processes that meet institutional investor standards, delivered within strict transformation timelines. 

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥
20+ years in strategic finance at GE Healthcare, Vodafone, Nielsen, and Unilever taught me what world-class FP&A looks like. Now I build it for others.
My team implements automated board reporting (PowerBI & Aimplan) and connected planning solutions (Vena, Prophix & Anaplan) that deliver:
• Real-time executive dashboards and investor-ready reporting
• Automated board pack generation that frees your team for strategic analysis
• Scenario modelling that supports investment decisions and exit planning
• Audit-ready forecasting processes that scale with rapid growth

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦
 • 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿: Reduced budgeting cycle from 10 weeks to 7 days with full sign-off
 • 𝗫𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘅: Built Finance Centre of Excellence, improving accuracy and reducing manual effort by 75%
 • 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗘-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀: Implemented investor-grade reporting that supported successful exits and improved EBITDA visibility
(Full case studies at aksharconsulting.com)

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦
Your investors and senior leadership expect institutional-quality financial reporting. Your growth timeline demands agile forecasting. Your strategy requires bulletproof numbers.
Most finance teams are built for steady-state operations, not the demands of PE ownership or strategic transformation. We bridge that gap.

𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 & 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣
I share proven FP&A transformation strategies through: 
• FP&A Unboxed podcast - real-world case studies and expert interviews
• Insights from an FP&A Head newsletter - practical frameworks for finance leaders  

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞?
If your finance function needs to match the pace of your growth strategy, let's discuss your specific challenges.

Let’s Talk – No-Obligation Discussion
📅 Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/abcltejas/30min
📩 Message me on LinkedIn
📧 Email: tejas@aksharconsulting.co.uk
📞 Call: 07592300593

➡️Specialties

AI-Driven Budgeting & Forecasting | Integrated Reporting | Business Intelligence | Connected Planning

Tejas Parikh (ACMA, MBA)

Tanmya

Achievements:
• Member of strategic planning and development committee that plans, advises and executes investment opportunities. 
• Produce Financial statements and liaise with external auditors .
• Produce Budgets and Management reports using dashboards . 
• Experience in IFRS implementation and VAT submission. 
• Conduct corporate training in various areas such as finance for nonfinance managers and strategy topics. 
• Supervise and report monthly on departmental KPIs.
• Cash flow management and have strong relationships with banks.

Senior Finance Manager

AlAthar Saudi Trading Company

The company is in perfume,cosmetic and skin care and other luxury products products mainly Christian Dior , other luxury perfumes such as montale and Mancera. 
Key reponsibilities :
1- lead a team of 7 people .
2-preparing monthly managment report which include actual versus budget in regards to P/l , B/S and cash flows.
3-liaise with external auditors .
4-Customer relation and collections.
5-Bank relation and agreements .

In addition the company was the back office for an overseas finance opeartion of automative and tire products ( mitsubishi vehicle and bridgestone tires ) in morrocow and algeria 
Key responsibilities :
1-Open letter of credit and and oversee bill of exchange payments .
2-forward contracts in regards to currency risk mitigation.
3-Prepare managments reports .
4-Oversee the reltionship with the supplier .

Chief Accountant

saudi binladin group

Key responsibilities:
1-Fixed asset registration and track.
2-accuals and prepayments of suppliers and subcontracts.
3-G/L maintaining and posting.
4- Bank reconciliation.
5-suppliers and subcontracts reconciliation and payments .
6-Adjusting entries preperation and recording. 
7-helping the chief accoutant to prepare final closing toward preparing Monthly managment reports .

Accoutant

Health & Wellness Coach | I help high-achieving professionals navigate their career pressure without sacrificing their personal lives, ultimately enabling them to find fulfillment and holistic well-being."

Working tirelessly in the demanding finance industry, I was constantly under pressure to meet deadlines and exceed expectations. My belief was simple: the more I took on, the more credibility and recognition I would earn. This relentless pursuit led me down a path of unhealthy habits. I was a smoker, neglected exercise, and ate on the go. My sole focus was on work. It wasn’t long before I reached a breaking point. Burnout hit me hard, culminating in an emotional explosion. 

During this turmoil, I had an "aha!" moment. Realizing that my approach was unsustainable, I decided to take control of my well-being. I started by googling my condition and diving into books and articles on improving well-being. This exploration led me to pursue a certification in health and wellness coaching, a decision that changed everything.

The transformation was profound. I now focus on the present moment, brimming with energy and accomplishing more in less time. Joy and passion have become central to my work. As a result, I have become a trusted finance adviser, and my relationships have flourished. I find quality time with my significant other and spend more meaningful moments with my kids. My life has transformed from one of stress and burnout to one of balance, fulfillment, and joy.

If you're a busy professional feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, I understand your struggles. I’ve been there, and I know the toll it can take on your life and work. As a Health & Wellness Coach, I can help you achieve the same transformation. 

Let’s prioritize your self-care and boost your energy so you can excel professionally and personally.

Ready to start your wellness journey? Shoot me a DM, and let’s get started.

Hisham El Jbeili

Nobody talks about the emotional volatility of being in finance.

9am: "This bonus will change everything."
11am: "I can't do this anymore."
2pm: "Just one more year."
4pm: "I'm quitting tomorrow."
7pm: "Maybe it's not that bad."
10pm: "What am I doing with my life?"

Every. Single. Day.

It's not bipolar.
It's finance.

I spent years on this pendulum. 
And you know what I realized?

The volatility isn't weakness.
It's your soul fighting your spreadsheet.

Your intuition knows something's off, 
↳ But your bank account says stay.

Your body screams for rest, 
↳ But your bonus says "just till Dec."

We're not just tired.
We're emotionally bankrupt.

Living in constant negotiation with ourselves.

The volatility stops when you stop believing the lie that one more year will fix it.

It won't.

You know it won't.

The volatility is your warning system.
Listen to it.
___

"Tell me I'm not alone in this 👇"

♻️ Repost if this is your reality
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HISHAM EL JBEILI

The hardest shift I ever made in my finance career:


Stop trying to prove myself.
Start trying to improve myself.

For 16 years, I chased validation.

-The month-end close. 
-The flawless report. 
-The nod from the board.

-Every budget review was a performance.
-Every forecast was a test.
-Every variance felt like a verdict on my competence.

Exhausting? Absolutely.

In finance, we're trained to measure everything.
ROI. EBITDA. Net margin.

But somewhere along the way, 
I started measuring my own worth the same way.

Then something clicked.

When you focus on proving, you're playing defence.
When you focus on improving, you're playing growth.

One keeps you stuck chasing the next sign-off.
The other keeps you building toward your own potential.

The irony?

When I stopped trying to prove myself in the boardroom...
The results started speaking louder than I ever could.
___

Needed this reminder today. Maybe you did too.

P.S. Credit to this wonderful visual to Richard Goold

"Quick question" triggers fight-or-flight in FBPs.

Because it's never quick.
And it's never just a question.

(Classic FBP trauma, btw)

Your cortisol doesn't spike from the numbers.
It spikes from the context switching.

8am: Budget review → analytical mode
9am: Crisis call → fight mode  
10am: Stakeholder therapy → empathy mode
2pm: "Quick question" → panic mode

Every switch fragments your nervous system.
Like running 10 apps on 5% battery.

You're not tired from the work.
You're exhausted from the emotional whiplash.

I spent years as an FBP.
Absorbing everyone's financial anxiety while managing my own.

You're not a business partner.
You're an emotional sponge for financial trauma.

The toll nobody talks about:
→ Sunday anxiety about Monday
→ Heart racing at "missed call" from leadership
→ Never fully present because you're always "on"

Your identity fractures:
Not "finance enough" for finance.
Not "business enough" for business.

Here's what they don't understand:

When an FBP gives you their time, they're not just giving you minutes.
They're giving you pieces of their life they'll never get back.

Pieces spent absorbing your panic.
Managing your anxiety.
Solving your emergencies.

The paradox?

You manage everyone's resources.
Except your own.

You forecast everything.
Except your breaking point.

___

FBPs: When did you last take a real break?

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The market is crashing.

Your inbox is exploding.
Your team is panicking.
Your boss wants answers you don't have.

And you?

Still.

Here's what nobody tells you about chaos:

It's constant.
Markets will crash again.
Deadlines will stack.
Clients will call at 6am.

You can't control any of it.

But you can control this:
The space between stimulus and response.

That's where stillness lives.

I spent years letting external chaos create internal chaos.

Market down 5%? My cortisol up 50%.
Email from CEO? Heart rate through the roof.
Board meeting tomorrow? Sleepless night guaranteed.

I was a mirror.
Whatever happened outside, happened inside.

Then I learned the difference:

Reacting → Letting the chaos in
Responding → Processing from stillness

THE STILLNESS EDGE:

The trader who panics → Sells at the bottom
The trader who's still → Sees opportunity

The CFO who spirals → Makes emotional decisions
The CFO who's still → Thinks three moves ahead

The leader who absorbs chaos → Burns out in 5 years
The leader who cultivates stillness → Lasts 30

Stillness isn't passive.
It's the most active thing you can do.

It's choosing not to let the storm outside become the storm inside.

How do you build it?

→ 5 minutes of silence before checking your phone
→ One breath before responding to that email
→ A walk between meetings instead of scrolling
→ Noticing when your body tightens and choosing to release

Small practices. Compound returns.

The calmer you are inside,
The more effective you are outside.

Your environment will always be chaotic.
Your inner world doesn't have to be.

___

When was the last time you felt truly still inside?

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Your body is a depreciating asset.

And you're not investing in maintenance.

You sit 10+ hours a day.
Your posture is collapsing.
Your energy crashes by 2pm.
Your back screams during board meetings.

But you keep optimizing spreadsheets.
While your body falls apart.

(Classic asset neglect, btw)

Here's what finance pros don't realize:

Strength training isn't about looking good.
It's about performing better.

THE ROI OF LIFTING:

→ Muscle contraction releases BDNF
↳ That's brain fertilizer. Sharper thinking. Better memory.

→ Resistance training regulates cortisol
↳ You handle stress without spiraling.

→ Stronger body = more physical presence
↳ You walk into negotiations differently.

→ Consistent training builds discipline
↳ The gym teaches you to show up when you don't feel like it.

→ Better sleep, more energy, longer focus
↳ Your 3pm crash disappears.

You're overleveraged on mental work.
Underleveraged on physical.

Think about it:

You build financial models all day.
But your body is your most important asset.

And it's been running at a loss for years.

Every hour in the gym compounds.

Not just in muscle.
In energy. In clarity. In presence. In resilience.

The CFO who lifts 3x a week?
They're not doing it for abs.
They're doing it for the edge.

Strength training is compound interest for your performance.

The earlier you start, the more it pays.

You don't need to become a bodybuilder.
You need to stop letting your body deteriorate.

30 minutes. 3x a week.
That's the minimum effective dose.

Your spreadsheets can wait.
Your body can't.

___

Drop a 🏋️ if you've felt the difference strength training makes at work 👇

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P.S. The gym doesn't require a business case. Just show up.

Your brain isn't tired.

It's thirsty.

That 3pm fog you blame on meetings?
Probably not the meetings.

(Classic dehydration denial, btw)

Here's what we do instead:

Energy crash → More coffee
Can't focus → Check phone
Headache → Pop an Advil

Meanwhile, your brain is running on 70% water.
And you've had two cups of coffee and zero glasses of water since morning.

THE HYDRATION REALITY:

2% dehydration → 25% drop in cognitive performance
That's one skipped water bottle.

Your brain doesn't send "I'm thirsty" signals.
It sends:
→ Fatigue
→ Brain fog
→ Irritability
→ Poor decisions

Sound like your Tuesday afternoon?

I used to power through with espresso shots.
Wondered why I couldn't think straight by 4 pm.

Then I ran an experiment:
One glass of water every hour. That's it.

Week one: Felt like I was drinking constantly.
Week two: Afternoon fog disappeared.
Week three: Realized I'd been operating dehydrated for years.

Not because I'm smarter now.
Because my brain finally has what it needs to function.

We track every metric in finance.
Revenue. Margins. Cash flow.

But we ignore the most basic input for the machine making all the decisions.

Your water intake is your cognitive baseline.

The paradox nobody mentions:

The simplest fix is the one we skip.
Because it feels too easy to matter.

___

How many glasses of water have you had today?
(Actually count. I'll wait.)

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There's no traffic after the extra mile.

And almost nobody's driving there.

We live in a bare minimum culture now.
Do what you're paid for. Nothing more.
Anything extra? That's "burnout culture."

But here's what bare minimum actually gets you:

→ Bare minimum opportunities
→ Bare minimum growth
→ Bare minimum fulfillment

You're not competing with the best.
You're competing with everyone doing the minimum.

That's a crowded lane.

The extra mile?
Almost empty.

I grew up with a simple rule:
Whatever you're doing, do your absolute best.

Not because someone's watching.
Not because you're getting paid for it.
Because playing below your potential costs more than the effort.

Your psyche keeps score.

Every time you hold back, it notices.
Every time you coast, it remembers.
And one day it asks: "Why do you want more when you're not giving more?"

The people who went the extra mile for me?
I remember every single one.

The ones who did the minimum?
I can't name them.

And yes, some people won't reciprocate.
You'll give extra and get nothing back.

But never confuse an individual with the universe.

The universe rewards effort over time.
Even when specific people don't.

The extra mile isn't about people pleasing.
It's about not betraying your own potential.

When you go to bed knowing you gave your best?
That's a different kind of sleep.

___

Where are you currently playing below your potential?

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You're not wealthy.

You're just paid well.

Six-figure salary.
Bonus hitting every quarter.
Net worth climbing.

But your health score? 4/10.
Your relationship score? 5/10.
Your energy score? 3/10.

You're rich on paper.
Broke everywhere else.

David Bach said it best:
"Don't just be rich. Live rich."

Living rich isn't about the bank balance.
It's about abundance in every area of your life.

Here is a whole life health check :

1) Health: 
↳ Can you climb stairs without losing breath?
2) Relationships:
↳ When did you last have a real conversation with your partner?
3) Energy: 
↳ Do you wake up excited or exhausted?
4) Experiences:
↳ What memory did you create last month?
5) Mission: 
↳ Does your work still mean something?

Finance pros are trained to measure everything.
Except what actually matters.

We optimize portfolios.
While our bodies depreciate.

We compound returns.
While our relationships erode.

We build financial freedom.
While living in emotional scarcity.

I've met CFOs worth millions.
Who haven't taken a vacation in 3 years.

I've met analysts with perfect credit scores.
Who can't remember their kid's teacher's name.

High income. Low life.

That's not wealth.
That's a trade-off you didn't consciously make.

True wealth compounds across all accounts:
Physical. Emotional. Relational. Experiential.

Not just financial.

You can afford everything.
And still feel like you have nothing.

___

👆 if you've ever felt rich and empty at the same time

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You don't need a CFA level to attract better opportunities.  
10 habits that magnetize success  (without the credentials): 

For years, I thought: 

More certifications = more respect. 
More designations = more power. 
More letters = more leverage. 

 But the best opportunities never came from my resume.  
They came from my energy.  

 Here are 10 habits that attract what you actually want 👇  

1. "You protect your mornings like your portfolio." 
↳ No emails before 9am. Best ideas need space.  

2. "You say no without explaining." 
↳ "That doesn't work for me." Complete sentence.  

3. "You invest in your body like a growth stock." 
↳ 2 strength sessions weekly = energy compounds  

4. "You audit your circle like your balance sheet." 
↳ Energy vampires are liabilities. Remove them.  

5. "You rest before you're exhausted." 
↳ Schedule recovery like client meetings.  

6. "You speak problems only with solutions." 
↳ Complaining repels. Problem-solving attracts.  

7. "You show up consistent, not perfect." 
↳ 70% daily beats 100% randomly.  

8. "You celebrate small wins like major deals." 
↳ Closed one email? Win. Stack them.  

9. "You invest in experiences over appearances." 
↳ Skip the Rolex. Book the sabbatical.  

10. "You become who you want to attract." 
↳ Want better clients? Be a better operator.  

The paradox nobody mentions: 

 The less you chase,  the more you attract.  
Your energy is your edge. Not your Excel skills.  
______

 Which habit would transform your attraction game?  

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Your health fails aren't about willpower.
They're about identity.
 
You've done this before.
 
January 1st. New year. New you.
 
Day 1: Crushed it. 
Day 2: Feeling unstoppable. 
Week 1: Everything clicks.
Day 8: The excitement fades. 
Day 9: Old patterns creep back in. 
Day 13: You quit.
 
Again.
 
And you tell yourself: "I'm not disciplined enough." 
Or worse: "This just isn't for me."
 
You convince yourself that health is a luxury. 
Something for people with time. 
People who aren't managing P&Ls and board decks at 11 pm.
 
But here's what's really happening:
🤚Your brain is course-correcting back to your identity.
 
Dr. Maxwell Maltz called this "psycho-cybernetics." 
You have a self-image. A default setting. 
And no matter how hard you push, 
your nervous system pulls you back to what feels familiar.
 
Even if familiar is exhausted. 
Even if familiar is 20kg overweight. 
Even if familiar means popping antacids before every quarterly review.
 
I was that guy.
 
I failed so many times. 
I started believing I was broken. 
"I lack commitment." "I lack discipline." 
"Maybe I'm just not built for this."
 
Until I realized:
 
My beliefs were sabotaging me before I even started.
 
So if you're ready to stop the cycle, here's where to begin:
 
1) Write down 1-3 times you tried to improve your health and failed. 
2) What story did you tell yourself when you gave up?
3) What belief is running underneath that story?
 
That's where your pattern lives. 
And once you see it, you can change it.

Because you're not undisciplined. 
You're just running old code.
 
_______
 
In 2026, you either upgrade your identity or repeat 2025.
 
Ready to break the pattern?
 
PS: If your New Year's resolution involves "just working harder," we need to talk.

Fixing your health with just diet and exercise?
That's like fixing a company by only looking at revenue.

Good luck with that.

I spent 16 years analyzing complex financial systems.
But when it came to my body?

I acted like a first-year analyst.

"Just eat less and move more."

(The same analyst who thinks EBITDA is a type of cryptocurrency.)

Here's what changed everything:

Your health isn't determined by 2 factors.
It's determined by over 100 interconnected systems.

THE REAL HEALTH P&L:

→ Environment (your office setup)
→ Social circle (who you eat lunch with)
→ Psychology (your beliefs)
→ Physiology (your unique biology)
→ Food systems (what's available)

Yet we obsess over calories like they're the only KPI that matters.

I used to force my body into submission.
Classic hostile takeover mentality.

Now I nurture what it wants to become.
Like good portfolio management.

You don't force underperforming assets.
You create conditions for them to thrive.

THE SHIFT:

Stop: Treating your body like a spreadsheet
Start: Treating it like an ecosystem

When you connect all the dots, health becomes effortless.

Not because you're trying harder.
Because you're working WITH the system.

After 16 years in finance, here's what I know:

Your body is the most complex investment you'll ever manage.
And it's the only one you can't sell when it underperforms.

_____

Which part of your health system have you been ignoring?

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I had the "perfect" morning routine.


60 minutes.
Every day.
Non-negotiable.

Until I realized:

It was killing me.

See, when I woke up late, I had two choices:
1. Do my full 60-minute routine
2. Do nothing

Guess which one I picked?

Nothing.
Every time.

Because if I couldn't be perfect, why even try?

(Classic finance brain, btw)

Then I built a safety net:

Can't do 20 min stretching? → 5 min
Can't meditate 20 min? → 5 min breathing  
Can't read 20 min? → 5 min

My backup routine.
15 minutes total.

Not perfect.
But done.

And here's the thing:

Your brain doesn't care if it's 60 minutes or 15.
It just wants the checkbox ticked. ✓

Now?

- Most days, 5 minutes turns into 20
- Some days, it stays at 5
- But it's NEVER zero

That's the difference.

Perfectionism isn't discipline.
It's self-sabotage in a suit.

So build your safety net.

Because 15 minutes daily > 60 minutes 
"sometimes"

___

What kills YOUR morning routine?
👇 Comment below (Snooze? Perfectionism? Kids? Emails?)

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Energy vampires are real.

And they're killing your team's performance.

You know the type:
- The constant complainer
- The "this will never work" person  
- The one who drains the room

Gandhi said it best:
"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."

But we do it every day.

In meetings. On calls. 

We let negativity persist because confronting it feels uncomfortable.

(Classic finance brain, btw - we'd rather analyze the problem than fix it)

My team once missed booking a $1M expense.
Material misstatement. Audit nightmare.

The energy vampires had a field day:
"This always happens."
"Our processes are broken."
"Someone should get fired."

But instead of letting them spiral the team, we did something radical:

We called them out.

Not publicly shaming.
Just zero tolerance for negativity.

When someone started draining energy:
→ "That's not helpful right now."
→ "What's your solution?"
→ "Let's focus on fixing, not blaming."

The shift? Immediate.

We fixed the error in 48 hours.
Implemented new controls.
Passed the next 10 audits clean.

Because here's what I've learned:

Your faith must be greater than your doubt.
Your optimism must be stronger than the negativity you face.

And sometimes that means posting a sign:
"No energy vampires allowed."

The biggest mistake finance leaders make?

Allowing negativity to persist after mistakes because they don't want to seem "soft on errors."

But negativity is cancer.
It spreads. It sabotages. It kills momentum.

Mistakes happen. Energy vampires make them fatal.

Be your own greatest encourager.
Speak life into yourself daily.

How do you know if someone needs encouragement?
They're breathing.

We all need it. Especially after we mess up.
___
What's worse: The $1M error or the team that won't stop talking about it?

♻️ Repost if you've survived a finance disaster
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You can't change what you don't see.
That's the problem.

Most finance leaders know they need better habits.
They just don't know why the old ones keep winning.

→ You tell yourself you'll start tomorrow.
→ You promise you'll finally prioritize sleep.
→ You swear this week will be different.
↳ Then 6pm becomes 9pm. Again.

Here's what's actually happening:

You're trying to change without awareness.
And awareness always comes first.

Three steps that actually work.
___

Step 1: Observe without changing.
↳ Just watch yourself.

When do you skip lunch? What triggers the late nights? What thought runs through your head when you ignore your body's signals?

Don't fix anything yet. Just notice.
___

Step 2: Identify the "why."
↳ Every habit serves a purpose.

Staying late might mean avoiding guilt.
Skipping meals might mean feeling productive.
Working through exhaustion might mean proving your worth.

Name the real driver. Not the excuse.
___

Step 3: Document your findings.
↳ Write it down.

Patterns you can't see in your head become obvious on paper.
This is how self-awareness becomes self-mastery.

The five areas that drain finance leaders most:

> Daily routines. 
> Food choices. 
> Movement habits. 
> Sleep patterns. 
> Inner dialogue.
___

Here's what I learned after 16 years:

Change doesn't start with willpower.
It starts with witnessing.

→ When you see the pattern, you can interrupt it.
→ When you understand the trigger, you can replace it.
→ When you know the why, you can choose differently.
_____

Which area needs your attention most right now?
" Routines, Food, Movement, Sleep, or Dialogue"

Your portfolio has two phases.
So does your life.

Phase 1: Growth (20s-40s)
Build. Accumulate. Expand.

Phase 2: Maintenance (40s+)
Preserve. Protect. Sustain.

We get the portfolio shift.
We miss the body shift.

At 45, you're still trying to grow like you're 25.
That's like chasing growth stocks in a bear market.

Dr. Frank Lipman studied aging for 30 years.
His finding? After 40, your biology changes strategy.

From growth to maintenance.
From building to preserving.

Yet we keep pushing the same levers:
- More hours (less recovery)
- More stress (less resilience)  
- More coffee (less sleep)

Your body's screaming "preserve capital."
You're still yelling "maximize returns."

THE 6 NON-NEGOTIABLES AFTER 40:

1. Fast 16 hours daily → triggers cellular cleanup
2. Cut sugar ruthlessly → you're now carb intolerant
3. Lift weights 2x/week → muscle is your metabolic 401(k)
4. Sleep like it's your job → brain detox happens here
5. Hydrate properly → thirst signals decline with age
6. Find your tribe → loneliness kills faster than smoking

I ignored this shift for years.

Treated my body like a growth stock while it needed defensive positioning.

Now? I manage my health like my portfolio.
Risk-adjusted. Long-term focused. Preservation first.

Because here's what nobody tells you:

It's never too late to rebalance.

70-year-olds who start strength training see massive gains.
60-year-olds who fix their sleep transform their health.

Your body responds at any age.
You just need the right strategy for your phase.

___

How many of these 6 are you actually doing?

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I learned more in 10 minutes of silence than 3 years of talking.

Board meeting. Tuesday. 2pm.

I shut up for once.

And discovered why my last 4 proposals died:
The CEO values speed over accuracy.
The COO hates complexity.
The board wants stories, not spreadsheets.

I'd been presenting perfect models to people who wanted simple answers.

(Classic FP&A blindness, btw)

The CFO who talks most in meetings learns least.

You miss:
→ Who actually makes decisions (hint: not who you think)
→ What they really care about (hint: not your variance analysis)
→ The unspoken objections killing your ideas

I spent years dominating finance meetings.
Explaining every number. Defending every assumption.

Never caught the eye rolls.
Never heard the real concerns.
Never understood why nothing moved forward.

Then I tried an experiment:

One month. Minimal talking. Maximum observing.

What I learned:
- Budget decisions happen before the meeting
- The quiet director has the most influence  
- They don't need more data, they need more confidence

My next proposal?
3 slides. 5 minutes. Focused on speed.
Approved before I sat down.

Nothing about my analysis changed.
Everything about my awareness did.

The paradox nobody mentions:

Your expertise becomes your blindness.
You're so busy being right, you miss being effective.

Silence isn't weakness.
It's intelligence gathering.

___

When did you last stay quiet long enough to actually learn something?

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Stop pretending work and life are separate.

You check emails in bed.
Think about kids during board meetings.
Plan vacations on conference calls.

(Classic integration denial, btw)

We're already integrated.
Just badly.

THE SKILLS TRANSFER NOBODY TALKS ABOUT:

Excel modeling → Family budgeting
Stakeholder management → Parenting teenagers  
Risk assessment → Evaluating your kid's friends
Project management → Family vacations

And it works both ways:

Negotiating with a 5-year-old → Better than M&A prep
Managing toddler meltdowns → Crisis management training
Getting kids ready for school → Operations excellence

Stop pretending these worlds don't mix.
Start using it to your advantage.

The CFO who runs his house like a business?
His kids understand money better than most adults.

The mom who uses conflict resolution at work?
Her team retention is 95%.

Integration isn't the enemy.
Pretending it doesn't exist is.

___

What work skill secretly makes you better at home?

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You'd flag this allocation in any audit.

Except your own life.

Look at what you've already proven:

→ Discipline to sit through 12-hour closes
→ Focus to build models under pressure
→ Resilience to survive budget seasons year after year
→ Patience to explain variance for the 47th time

You didn't learn these skills.
You forged them.

So why do you act like you can't get healthy?
Like you can't fix your relationships?
Like you can't build a life outside the office?

You already have everything you need.

Here are skills you forgot you had!: 

👉Discipline at work 
Discipline at the gym👈
↳ Same muscle. Different room.

👉Focus during close 
Focus on your partner👈
↳ Same attention. Different person.

👉Resilience through audits 
Resilience through hard conversations👈
↳ Same grit. Different stakes.

👉Long-term thinking for forecasts 
Long-term thinking for your health👈
↳ Same horizon. Different asset.

You're not starting from zero.
You're redirecting from 100.

The problem isn't capability.
It's allocation.

You've been pouring 95% into one account.
Wondering why the others are empty.

But here's what I want you to see:

The same person who built that career?
Can build that body.
Can build that marriage.
Can build that peace.

You don't need new skills.
You need to remember the ones you already have.

And give yourself permission to use them everywhere.

Not just at work.

Time to diversify.
___

What skill from work could transform another area of your life?

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Walking is the highest ROI activity in finance.

And you're not doing it.

10,000 steps is "too simple" for us.
We need heart rate zones. VO2 max. Strava segments.

Or we ignore walking completely.
"Cardio kills gains."

(Classic overcomplication, btw)

Meanwhile, walking is solving what your Peloton can't:

→ Cortisol regulation without exhaustion
→ Creative thinking without forcing it
→ Stress relief without another subscription

I spent years either ignoring walks or turning them into data projects.

Tracking pace. Optimizing routes. Measuring elevation.
Missing the entire point.

Walking isn't exercise for finance people.
It's nervous system regulation.

That deal you're stuck on?
Walk it out.

That email that triggered you?
Walk it off.

That Sunday anxiety?
Walk through it.

The best traders I know don't run marathons.
They walk. Daily. Religiously.

Not for fitness.
For clarity.

Your brain solves problems at 3mph 
→that it can't be solved at your desk.

Your nervous system resets in 20 minutes of walking
→That 2 hours of Netflix can't touch.

But we won't do it.

Too simple. Too boring. Not enough ROI.

So we pay for therapy to process stress.
While skipping the free therapy of movement.

The irony?

We'll spend $200 on running shoes.
Then take Uber everywhere.

Your step count is your stress score inverted.
More steps, less stress. It's that simple.

Which is exactly why we won't do it.

___

When did you last walk without a call or a destination?

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We're programming our bodies like spreadsheets.

-Coffee to wake up.
-Energy drinks to push through.
-Melatonin to shut down.

Repeat until system failure.

(Classic body override, btw)

But have you ever listened to what your body actually needs?

Not what your deadlines demand.
What your body is telling you.

Here is the signal we override: 

Headache at 2 pm → "Need more coffee."
Actually saying → "You're dehydrated."

Can't sleep → "Need stronger pills."
Actually saying → "Your cortisol is shot."

Sunday anxiety → "Just finance life."
Actually saying → "You're burning out."

Back pain → "Need better chair."
Actually saying → "You've been in fight mode for 8 hours."

Sound familiar? 

I spent years forcing my body to meet my career's demands.

Never once asked what it needed from me.

Your body isn't a machine you program.
It's an organism trying to survive what you're doing to it.

Every symptom is communication.
Every pain is data.

But we treat symptoms like system errors to override.

Pop an Advil. Drink more coffee. Push through.

Meanwhile, your body's screaming in the only language it knows:
Pain. Fatigue. Anxiety. Insomnia.

The CFOs who last 30 years?
They learned to listen.

Body says tired → They rest.
Body says wired → They walk.
Body says tight → They stretch.

Not because they're soft.
Because they understand compound depletion.

You can force your body to perform for years.
Until the day it stops negotiating.

Your body keeps receipts.

The paradox nobody mentions:

The moment you stop forcing,
You start performing.

___

What's your body trying to tell you right now?
(Check in. Actually listen.)

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Tejas Parikh (ACMA, MBA)

Hisham El Jbeili

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The Battle

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Hisham El Jbeili

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