She was widowed...twice

Karen Burgess was just a young mum when she lost her first husband in a motorbike accident, leaving her to raise their 13-month-old son, Brock. Years later, she'd found love again, remarried and welcomed her daughter, Jorja. But while pregnant with her youngest son, Darcy, Karen lost her second husband too. Twice, she found herself picking up the pieces of a life she hadn't expected to live. In this episode of The 100 Stories Project, I sit down with Karen, founder of On Point Books, for an incredibly moving conversation about grief, motherhood, resilience and building a business that allows you to be there for the people who matter most. Karen shares how she navigated raising three children, the support she found in family and friends, and the determination that kept her moving forward, one day at a time. We also talk about her journey into bookkeeping, from growing up in her family's mechanical workshop to working in dealerships, managing payroll for a growing company and eventually starting her own bookkeeping and BAS agency practice in the Hunter Valley. Today, Karen helps business owners take the stress out of their finances, get their bookkeeping right and stop putting their BAS, payroll and Xero problems in the too-hard basket. And as someone who's made a few bookkeeping mistakes of my own, this conversation was a timely reminder that sometimes the smartest thing you can do is ask for help before things become a bigger problem. In this episode, we talk about: Losing two husbands and finding the strength to keep going for her children Raising Brock, Jorja and Darcy and the pride Karen feels watching them find their own paths Why she chooses to focus on what she has left rather than what she's lost Building a career and businesses around being present for her family How growing up in a family business shaped her understanding of business owners Why bookkeeping mistakes can become expensive problems when left unchecked The importance of setting up Xero, GST and payroll correctly from the beginning When to bring in a bookkeeper and why asking for help doesn't have to be overwhelming How Karen helps business owners regain confidence and clarity around their finances One of the things Karen said during our conversation was: “I always look at not what we have lost, but what we have left.” It's a perspective that's carried her through some incredibly difficult moments. And whether she's talking about life or helping a business owner untangle their books, Karen has another message worth remembering: “Everything's fixable.” Connect with Karen Bookkeeping, BAS, payroll and Xero support for new and growing businesses. Based in: Hunter Valley, NSW Book a free discovery call: https://onpointbooks.au/ Find her on Instagram @onpointbooks.au   / onpointbooks.au   Be part of The 100 Stories Project The 100 Stories Project is an Unmuted Stories Original, created and hosted by Tash Miller. Through 100 honest conversations with business owners, we explore the experiences, challenges, lessons and defining moments that have shaped the people behind the businesses. Have a story you'd love to share, or know someone whose story deserves to be captured? Find out more: ⁠https://unmutedstories.com.au⁠ Follow: @100storiesproject DM Tash: ⁠  / ⁠   Produced by Unmuted Stories Founded by Tash Miller, Unmuted Stories is a Newcastle and Lake Macquarie-based podcast and content production company creating podcasts, video interviews, original shows and content series for founders, business owners, experts and organisations. From uncovering the stories worth telling to creative direction, production and content repurposing, Unmuted Stories helps turn genuine conversations into content people want to watch, read and listen to. Be a little more unmuted. ⁠https://unmutedstories.com.au⁠ About Your Host A former Police Officer, business owner and mum to Archie, Tash has navigated her fair share of life's unexpected turns. Today, she's a business and marketing strategist, speaker, podcast host and Founder & Creative Director of Unmuted Stories. Follow Tash: ⁠  / ⁠