Joanna Picardi

The only way any of us can become who you want to be, who we can be is by being bold, standing out, and setting yourself apart from the others

 

Joanna Picardi began her entrepreneurial career in 2000 when she founded JP Business Solutions, where she currently serves as the CEO. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, JP Business Solutions is a business consulting and accounting firm working to help companies achieve their full potential.

Joanna has worked for the last two decades of her career with a number of corporate executives. Her past experience allowed her to work in every aspect of a business, giving her the necessary knowledge to later start her own firm. Through her experience, she also discovered a talent for accounting, especially construction accounting. Her interest in the field grew and she found government projects, sustainable economy and sustainable development to be topics of particular importance to her.

As someone who is dedicated to achieving results, Joanna Picardi focuses on establishing relationships with her clients. With her expertise, these relationships are turned into long-term solutions and success. By analyzing business models and processes, she helps businesses improve their operating structures and procedures. Joanna and her team take the time to truly get to know and understand each business before presenting the company with the plan necessary to achieve their goals.

Because JP Business Solutions is a smaller company, Joanna and her team are able to offer each client a personalized approach. Early on in her career, Joanna realized that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work and clients need to be individually catered to in order to achieve the best results. She works closely with each client to determine a unique approach tailored to their specific industry. Some of the services her company offers are accounting and auditing; consulting; business planning; cost segregation studies; litigation support; and wealth management.

Outside of work, Joanna Picardi is passionate about fashion, travel and fitness.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

JP Business Solutions Inc was commenced as a part-time /side business back in 2000. At the time, I was an assistant control under a truly remarkable woman who greatly influenced my tenacity to make strides in a male dominated environment world of Construction. I met Mrs Tina Nixon through her husband, whom at the time worked for Hill Holliday, a large marketing and advertising agency in Boston. In meeting me and knowing me, you wouldn’t be surprised that I would end up at a electric and fun place as Hill Holliday. The Construction Market was not where someone would think I would end up. Being Girly -Girly and fashion forward, construction isn’t the place for that. While at T.R White Co., I gained respect and confidence from some well respected Project Managers, Executives and Owners which enabled me to continue in this market as Controller, CFO and VP of Finance. Today, these same colleagues, which l have maintained have opened doors and aided in my success in many ways. The essentially, have been the building blocks to any successful business. Relationship is Everything and Maintaining these relationships is was sets you apart from the rest. I started taking on small contractors and became essentially there finance department. As a building is constructed, block by block, I constructed my finance business in the Construction Market, client by client and reputation and commitment. I believe anyone can achieve anything they set their mind to do, however continuity and client satisfaction is key. Standing by a client in good times and bad, is almost like a marriage. There has been times, when my business has taken on clients and situations that are distressed and chaotic which requires taking extra time to nurture the client and re-susuate the business and other times, when its on cruise control. Patience is key, taking the time to breathe and assess the situation before the panic button is hit is very challenging.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My day starts at 5 am and its productive from a good night sleep.

How do you bring ideas to life?

1. ORGANIZATION

Establishing a process helps teams focus on collective efforts and identify goals. Capture the knowledge through collaboration. Collaboration for new idea and service innovations throughout the entire development life cycle is key.

2. BRAINSTORMING

There should be a commitment to no judgment, since the purpose of this group thinking is to generate as many varied and unusual options as possible. Freewheeling is welcome since it’s easier to tame down ideas than think up: the wilder the idea, the better. Brainstorming is a numbers game, so quantity is also desired. The plethora of ideas increases the likelihood of useful ideas. The power of combining your thoughts with others is key. Team members should suggest how diverse ideas work together to turn into better ideas.

3. PATTERNS AND HISTORICAL DATA

The next crucial step to reach a good idea is to visualize the data or thoughts you’ve collected in your brainstorm or research. The better you are able to visualize information through graphs, charts, and other visuals, the more patterns will start to emerge and the more likely you are to find solutions.
There’s power in connecting the dots; relying on patterns will help teams utilize past knowledge for future projects. Not only does collaboration help top-performers succeed in today’s projects, they use it to on future projects.

4. VISION

Bringing an idea to life requires teams to know their roles and perform based on their talents. Converting your vision into a reality requires you to help others understand your vision. Selling vision is much like selling change.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The trend that really excites me is when I can achieve the unachievable for a client. Whether it’s successfully find a way to turn their company around during difficult economic times. Finding ways to turn a negative Profit to a positive profit without jeopardizing integrity or performance. To negotiate a line of credit with a financial institution with a client that is need, but doesn’t have the backing to make it right on paper. The thrill to “pull a magic rabbit” out of the air and create opportunity because you have the opponents attention to have them give your client a chance. Going to bed, knowing that you have done something that has made a difference to someone it truly exciting.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be Bold, Stand-Out. When you are young we are worried and afraid. We get nervous, because we feel we are being judged. We feel that society/people will not like us or accept us. We self doubt ourselves , our intelligence. But, I say who cares, So what!! The only way any of us can become who you want to be, who we can be is by being bold..standing out ..setting yourself apart from the others. Sure, there are failures, heartbreak, downfalls and challenges along the way, but the journey is worth it. Ultimately, everything will work out as it should. So stand out – Be bold and have fun in the process. Always Smile ..its your best asset.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

That attitude and a smile is the stage of life. Your persona exemplifies who you are. And that the outfit can make all the difference.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Knowledge and keep abreast with current events. The daily events, whether local, nationally or global shape the world and staying on top of current events is key. The world is fast past end ever changing and you want to stay on top of it and not miss a beat.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

The one strategy that has been crucial for me is Client Satisfaction.
In business to sustain long-term growth, you must understand what sets it apart from the competition. Clients come to me and trust me because I do not give up. “No” is not in my vocabulary. Where there is a will there is a will there’s a way. What makes me relevant, different and credible from the rest is my reputation and commitment to my client. Always looking out for them and not stopping until I achieve a favorable outcome.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I failed to use better judgement with a friend and trusted that person to have my back and was lead into failure and life lesson. Failure turned to Strength. Failure teaches you the essential missing parts of a puzzle and to learn to reach real success. When you own your failures and take responsibility, you gain immense power, wisdom, and maturity. Have an open mind, immense intestinal fortitude, and a deep sense of purpose to conquer the struggles, adversity, and obstacles.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

The most important idea I would share and welcome any new entrepreneur to exercise in any business is to engage your clients. Even if its once a year or quarterly, have a meet and greet or small social round table to learn from them what more you can do, share ideas, goals and utilize this platform. Have each of your clients, customers render an example of what you achieved for them in the past year and what they liked about it. Engage and listen to your clients feedback . This is the stage where you need to learn and grow to make you and better YOU .

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

The best $100 I spent… I must say was on dinner with my best friend Dr. Elsie Levin. She gave me some sound advice on a personal situation that has opened doors for me in this new year that will turn into much success both personally and professionally. FRIENDS- are

– Fight for you
– Respect you
– Include you
– Encourage you
– Need you
– Deserve you
– Stand by you

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Microsoft. – I can take it anywhere access it anywhere for any and all work I do . From writing reviews and exerts to excel- producing budgets and spreadsheets and making everything as easy to a novice client to a highly tech savvy client. Microsoft products – provide ease, accessibility and excellent outcomes for any project I am working on.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Lou Imbriano’s – Winning the Customer.
Mr. Imbriano was the senior marketing positions with the New England Patriots, Lou Imbriano laid the foundation and marketing vision for the football team that led to its astronomical growth and explosive revenue—perfectly positioning them to be ready for when the Patriots became repeat Super Bowl champions and the NFL brand to beat.

He writes about companies and how to tackle customer relationships and convert them into tangible revenue. In Winning the Customer, Lou wrote about strategies for both short- and long-term financial success:

• The Marketing Playbook: how to identify those who are dying to spend money with you
• Relationship Architecture: how to connect with customers in meaningful ways and create “memorable moments”
• The Revenue Game: how to build revenue instead of selling concepts

Throughout the book, Mr. Imbriano narrates personal stories drawn right from his years of real-world business experience. He’s learned that to maximize revenue, every organization must both turn its customers into fans and coax those fans to spend freely. Winning the Customer talked about how to do just that using the Three Tiers of Customer Relationships. Mr. Imbriano shares his strategies with his innovative DELIVERS system: Dedication, Entertainment, Loyalty, Investment, Vision, Energy, Responsibility, and Sacrifice.

What is your favorite quote?

“Attitude is a little thing that Makes a Big Difference.” Winston Churchill

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