Welcome back to The Balanced Mind, the show where we explore the intersection of professional precision and inner well-being. I’m your host, and today I’m joined once again by Richard for a conversation that might seem a little unusual for a room full of accountants and bookkeepers.

We’re moving beyond the spreadsheets and the deadlines to talk about a trait often dismissed in business as a 'soft skill' or even a weakness. We’re talking about Kindness.

In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, robotic, and automated, we’re arguing that your humanity is actually your greatest superpower. But as many of you know, being 'the nice person' in practice can be a double-edged sword. If you don't have boundaries, your kindness can lead to self-sacrifice and burnout.

Today, Richard and I dive into the fascinating science behind kindness—referencing the work of Dr. David Hamilton and Dr. Bruce Lipton—to show how being kind actually rewires your brain, buffers you against that 'toxic cocktail' of stress hormones, and physically protects your heart.

But this isn't just a feel-good session. We’re getting practical. We’ll discuss how to 'monetize niceness,' why a 'Nice Strategy' is the key to client retention in 2026, and how setting firm boundaries is actually the kindest thing you can do for yourself and your firm.

It’s time to stop seeing kindness as a liability and start seeing it as your most profitable asset. Let’s dive in.

In this episode, Kim Searle and Richard Brewin discuss and reflect on the challenges of the past year (2025) and the increasing pace of change, plus predicting this rapid rate of change will continue into 2026.

How trends of people using AI tools like Copilot as consultants or therapists for life advice, rather than seeking out professionals.

They suggest this shift might be generational and reflects a desire for ease of access to advice, even if AI is limited by its binary nature and inability to understand emotional context.

Learning to cope with the ever challenging environment requires focusing on what one can control, embracing human attributes, and seeking stability in one's personal and professional foundations. You can listen to the full episode on the Balanced Mind podcast.

In this episode of The Balanced Mind Podcast, hosts Kim Searle and Richard Brewin dive into the fascinating link between gut health, emotional intelligence, and professional performance. They explore how what we eat — and when we eat — affects our thinking, focus, and overall wellbeing, especially in high-pressure professions like accounting. From chronic fatigue to workplace energy slumps, Kim and Richard unpack how tuning into the body’s signals can transform not just personal health, but also productivity and mindset.