April Dojnia Talks About The Cost of Waiting Too Long to Hire
Beyond The Books
Are you hiring too late? In this episode of Beyond the Books, Jessica Gonifas, CEO and Owner of Silver Peaks CPA, sits down with April Dojnia, HR consultant and recruiter, to break down one of the most common mistakes law firm owners make as they grow. Too often, hiring only happens when things are already overwhelming and by then, the damage is already done. This conversation dives into what really happens when you wait too long to bring in help, why “desperation hiring” leads to costly mistakes, and how to build the right systems before your firm hits a breaking point. If you’ve...
info_outline
Michael Preston Talks About Whether You’ve Built a Business or Just a Job
Beyond The Books
Have you built a business… or just created another job for yourself? In this episode, Jessica Gonifas, CEO and Owner of Silver Peaks CPA, sits down with Michael Preston, M&A advisor and exit planning expert, to explore what it really takes to build a law firm that creates freedom, profit, and long-term value. They dive into the concept of the “magic hour” in business, the point where everything is optimized, systems are clean, and your firm is at its highest value. But here’s the catch: you shouldn’t wait until you’re ready to sell to get there. If you’ve ever wondered: -...
info_outline
Gary Miles Talks About Failures As The Result of Processes, Not Your Team
Beyond The Books
What if the real reason things are breaking in your firm… isn’t your team? In this episode, Jessica Gonifas, CEO and Owner of Silver Peaks CPA, sits down with Gary Miles, leadership coach, to challenge one of the most common assumptions law firm owners make. They unpack how hidden process gaps, perfectionism, and leadership habits can quietly create bottlenecks, stress, and burnout—and what to shift if you want more freedom in your firm.
info_outline
Ben Volpe On How Your Firm Can Only Be As Good As You Are
Beyond The Books
What happens when a great lawyer realizes that running a successful firm requires becoming a completely different person? In this episode, Jessica Gonifas, Owner of Silver Peaks CPA, sits down with Ben Volpe, Founder of Volpe Law LLC, to unpack the real journey from practicing law to leading a growing firm. They dive into the mindset shifts, leadership challenges, and hard-earned lessons that come with scaling a business. If you’re building a firm, this conversation will hit closer to home than you think.
info_outline
Dave Rosenberg on the Tone You’re Setting for Your Team
Beyond The Books
What if the biggest leadership problem in your firm… is actually you? In this episode, Jessica Gonifas sits down with Dave Rosenberg to unpack Radical Accountability and why your team will never rise above the standard you set. From missed deadlines to team frustrations, this conversation reveals what’s really going on beneath the surface and the simple shifts that can change everything. If you're ready to lead differently (and get better results), this is one you don’t want to miss.
info_outline
Honoree Corder Talks About The Ultimate Blue Checkmark
Beyond The Books
In this episode of Beyond the Books, Jessica Gonifas sits down with Honorée Corder to talk about how law firm owners can use a short, powerful book as their “ultimate blue checkmark” for credibility. They break down why most professionals write ineffective “how-to” books, and how a different approach can position you as the go-to expert before a client ever gets on a call with you. If you’ve ever thought about writing a book or wondered how to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will change how you think about authority, marketing, and client conversion.
info_outline
Molly McGrath Talks About The Courage Conversations That You're Avoiding
Beyond The Books
Running a law firm means managing people — and for many firm owners, that’s the hardest part of the job. In this episode of Beyond the Books, Jessica Gonifas sits down with legal recruiting and law firm management expert Molly McGrath to talk about the courageous conversations many leaders avoid. They explore why so many law firm owners confuse being nice with being a leader, and how avoiding clarity around expectations can lead to resentment, poor performance, and frustration on both sides. If you're a law firm owner struggling with leadership, accountability, or team performance, this...
info_outline
Episode 90: Beating the Drum of Systems and Processes with Leon Lowman
Beyond The Books
In Episode 90 of Beyond the Books, Jessica Gonifas sits down with leadership coach and Air Force veteran Leon Lowman to discuss why systems, processes, and leadership development are essential for scaling a law firm. Explore practical strategies law firm owners can implement immediately for managing time between client work, business development, and firm operations, plus leadership tools to help founders stop being the bottleneck in their firm. If you want to scale your law firm, build stronger leadership inside your team, and create a business that runs without you,...
info_outline
Episode 89: Growing To Exit Your Roadmap to Success with Ross Stockdale
Beyond The Books
In Episode 89 of Beyond the Books, Jessica Gonifas sits down with Ross Stockdale, former private equity CMO, to break down what it really takes to grow a law firm that’s built to exit. Ross shares what private equity looks for when evaluating a company’s “growth engine,” including predictable revenue, customer acquisition cost vs. lifetime value, and key-man risk—and how law firm owners can reduce founder dependence without killing their marketing momentum. You’ll also learn why many firms don’t have a marketing problem—they have a positioning problem—plus a simple ideal...
info_outline
Episode 88: Don't Quit, Be Relentless with Sean Timmons
Beyond The Books
In this episode of the Beyond the Books Podcast, Jessica Gonifas sits down with Sean Timmons, managing partner at a national law firm and former Army leader, to unpack the leadership habits that help law firm owners scale. Sean shares how military discipline translates into modern firm management—especially through SOPs, delegation, trust, and team accountability—and why building a repeatable process is key to handling higher caseloads without burning out. The episode closes with Sean’s core message for attorneys and entrepreneurs: don’t quit—stay relentless until you hit breakaway...
info_outlineIn this episode, Jessica opens up about one of the biggest lessons every law firm owner eventually faces: your systems and processes aren’t just part of your business — they are the business.
She shares how frustration became the catalyst for major change inside her firm, especially when she realized she was carrying too much knowledge in her head, constantly pulled into daily tasks, and unable to fully step away. Instead of spiraling into self-criticism, Jessica learned to approach herself like she would a client—with compassion, clarity, and forward momentum.