For too long, success in the accounting world has been measured by the wrong things: job titles, long hours, billable rates, and hustle. But what if those old metrics are actually costing us the very life we’re working so hard to create?
At CPA MOMS, we believe that true success isn’t about how much you can juggle. It’s about how aligned your life feels in the areas that matter most. In a recent episode of The CPA MOMS Podcast, founder Mayumi Young and host Nicole Kehl introduced a powerful framework that redefines success for CPA moms everywhere: the Four F’s.
This isn’t just a mindset shift. It’s a tool to check in, recenter, and rebuild your life, one area at a time.
What Are the Four F’s?
The Four F’s framework breaks your life into four foundational categories. When each of these areas is strong, you feel aligned, empowered, and in control. When even one is off, everything else can feel out of sync.
Let’s take a closer look:
1. Financial
This is all about your personal finances — how much you earn, save, invest, and plan for the future. Are you building wealth for your family? Do you feel safe and secure financially? Are you on a path to freedom, or just trying to stay afloat?
This area includes:
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Income
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Savings and investments
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Retirement planning
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Financial goals and vision
It’s not just about how much money you have. It’s how you feel about your financial life.
2. Fitness
Fitness isn’t just physical. In fact, Mayumi breaks this down into four parts:
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Physical: How’s your energy, sleep, nutrition, strength?
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Emotional: Are you calm and centered, or stressed and overwhelmed?
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Mental: Are your thoughts serving you, or sabotaging you?
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Spiritual: Do you feel connected to something greater than yourself?
Together, these create the foundation for your overall well-being. You can’t pour from an empty cup. This F reminds you to refill it regularly.
3. Firm
Whether you own a practice, work in corporate, or are still deciding your path, this is about your economic vehicle. It’s the work you do and how well it supports your goals.
Ask yourself:
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Do you love what you do?
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Are you financially supported by your work?
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Are you overworked, underpaid, or out of alignment?
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Do your clients energize or drain you?
Success in this area looks different for everyone. It might mean scaling your firm. Or it might mean finally setting boundaries at work.
4. Family and Fun
This F is about your most important relationships and the joy you get from them. It includes your children, partner, parents, friends, and chosen family. But it also includes fun. When was the last time you laughed, played, or felt joy for no reason?
The reminder here is simple but profound: Don’t build a life you’re too busy to enjoy.
The Life Assessment: What’s Your Score?
Mayumi offers a powerful exercise. Rate each of the Four F’s on a scale from 1 to 25. Your total can range from 4 to 100. Most people fall somewhere between 50 and 80. The goal? Aim for 80 or higher and make a plan to grow one step at a time.
Here’s how to do it:
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Grab a piece of paper and list the Four F’s.
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Give yourself a score (1–25) in each area based on where you are right now.
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Add them up. Be honest. No judgment.
If your score is 80 or above, celebrate.
If you’re between 50 and 80, there’s room to grow.
If you’re under 50, declare a state of emergency. It’s time to take your life off autopilot.
The “Heaviest Brick” Test
Here’s one of the most impactful moments from the episode. Mayumi asks you to imagine each F as a brick in your backpack. Which one is weighing you down the most?
That’s where you start. Pick the heaviest brick, and focus on improving just that one area over the next 90 days. You’ll be amazed how it creates momentum in the rest of your life.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Nicole Kehl shared that she’s launching a full podcast series dedicated to each of the Four F’s with resources, support, and practical tools for making real change. Whether it’s reclaiming your fitness, resetting your firm, or finally prioritizing your family and fun, this is your invitation to rise.
We believe women can have both a successful career and a happy home life. But it doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with awareness, alignment, and community.
Ready to take the next step? Join the CPA MOMS community today and get the support you need to build a life and practice you love. https://cpamoms.com/start