We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ella Thomas. Check out our conversation below.
Ella, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Being consistent is never easy, and the way I start my mornings often reflects the season of life I’m in. Right now, I’m in a season where I feel energized, strong, and deeply committed to my personal and professional growth.
The first 90 minutes of my day begin with a moment of gratitude — simply acknowledging the blessing of waking up to a new day. Then I drink my protein shake, get ready, and head to my yoga class. This routine grounds me, strengthens me, and sets the tone for how I show up in my work, my family, and myself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! My name is Ella, and I’m the founder of a bookkeeping firm dedicated to helping business owners gain clarity, confidence, and peace of mind with their finances. I support entrepreneurs by keeping their books accurate, organized, and aligned with their goals, so they can focus on growing the business they love.
What makes my work unique is the personal approach I bring to every client relationship. I believe bookkeeping is more than numbers — it’s about trust, communication, and empowering business owners to feel supported and in control.
Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow my firm, refining client processes, and providing the kind of guidance that helps businesses feel confident as they move forward.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I’ve had multiple moments in my life that have shaped who I am today — and I’m still growing and evolving. One that stands out most is when my mom passed away. She was incredibly hardworking, charismatic, and full of life. In the last few years of her life, she battled cancer with incredible strength and courage. Losing her left me feeling vulnerable, but it also showed me how resilient I could be in the face of personal and emotional challenges.
Initially, I threw myself into work, staying busy and focusing on responsibilities to cope. But about six months later, I hit a wall — both at work and at home. That’s when I finally allowed myself to grieve fully, thanks to a book someone had gifted me when my mom passed. I gave myself permission to feel everything: sadness, anger, vulnerability. I let myself open up to others, to cry, and to process the emotions I had been suppressing.
Going through that experience deepened my empathy and helped me understand that everyone carries struggles we may not see. It taught me to respect each person’s journey, to honor their emotions, and to approach life with greater compassion and clarity.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve made a commitment to myself to truly heal and grow my soul, and that journey naturally comes with challenging moments. I’ve learned that healing is not a destination but an ongoing process — one that requires patience, courage, and self-awareness.
A defining wound in my life has been around love — both wanting to be loved and acknowledged, and learning how to fully accept it. These experiences have taught me a profound lesson: love must start with ourselves. By nurturing, caring for, and valuing myself, I’ve been able to grow into a more complete and compassionate person. Only then can we truly pour love onto others and fully receive it — whether from people, animals, or even the world around us.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
This is a challenging question for me because it’s less about words and more about a deep internal knowing. One truth that is foundational in my life is my intuition — that innate sense that just knows. It guides me every day, in subtle ways: while driving, connecting with someone, or sensing how others feel.
It has taken time to fully trust this part of myself. I’ve always been aware of it, but in the past, I relied more on logic and methodical thinking, sometimes suppressing this inner guidance. Today, I honor it, trust it, and recognize it as a reliable compass in my life. My intuition is a truth I live by, even if I rarely speak about it aloud.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Yes — I believe I am doing what I was born to do. I’ve spent nearly two decades exploring different jobs, learning, and growing. After becoming a mother, I prayed to find a career that would truly support me and my family, rather than just a series of “jobs.”
Life eventually guided me to accounting. Once I began working in this field, I realized it was my purpose — a career I wanted to dedicate myself to for the long term. It hasn’t always been easy; learning new skills, navigating challenges, and taking guidance from teachers, bosses, and business owners pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Looking back, I see that every experience — every customer service role, every tough conversation, every new system I had to learn — was preparing me for this moment. Today, I run my own bookkeeping business, helping entrepreneurs and business owners confidently manage their finances, and I know I am exactly where I’m meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sbssandiego.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbssandiego/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-thomas-950337121/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SBSSanDiego
