Business owners spend years focused on growth. They work to build profitable businesses, support their employees and balance opportunities with risk. But eventually, the focus shifts. Suddenly the future becomes more important. What happens next? Who benefits from what you’ve built? How do you create certainty for the people who depend on you?
For Jesse Watt, Director at Moore VBW in New Plymouth, fatherhood changed his perspective on the same future-focused decisions he helps clients navigate every day.
Fatherhood Changed the Way I See the Future
With more than 10 years’ experience as an accountant and business adviser, Jesse Watt spent years helping business owners think about growth, succession and the future of their businesses. But when he became a father six years ago, those conversations took on a new meaning.
While he had always understood the practical importance of planning ahead, fatherhood gave him a deeper appreciation of why clients make those decisions in the first place, and the pressures and anxieties placed on their shoulders.
“The fact that I’ve actually walked in those shoes myself, having kids and thinking about their futures, I think it’s really helped contextualise things when I’m working with clients who have children as well,” Jesse says. “When I’m thinking about succession of their business or succession of their wealth, I feel like I come from more experience.”
For many business owners, building a successful business is about more than growth. It’s about creating opportunities, security and a strong future for the people who matter most. Becoming a father has helped Jesse relate more closely to those conversations and provide advice grounded not only in professional expertise, but also in personal experience.
Success Looks Different Today
Jesse joined Moore VBW straight out of university almost 12 years ago. At the time, he was a reserved and introverted 20-year-old with a clear focus on self-development.
“I was shy and not much of a talker, but I was driven. Every day, I got stuck into my work,” Jesse says.
His focus was personal development. He was dedicated to learning, growing and progressing. Like many young professionals entering their first role, success was largely defined by career progression, and moving up the career ladder was the goal.
Over the following decade, Jesse got married, started a family and progressed from graduate accountant to director. Along the way, he developed not only his technical expertise, but also the confidence to communicate with clients, lead people and build stronger relationships.
“Over that period, my confidence definitely grew. I put a lot of effort into my personal development, and I still think it’s critical. I wanted to be able to communicate, whether with clients, peers or even my family. My family has seen benefits from my career growth, and vice versa.”
Fatherhood didn’t replace Jesse’s career ambitions. Instead, it added a new dimension to how he measures success.
“Early on in my career, success was effectively climbing that hierarchical ladder. But once I got there, I’ve had to think a lot differently about career success. These days it’s a lot more driven by profitability and also caring for my staff.”
As his responsibilities grew both at work and at home, another lesson became increasingly important: learning how to be fully present wherever he was needed.
Being Present Matters
Before children, when workloads increased Jesse would be able to stay late, but as soon as he became a father, being present was a non-negotiable priority.
“Before that at work, if I was under quite a lot of pressure, I would just stay later and work until 6:00, 7:00 and then finish. But since I’ve had children… I haven’t been able to do that because it’s important that I’m home.”
Becoming a father didn’t make Jesse any less committed to his career. Instead, it forced him to work differently. Rather than extending his working day, he learned to delegate more effectively, improve efficiencies and focus his energy on what mattered most.
With the support of his colleagues and family, he set clear boundaries. “When I’m at work, I’m really focused on work… and then when I’m at home, I try and keep off my emails, for the most part, and switch off from work and focus on my family and kids.”
That focus on being present, whether for clients, colleagues or family, reflects what matters most to Jesse today: helping people move forward with confidence and clarity.
Helping People Live Better Lives
Jesse sees similar lessons in both parenting and advisory work. With three young children, and another on the way, patience has become one of the most important skills he continues to develop. As a parent, that means giving his children the time and support they need to learn, grow and build confidence. As an adviser, it means helping clients navigate unfamiliar challenges without overwhelming them.
He often works with people who are new to business ownership and suddenly responsible for bookkeeping, GST, payroll and tax obligations. Much like learning to read or master a new skill, those responsibilities can feel daunting at first.
“It’s really valuable for them to be able to work out what they’re doing,” Jesse says. “A common one I deal with is a client that’s quite new to being in business. They’ve got all these things they need to learn about, so it’s important I explain things in a way that’s relatable and that they can really pick it up.”
When asked what he hopes his children would one day say about his work, Jesse’s answer was simple.
“I’d like them to be able to say that I help people live better lives.”
For Jesse, some of the most meaningful conversations with clients aren’t just about numbers. They’re about families, futures and the opportunities people want to create for those around them. By helping business owners gain financial clarity and peace of mind, he helps them make confident decisions about what comes next. As both a father and adviser, he understands that the decisions made today often shape the lives of the next generation.
Reach out to Moore Markhams
Whether he’s helping a client plan for succession, supporting a new business owner through unfamiliar challenges or spending time with his young family, Jesse’s focus remains the same: helping people build a better future with confidence.
It’s a lesson that has become even clearer through fatherhood. The decisions business owners make today often shape the opportunities available to future generations, making financial clarity, careful planning and trusted advice more valuable than ever.
Thinking about the future of your business? Contact the Moore Markhams team to discuss succession planning, business advisory and long-term growth.
