#159 October 10th, 2024
Blake Carroll, CPA
PwC People Team - Manager | Helping Aspiring CPAs Navigate the CPA Exam with Confidence
Doing the kind of work that lights you up and having a blast doing it is the key to success.
We simply spend too much time working for your work to be a means to an end. Ask yourself if it’s possible to find a job you like more than your current one while still being in the same financial position you are now. Surely someone has found a way to make that work. If that is possible for them, why do you not go for it? I completely agree with the author that there’s a job and work out there for everybody that gives them energy and engages them. There is a unique feeling of aliveness that comes from doing that type of wori. Even better is when your work allows you to serve others and even be fun too. It’s really up to us to decide what we want in our work, and then to create it.
Looking at how you spend your time and energy is much more indicative of what you value as opposed to simply writing out what you would say you value.
Sometimes there is a disconnect between what we say is important and what we show is important. If you say you value health, but you eat junk food and never exercise, is it really a value? Its hard and uncomfortable to face that harsh truth if such a disconnect does exist. It can be jarring to take a harsh and honest look at what is actually important to us. How we spend our time is a value, how we want to spend our time is an ideal of what we want life to look.
Once we become aware of this, and if there’s a gap between them, we can begin to work to align them more with each other. It is a part of being human to constantly have a vision of a better future version of ourselves that we are working toward. It's a never ending process because we are constantly changing and trying to do better and be better. It’s helpful to embrace the mindset that this is something you will be working on your whole life, as opposed to a finish line that you reach.
What does success mean to you?
Society will tell you that it’s more money and more stuff, but I think we all know that won’t create true lasting and fulfilling success. So, once you complete that important step of defining success, this is what to think about next.
You cannot control outcomes, but you can control the effort you put into the process where you are trying to get to that outcome.
In order to reach any big goal or learn any new skill it will take a lot of time and repetition. Inevitably, that also means it will also take mistakes. But isn’t trying and making mistakes so much better than never trying at all? Not trying is just guaranteeing nothing new will happen for you. Fail by trying rather than failing by not trying.
Be open to new and unexpected opportunities. I bet you can think back to times in the past where a surprise you didn’t see coming transformed your life for the better.
The best work that humans do is done in teams. You have to develop the skill to work well with others, to learn from others, and to be a person that others want to be around.
Do what you say you are going to do, keep the promises you make to others, and also especially the ones you make to yourself.
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Don’t resort to blame and excuses when you make a mistake. It’s okay if there are legit reasons, just don’t let it turn into an excuse. Control your response, and control what you can in order to learn from the mistake to reduce the chance that it happens again. Being accountable actually gives you power because it means you have the ability to create change. When you blame external things you’re also saying only those external things can fix the situation, as opposed to you doing something about it yourself.
Don’t downplay your dreams and the potential of what you could accomplish. You are so much more capable than you give yourself credit for.
Realize that no time, not tomorrow, not your next breath, is guaranteed. Not to be dark, but we appreciate every day so much more when we appreciate the idea that not everyone gets to have it. It also creates the motivation to make sure you are spending your time on what actually matters to you.
Associate with people who are further along in the areas you are working in. Your network should be people that challenge and inspire you to grow, people who are role models, because you will inevitably become more like the people you spend the most time with.
Don’t compromise your integrity. Even if you achieve everything you have hoped for, if you had to compromise yourself and your values and lie to get it, it would be such an empty feeling.
Follow these rules and I bet you will be able to reach the vision of success that you have defined for yourself!
If you need a coach or a mentor on the CPA exam I would love to help you and work together; please check out my website below:
CPA tip of the week: Do you know what they call someone who scores a perfect 99 on the CPA exam?
A CPA.
And someone who scores 75?
Still a CPA.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Focus on steady progress, and you’ll reach your goal.
(Exception for the Elijah Watts Sells winners)