You, a happy accountant?

I have a new vision for Busy Season Journals. Let me know what you think.

As I reflect on my past years in the accounting profession, I can summarize two basic choices for being a successful and happy accountant:

• Making money so that you can do the things that make you happy

• Saving your time so that you can do the things that make you happy

Every decision you make, regardless of profession, is a push or pull between these two choices. Here are some examples:

Back when I was starting as an auditor, I thought of gaining as much experience as possible and developing several of my weak skills to increase my financial worth. It worked! Because later on, I got to bring myself to new roles and experiences that led to more income.

When I used to do audits, I wanted to have more time for my interests, mainly travel and writing. But with so much time invested in work, I failed to do that until I created personal systems that would increase my efficiency and protect my boundaries. I’ve saved so much time from repeating these systems. I use them no matter where I work and whatever role I serve.

Earn more money or save more time. These are classic pursuits in their most basic forms. But we put so many variables into these pursuits that we turn simple into complicated.

At work, I’ve heard it a thousand times over. Be pragmatic. Be practical. Keep things simple.

And in a world that likes to complicate things, and more so in a profession full of complicated guidance and standards, being practical and simple is the hardest thing to do, right?

But that’s no reason not to start doing it.

I gave myself a challenge this year. I wanted to keep things as simple as possible. And that includes my content for Busy Season Journals. This year, through my writing, I only have two areas of focus: productivity and financial well-being. I want to give you both choices: use your profession to earn more money and to save more time.

Because ultimately, all of our endeavors boil down to just these two. It’s either you gain money or time that you can enjoy. And that’s what I’m envisioning as we shape ourselves into accountants of the future.

That we become practically useful, that we’re able to put theories and standards into good use, and that we’ll be able to develop ourselves and future accountants with practical skills like communication, digital and financial literacy, relationship-building, networking, etc. Because if we’re able to develop ourselves in these areas and help others do the same, we’ll make more money, we’ll save more time, and with more money and time, we can do more of what makes us happy. Happy accountants make the world a better place.

Does this vision resonate with you? Share your thoughts in a reply/comment.

Welcome to Busy Season Journals—stories and experiences to shape accountants of the future. A newsletter made especially for you by a fellow accountant, adventurer, and coach-guide.

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