The #1 Thing You Must Do in 2016
Tom Hood, CPA,CGMA,CITP
EVP Business Engagement & Growth @ AICPA | High-Performance Training & Strategic Partnerships
Are you too busy?
Ask anyone these days and the word “busy” seems to be the top of the list. I admit I am also guilty of saying that in response to, “How are you?”
And then I was thinking about how I would respond to a young professional’s question where he asked, “Can you recommend a career where I won’t be replaced by a robot?”
That made me think.
My reply was that accounting is still a great career if you learn how to use the skills that computers don’t have and learn how to harness technology and not avoid it. In other words, it will take the very hard work of “thinking” more and learning more.
In a period of rapid change and disruption (hard trends), we have to be more future focused.
The faster you go, the farther ahead you have to see (and think).
Despite these top challenges facing accounting and finance professionals:
- Not enough time
- Being reactive vs proactive
- Information overload
- Success and talent development
- Doing more with less
We have to make more time to think!
It was true in 1911 when Thomas Watson, Sr., CEO of IBM Corporation had this sign made and it is even more true today in 2015 when things are changing exponentially faster than they were in 1911.
“The trouble with every one of us is that we don’t think enough. Knowledge is the result of thought, and thought is the keynote of success in this business or any business.” – Thomas Watson, Sr.
From IBM’s History page, “The THINK motto had come to him in 1911 at an early morning meeting of NCR sales managers. On this day, the managers didn’t have any good ideas about how to improve the business. He decided on the spot that henceforth THINK would be the company’s slogan, and ordered a subordinate to post a placard with “THINK” printed on it in bold letters on the wall of the room the following morning.”
Are you too busy to THINK?
I challenged all of those young professionals to schedule an appointment for one hour per week to think about the future and I am challenging you to do the same.
Tell me how you "think" and make time for deep reflective thinking and learning?
TOM HOOD, CPA.CITP.CGMA is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the CPA Profession and the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA). Tom is also the founder and CEO of the Business Learning Institute, the innovation and learning affiliate of the MACPA, a leading talent development and strategy organization for CPAs, finance and accounting professionals in the US. They provide customized, competency-based curriculums and a portfolio of “success skills” and technical programs designed for the Finance and Accounting Profession.
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8 年My fifth grade teacher had a sign "THINK" in his classroom, and I never forgot that.
Top 100 Accounting Influencer??CEO??I Enable CPA Firms Thrive in CAS-Advisory??I Guide Vendors to Accountants Speed Up GTM??I Equip SaaS Companies in Accounting Space Boost Customer Success??Consultant??Author??Speaker
8 年Awesome post, Tom! My Dad used to say "One Two Three" every time I instantly reacted to anything at home. He would say "Delay your REACTION by ONE second (so that it gives you time to think before you react); Delay your THOUGHTS by TWO seconds (so that it gives you time to prepare your response); Delay your RESPONSE by THREE seconds (because the person you are talking with might come up with more details for you to consider in your response)". I remember his 3 seconds silence would always make me intrigued!
Licensed Pastor, Certified Christian Mental Health Coach, Author, Speaker
9 年This is a great idea. One tip I would add is to journal your thoughts at the end of the time you have set aside to intentionally think about your future. Writing brings clarity of vision and helps to organize your thoughts.
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9 年Bonjour à vous deux et trois autres et non plus de temps en mouvement de protestation contre les discriminations et pour les autres et généralement dans le domaine politique en état satisfaction de la part de vos nouvelles de l'actualité de votre commande chez les parents de tradition et modernité. Je suis à votre disposition pour tout public à caractère scientifique et technologique et généralement dans les prochains matchs de football en déposant vos propres commentaires et achetez à partir de ce message par contre je n'ai pas encore eu l'occasion de faire un tour sur le lien vers ce billet sont fermés et généralement dans les jours qui suivent la date de naissance est en cours de soutien
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9 年Unfortunately thinkers are not encouraged in target oriented jobs and most of the jobs are getting bound into some or other kind of timelines. The article has refreshed the mind to think with perspective other than business to encourage creativity. Thanks a lot. Regards