#172 January 30th, 2025
Blake Carroll, CPA
PwC People Team - Manager | Helping Aspiring CPAs Navigate the CPA Exam with Confidence
Like Spider-Man teaches us, with great power comes great responsibility. When you are a leader, whether formally or informally, you must appreciate that your words and actions will have an outsized impact on the people you lead. A small interaction with or word from a leader can make or break the rest of someone’s day. A leader’s behavior sets the tone and serves as a powerful example for others to follow and mimic.
People often assume that if their leaders take certain actions, then it must be acceptable for them to do the same, which is an understandable belief. Criticism is rarely a good tactic for a leader. You should avoid tearing down someone’s character or identity, as this can put them on the defensive. Instead, focus on the action, not the person, and work together to come up with solutions.
Complaining, like criticism, doesn’t create progress or move things forward. When you complain, you position yourself as a victim rather than a problem solver. Worse, complaining is contagious and can spread negativity, which is not the kind of influence a leader should cultivate. Leaders should focus on building self-esteem, not destroying it.
When leaders improve their team’s self-esteem, they empower them to take the necessary actions to achieve great things. Teams are capable of rising to challenges when leaders appropriately challenge them and remind them of their potential. Great leadership is about empowering others and fostering belief and confidence within the team.
Leaving your comfort zone is challenging because it means embracing discomfort, and humans naturally prefer comfort. However, staying in your comfort zone forever is just existing, not living. The best things in life often come after we push through discomfort and fear. Reflect on your biggest personal accomplishments—they were likely difficult, but overcoming those challenges allowed you to grow.
Some stress, particularly the kind that arises when trying something new, is actually beneficial. You can build the habit of stepping outside your comfort zone by taking small steps; drastic changes aren’t necessary. Comfort zones involve familiar habits and actions that require little effort, so trying something new forces you to develop skills and overcome the fear of being a beginner.
Confidence comes from trying and succeeding at new challenges. Fear and confidence compound on each other, so it’s crucial to intentionally focus on building confidence by taking risks. Reflecting on past wins can encourage you to take future risks, as they provide evidence of your ability to succeed.
Life is full of uncertainty, and not all of it will be positive. By intentionally exposing ourselves to uncertainty, we strengthen our resilience and adaptability. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back from the amazing opportunities life may offer. Sometimes, things might work out even better than you could imagine.
This guide focuses on how leaders can grow and empower their teams. Start by ensuring your team is well-organized, with clear responsibilities and lines of communication. Leaders often have a broader perspective of their team’s problems and projects, enabling them to break down larger tasks into manageable pieces.
Leaders should ensure communication between different parts of the project is seamless to foster collaboration and minimize confusion. Clearly communicating the overall vision helps everyone stay aligned. Delegation is key, but it should stretch employees just enough to encourage growth without setting them up for failure.
Good delegation fosters autonomy and freedom rather than a command-and-control environment. Great leaders focus on creating more leaders by helping their team members learn and grow. They also identify recurring processes and routines that can be systemized, saving time, reducing mistakes, and improving onboarding.
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Leadership is not an innate trait—it is a skill that can be learned and developed with intentional practice. By honing a wide range of skills, leaders can better support their teams and drive success.
If you’re trying to go into business for yourself but feel timid about selling your product or service, remember that sales don’t have to be pushy or manipulative. If you genuinely believe in your offering and its value, you can approach sales confidently from a place of wanting to help others.
Understanding your customer avatar is crucial. When you know exactly who your ideal customer is, you avoid wasting effort trying to connect with the wrong people. In today’s world, building an audience often requires being active on social media. Consistently show up where your audience is, offering insights and building genuine connections.
This process takes time, so it’s important to focus on topics you’re passionate about. Over time, as you learn more about your industry and audience, you can improve your offerings and further build credibility.
As you gain experience and confidence, you create a positive feedback loop—your belief in yourself and your product grows, which in turn makes you more effective at marketing and selling.
CPA tip of the week: There are CPA candidates who are a single parent working a full-time job and raising two kids.
They have every excuse to give up on their CPA journey.
It’s normal to think, “Maybe this isn’t meant to be,” especially if you’ve failed a section.
But instead of throwing in the towel, find an approach that will work for you.
I have coached parents who studied during 20-minute breaks at work, after bedtime routines, and even in the carpool line.
It wasn’t easy, but they never let go of their vision of what they were creating for their family.
If you’re a parent and you’re really doubting yourself with the exam, remind yourself: “This isn’t just for me, it’s for my kids. I want them to see what resilience and grit look like.”
If there are successful candidates who can manage two kids, a demanding job, and the CPA exam, what’s stopping you?