THE ART OF COUNTING FIGURES AND BEADS

Beading isn’t just a hobby to me - it’s everything I love doing in one package. It’s dynamic and challenging. People come up to you with a particular design they like. Then, they want you to come up with the same beadwork; the colour combinations, the size, everything! It’s sometimes a challenge, but never one I’m not ready to handle.

And this has helped me in different areas whether it's through a Google search or lending a helping hand to those in need, I find satisfaction in problem-solving. It's soothing and it makes me happy. I think this is part of the reason I like accounting so much. It’s more than just balancing books - it’s about helping a business and its finances. I also find accounting to be very diverse and definitely not what it used to be. It’s constantly growing, evolving and you have to also learn to evolve with it. Otherwise, you’d get left behind.?

?Accounting is more than balancing books, it’s about helping a business and its finances - Beulah?

When people ask how I got into finance, I like to say it was a blend of circumstance and passion. Where I grew up, my options were limited. You either wanted to be an accountant, a lawyer, or a doctor. I ended up going with accounting…but not for the reason you think. I gravitated towards it because I was intrigued by figures. So, I went on to study Accounting at university, and it wasn’t easy. I struggled at some point. Anyone who studied Accounting can tell you for a fact that it can get really hard. To be honest, I was discouraged. But, when I realized I was doing more than keeping records, that I was helping a business, I was able to push through. It’s funny how I can now say that I love a good challenge given what I’ve been through. Working in finance has its challenges; a lot of which will push you to grow.?

Here at X3M, I currently do a lot of things. As a finance officer, I’m not restricted to just doing one particular thing - I do a host of diverse tasks that can sometimes be challenging. This interests me - you know how much I love a good challenge. That’s why one of the things I enjoyed and still enjoy to date is mentoring. I mentor people, while still having people who mentor me on the job. I believe this is one thing about my past that has influenced the work I do now.

Reflecting on my journey, there are certainly things I should have done differently such as starting my ICAN immediately after secondary school. It would have helped me define where exactly I wanted to be. If I could do it all over again, or ever had to pick any other profession, I'd still choose a path rooted in providing solutions and aiding others in their journey. I would also like to be a financial analyst, though this is still a work in progress.?

I’ll typically describe myself as analytical, resourceful, curious, positive, empathetic, and very honest. If I’m not working, you would likely find me in church, singing, or at home, indulging in my love for beading and exploring new bead designs on YouTube.

A perfect day for me would be listening to music through my headphones, all distractions blocked as I go through completing my to-do list with no side tasks. Yeah, I know, I sabi sweet dream.

My name is Beulah Joseph and I am an accountant in X3M Ideas. If there are two things I will always be interested in, it’s beading and providing solutions.