Golden Retrievers, Integrity & the Mistake Zone: Lessons from 40 Years in Business

Consider the year 1982. You may have been starting your career, hitting the books at school, or perhaps you weren’t even born yet. No matter what you were doing, 40 years probably seems like a long time ago.?Cell phones, email, big data and Zoom were years away from changing the way we do business.

But this isn’t a story about how much has changed. Rather, I’d like to talk about some lessons I believe were as valuable in 1982 as they will be in 2062. Because retirement has a pesky tendency to put things in perspective.

July 31 will be the final day of a full-time accounting career I began in ’82, and I’ve been reflecting on all the work that made my career exciting. Yet as my last day as CEO inches nearer, I’m thinking, more than anything, about the many incredible people I’ve spent these 40 years with.

Those people have helped me realize some critical lessons about life and business. They’ve made me the person I am today. Now, I’d like to share what I learned with you — in the hopes that it helps you through 2062.

1)???Surround yourself with people who help you live your values

We all have our own personal values, but I’ve discovered it’s not enough to define the principles that guide us; we must live our values every day. To do that, I recommend cultivating a community of people who will hold you accountable for putting your values into action — and who will let you know if you stray from the path.

This is especially vital for people in leadership positions. No one wants to be the person who critiques a top exec, but honest feedback is a vital ingredient for any measure of personal or professional success. (And if executives aren’t open to well-intentioned criticism, they should reevaluate their own values.) In fact, holding one another accountable to our values is the only way we can practice true integrity.?

2)???Invite your loved ones to create your goals with you

The accounting industry is full of high performers who set lofty professional goals each year. This work ethic will always be valuable, but it’s not the whole picture. It took me a while to realize that, but years ago, while thinking of what I wanted to accomplish, I decided to invite my family into the fold. We sat down at our dinner table, and together we outlined the goals we were each eager to attain. The list ran the gamut; everything from physical to emotional goals were included. And by the end of the discussion, we had a better idea of how to support one another that year. This is part of a larger approach to work-life balance that I worry is overlooked.

Rather than completely separate our personal and professional lives, I encourage you to find appropriate ways to merge the two. This can be as simple as introducing your mentor to your spouse, or debriefing with those closest to you after an exceptionally rough day. If your colleagues respect your personal responsibilities, and your loved ones know more about what you do, true work-life balance is possible.

3)???Mind the “mistake fly zone”

Pilots never fly too low or too high — there’s a sweet spot right in the middle. We may not all be qualified to fly planes, but I still encourage you to mirror pilot behavior by knowing what I call the “mistake fly zone.”

If you’re too careful and risk-averse, you’ll likely never make any mistakes. That may sound terrific, but mistakes can be great: They’re instructive, and they often happen because we’re being bold. Embrace your boldness.

That said, you don’t want to fly too high by taking risks at every opportunity. So, I urge you to find the sweet spot: the “fly zone” that will lead you safely to your desired destination.

4)???Embrace the golden retriever approach

Have you seen the show “Ted Lasso”? If so, you might remember Coach Lasso’s advice to his players after a heart wrenching loss: “Be a goldfish,” he said. Their memories don’t allow them to dwell on mishaps; they just keep swimming.

I think Ted’s advice has plenty of value, but I’d like to propose a slightly different approach: Be a golden retriever.

Rain or shine, good day or bad day, golden retrievers live their lives with boundless energy. Humans don’t. In fact, we typically use up every ounce of our energy at work. By the time we engage with those we love, we’re spent.

Of course, I understand that we physically cannot match the energy and joy a golden retriever adds to his household; nobody can. But we can try.

Rather than turning on the television or scrolling through our phones after work, let’s all look for ways we can give those we love the attention and happiness that a golden retriever would give them.

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My accounting career might’ve started in ’82, but I was working long before then. I’ve been a janitor, a laborer, and a restaurant worker. And before any of those jobs, I went door-to-door selling seeds. I still remember the hope I felt when a door would open and a new conversation began.

That’s my final piece of advice: Don’t lose hope that your next great accomplishment is right behind whatever door you’re knocking on.

I’ve learned that if you knock on enough doors, your hope will be rewarded.?