A New Definition of Excellence: Prioritizing Value Over Hours

By: Michael Maksymiw, CPA CGMA MSA

I have a confession: from time to time it feels weird to not be working as much as I used to.

It will be some random Tuesday and I get on a hot streak doing my tasks and I start crossing things off my to do list left and right. And then I look up and it’s only 4 p.m., but I crushed it today; finished everything I was supposed to, maybe more.

You’ve already started thinking of all the things you could recommend I get a head start on, haven’t you? That’s good, and kind of the point of this article; I started thinking about them, too.

You see, if you know me, you know that I believe hours have nothing to do with the value we create for our clients. So you might be asking yourself, why is he worried about how long he works? He tells us all the time that when we’re done with what we’re supposed to do, we should go home.

And I’m writing to tell you that this monumental mindset shift, that I 100% believe in and am asking people and firms to make – it’s difficult. And it’s ok that it’s difficult. The point of this article is to share with you that I also find the mindset shift difficult in practice. On the theoretical side, I’m all in. But somedays are harder than others to put it into practice.

I typically stress that vulnerability with your team is critical for them to believe you. Well, I thought I should take my own advice and be vulnerable with you.

Some days it feels weird to not be working as much as I used to. I’m still getting used to it. And it’s been two and a half years..

On those days, I pause when my brain says: “Do something else, you have time, you’re not tired yet!” I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and remind my brain that we are still retraining the years of working at 100%+ capacity out of our system. That working at “only” 100% of our capacity is totally normal. And that somedays, we finish 100% our work in less than what is typically a 100% workday.

A trick I used early on was to get my brain to focus on the “100% of work done” piece. I did what I set out to do today. Then I let my brain asked me ALL of the follow up questions: and I answered them with “I did what I set out to do today.”

After a few tries at this, I noticed my anxiety decrease, and my brain started at a new angle: "Is this your new definition of excellence? Is this the best you can do?" And my brain’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Wow – my brain knows just how to hit back at me, doesn’t it? These question are harder to push back on. A couple deep breaths, gather your thoughts…

Well, brain, my definition of excellence has professional AND personal aspects. By finishing everything I set out to do, I have energy and emotional capacity to be fully present in my personal life today.

Ha! Take that, brain!

Ok, I’m definitely using humor to take out some of the emotional sting that comes with having a conversation with myself about my progress on this enormous mindset shift. But laughter lessens the burden and makes the next conversation with myself a bit easier.

Give yourself the grace to fail with any significant mindset shift you’re making. You’re undoing years of training and thousands of imperceptible moments that reinforce that training. It’s ok not to be perfect. After all, excellence is about constantly improving, not being perfect. And that’s the journey we’re on.