By Jason Thompson, CPA/ABV, ASA, CFE, CFF
Partner and Director of Valuation and Litigation Services
[email protected]
Learning is a lifelong process. In an interview with Moviemaker Magazine, even master filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who’s been making movies for five decades now, said he’s “still learning to tell stories with pictures.”
This summer, as your kids earn their merit badges and karate belts or take on internships, think about what new skills YOU should acquire. Although it’s easy to get lost in the daily grind and think you’re doing just fine at your current skill level, learning and improving are vital not only for professional success but for personal satisfaction, confidence and self- esteem as well.
As a business leader, you must budget personal improvement time. As Indiana CPAs, we are required to attend a minimum of 120 hours of continuing professional education every three years in order to maintain our licenses. What do you require of yourself and your staff to maintain skills and quality?
What is your own personal black belt you’d like to earn this summer? In this time of Zoom, increased remote working, etc., maybe you need to brush up on your communication skills. Take a speech class or a writing course. If you know anyone who does a lot of writing or speaking for a living, maybe ask them to be a mentor. (Even Academy Award-winning actors have coaches throughout their entire careers.)
Your personal growth and your company’s growth go hand in hand. Growth is not always measured in revenue dollars, but rather growth in capabilities, talent, the frequency of trying new approaches, products or services. Invest in human capital! If you do that effectively, the growth in revenue dollars and net income will come naturally.
This isn’t just about creating a successful business. Investing in your personal growth is also about reaching a point where you feel confident and fulfilled with how you conduct yourself, which is a good way to feel in the summer. It’s time for you to shine!
HR professionals often refer to their sphere of responsibility as “Talent Management.” Think of that term in another way: How are you managing your personal talent, and are you adding to your skills to reach your full growth potential? Only YOU can answer that question!
For further assistance with your personal or business matters, please call Jason Thompson at (317) 608-6694 or email [email protected].