Mastering the Art of Career Growth

In the Spring 2010 issue of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal, David Maturo published an incredibly insightful article, taking self-motivational concepts used in martial arts and applying them to a career in accounting. Mastering the Art of Career Growth is just the sort of article I print out and keep in my day planner when I'm in need of inspiration. Maturo lists three truths shared by a martial arts master when instructing his students to aspire for perpetual growth:

Truth No. 1: Keep your eyes on the road.
Many newly minted accounting graduates jump into a public accounting career gnashing their teeth over the long hours typically required of young professionals. Many of us find ourselves wishing that we could just skip the first five years and go straight to being a manager. But as the martial arts master put it, "with one eye on the horizon, there's only one eye on the road." If all you care about is putting an end to long hours, then you'll lose sight of your end goal, such as making partner, starting your own firm, or becoming a CFO. Instead, keep your eyes on that long-term career goal, and look at those early, grueling years as a training period. If you really want that end prize, you'll be willing to put in the time needed to develop your professional skills and expertise.

Truth No. 2: Never break your egg.
Having earned their black belt, many martial artists fall into a rut in their training regimen. Their skills might begin to plateau after having satisfied such a prominent goal in their training. So the master challenges them with a question: "How do you drop an egg three feet without breaking it? Drop it four feet. Extend your journey." Now that you've overcome the ranks of staff to be promoted to management, don't be satisfied with having done so. Set a new goal, and challenge yourself to evolve as a manager. Every time you reach a new goal, stretch yourself further. Even partners strive to improve themselves by joining boards, working with their communities, and training and mentoring other professionals.

Truth No. 3: Be an Amateur.
So you've raised the bar, reached farther, worked harder, and have really grown as an accounting professional. But what do you do when you have set backs? Perhaps you don't get the promotion or transfer you were hoping for, or you lose a major client. You may begin to doubt whether or not you're cut out for your chosen accounting career path. Again, as the martial artist would say, you should strive to be an amateur rather than an expert. According to the dictionary, an amateur is defined as:
"One who loves; a person who engages in a study, sport, art, or other activity for pleasure or pastime, rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons; a devotee, an enthusiastic pursuer of an objective."
You should be an accountant for the love of it. If you think of your profession this way, every challenge will be just another step in pursuing your dream. You'll put up with a lot for something you love: busy season, travel, difficult clients, complex accounting standards. Having a passion for what you do will help you to stay positive, resilient, and motivated no matter what happens.

If you look at your chosen profession as more than just a job, the above truths will help you to stay focused, motivated, and enjoy what you do, regardless of the hard times ahead. It won't be easy, but those who apply this winning strategy will be the leaders of their profession.