Making the Change

Inevitably we will all make a career/employment change at some point in our lives. Personally I'm in the middle of my 5th employer and 2nd career change. This feels like the most difficult but I'm also most optimistic about this being my last change. Of course, I'm older, but still have a good 20 years of strong production left in me.....I hope! The interesting thing about his change is that I find myself feeling sad and relieved at the same time. Why?

What I'm learning and want to share with you is that during trying times, you must continue to check in on your beliefs, morales or whatever drives your core. I'm leaving because there are basic philosophical business differences between my current partners and myself. The differences are so core that changing them just isn't going to happen, I've already tried for 10 years. I cannot see myself spending the rest of my career battling things that cannot be won. The sadness comes from seeing potential and loving everything else about the position I'm in bu knowing it will never get achieved here. Stay true to your core!!!

What we sometimes don't realize is who we become or how we behave around others when we're experiencing troubles in some part of our lives. My family and friends experience me as a frustrated person instead of a happy person...no fun for them, no fun for me and no fun for the people I work with and nobody is getting any younger...That's why you make changes! Believe in your core, listen to the people you love and trust and strive to be happy, we only have one life. We all have the power of choice. Doing the right thing can ge hard and very difficult to decipher, but when you recognize things aren't right...invoke your power to change and live happily.

I wish all my current partners the best of luck and will always willingly help with anything I can. R&A CPAs is a great professional firm but Eide Bailly sees what I see and my struggles today will be the peace tomorrow!

Speaking of struggles, this economy has taken its toll on all of us. Never be afraid of looking for new ways to supplement your current income or reach out to help others. I remind you that Tampogo is a great way to do both. I encourage everyone to visit the site and see how easy it is to build a simple, no pressure network of caring people that can save lives and add a little cushion to your pocketbook.

Victor

Favorites

Why does it seem like everytime you get a group of new students you end up with a favorite?Does this damage your ability to teach everyone else fairly? For one thing, we are humans with feelings and so I believe its a bit natural to be "pulled" or to "pull" that special one a little closer to us. I also think we want to have a success story, so we look for that one student that is just soaking it up and try to make sure they succeed.
That may be all fine and dandy but our purpose should be to teach all of them. I was reading Tony Dungy's book and in one of the chapters he quotes his father, his greatest teacher, as saying "all students deserve an A". To me this means that every student deserves your attention and you should try to find a way to help them succeed.
It's too easy to get frustrated with those that don't "get it" right away. I have a new crew in my office as I write this and some are faster than others but I'm determined to give them all a fair shake and challenge myself to be the teacher that actually taught them something and made a difference in their lives.
As a teacher and mentor, every student should be your favorite! I guarantee you each and everyone one of them is special and they deserve the attention.

The Basics

Well how many times have you been frustrated after having spent so much time teaching someone something only to find out that they "just don't get it"?



I know we've all heard that not everyone learns the same way and that maybe we need to change the delivery and various similar hints. There are two components to this I would like to discuss that I believe are key to anyone's success as a teacher.



First and most important, in my book, is we must learn to listen! Don't just listen for the question but listen to learn about the person and how their brain works. We give hints about ourselves by the way we speak, the words we use and the way we try to explain things. We can even learn by watching the way someone doesn't ask questions or get involved in discussions. Learning, and hence teaching, is just as much about trust as it is about knowledge. You need to make your audience trust you in order for them to really want to listen and learn from you. Get to know them and let them get to know you....priceless.



The other component to this is making sure you don't get frustrated when the message doesn't seem to be reaching the audience. There could be numerous reasons why, some of which I just mentioned. I was reading a book on how to trade options in the stock market by Wade Cook (yes I've made some dumb decisions too) some 10 years ago and he quoted someone but I can't remember who or what the name of this book is. Anyway, the quote has remained very fresh in my mind and I find it holding true time after time after time. So here it goes, "when the student is ready, the teacher shall appear".



Look, we are in our leadership positions because we have talent and don't forget that you have done something good in order to get to where you are...don't take that away from yourself. If the person(s) you are trying to teach don't want to learn they won't, so don't beat yourself up.



Be proud, be productive, you are the reason this country is so successful!