This week has been a huge week for sport. A man has run 100 metres in less time than it takes to name the Big 4 accounting firms, the credit crunch-proof Premiership season has kicked off, and we’ve still got a hope against the Australians in the cricket. On top of that, the unbeatable ‘Sunday Tiger’ was tamed in the USPGA Championship.
Watching all these dedicated professionals competing in their fields made me realise the practice, sacrifices and dedication it takes to win a World Championship heptathlon, a Grand Prix or Golf Major. Just because it’s ‘sport’, it’s all too easy to forget that these men and women are excelling in their fields. For anyone, accountants included, to be as successful in our chosen careers, we need to look at how much effort we are putting into our abilities and skills to compete in the modern workplace.
Even a snooker or darts player competes or practices every day of the week. Top footballers are lucky to get a three week break every two years. But most accountants, myself included, get a reminder to complete their Continuous Professional Development (CPD) self-certification and then rush to tick a few boxes online. How much effort have I really put into keeping my ‘fitness’ in the last 12 months? Very little, compared to a top athlete. I had to be reminded to fill in my CPD submission this week – that’s how much effort I’ve invested.
I appreciate that most finance professionals have very heavy workloads and regularly put in long hours which makes the parallels to sports stars a little disingenuous. But, if you ask most accountants if they really feel that they’ve stretched their abilities and skills as much as they wished that they could, the answer would probably be “ummm … no”.
On a recent holiday I took the opportunity to catch up on some essential business reading. It’s reignited my thirst for knowledge that will further my career. The books weren’t strictly accounting- related (‘Free – The Future of a Radical Price’ by Chris Anderson, ‘What they teach you at Harvard Business School’ by Philip Delves Broughton, ‘The Accidental Billionaires ...’ Ben Mezrich), but did involve a heady mix of finance and economics.
My personal challenge for the next CPD year ahead is to keep up this brain-training regime, whilst flicking between various sports programmes of course.
Colin qualified with Arthur Andersen in 2000, eventually leaving in 2002. After a brief stay at Centrica, he joined Carphone Warehouse and worked in assorted roles with Talk Talk and as Finance Director. He’s now working with Mint Digital, a social media development agency based in Vauxhall.
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