The Know It All

"I appear to be wiser than he, because I do not fancy I know what I do not know."  Socrates

No one likes a know it all.  Perhaps more importantly, know one follows a know it all.  We CPA's have a mental illness that prevents us  from admitting we don't know something, especially if its in our realm of expertise.  How arrogant.  To think anyone knows everything about anything, or doesn't have more to learn, or can't benefit from the insight of another.  When I look across my peers and colleagues, the willingness to "not fancy I know what I do not know" versus pretending to know what one doesn't know is the difference between a leader and a poser.  The know it all may get the attention, they may move up the firm ranks quickly (to a point), they may gain a reputation as a mover and shaker, but they eventually get found out.  When they are found out, its over.  Damage is done.  Trust is lost.  They are stuck.  Clients are irritated.  The staff snicker.  The partners roll their eyes.  The reputation is ruined.  The game is lost.   Checkmate.

Its simple.  Be hungry.  Be curios.  Keep learning.  Engage others.  Read. Admit what you don't know.  Admit your mistakes.  Listen first.  Laugh at yourself.  Build up others.  Be humble.  Win. Repeat.

Opinions

"It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other  people, but care more about their opinion than our own."   Marcus Aurelius

Why does social media consume us?  Why do we frantically check our Instagram accounts to see if that person we ignored in high school liked our most recent post?  Why am I consumed with what others at work think about me when there is no reason to think I'm not doing a good job?  What's more, why do I care what others think, when I've done nothing to improve myself?  Why do I care so little about myself, that I fail to invest in the one thing I have control of.....myself?

REST...

"By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered."  Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

I'm writing this from a cabin in New Mexico, nestled between the beauty of the Sangre DE Christo Mountains.  I came here with my wife and three other couples to reboot.  Each couple has 3+ kids.  Each husband has a demanding job that provides well for the family and provides amazing opportunities for the future.  Each man is a leader of his family, a leader in their place of work, and a leader in their house of worship.  Each wife works diligently to shape and train the kids at home, while often working jobs on the side, to secure their sanity as much as to generate extra income.  Each wife loves their men and children well.  Even so, even with men and women who have represent the top 2% of the American population, who have a bright future, wonderful children, who know the Lord..........things start to crack.  Operating systems don't run as smoothly as they once did.  Communication does not happen as easily as it once did.  Each night, man and woman go to bed exhausted from the day and weary of the doing it all over again tomorrow.  Expectations........damn expectations...go unsatisfied.  Time for a reboot.  Time to smile and laugh freely with friends.  Time to cry over pain and uncertainty.  Time to enjoy the moment with people you love and who help you love freely. 

I'm writing this also during what we CPA's call our "busy season."  That is such a pretentious phrase.  Busy means out of control.  Being out of control means you've lost direction.  You are floundering.......aimless.......out of order.