Having a clear vision of the coastline is not easy when you are still in the middle of an ocean. As I sail through this vast academic ocean known as college, I try to let the vision of my destination navigate my path. My BIG vision is an aggregate of multiple personal and professional life goals.
The first of my serious life goals (perhaps the most immediate) is half personal and half professional: Conquer my inner anxiety & discomfort while giving speeches. It has been difficult to resolve because I have no problem speaking to a large group, but, the formality of speaking seems to cause me to become very self conscious. To conquer this handicap, I need more than a public speaking class; they only help while I’m actually in the class. I know someone who is an actor in an off Broadway theater and I plan to perform with them doing street theater. (A sort of shock therapy for my shyness).
Second on my list is a personal goal which has the potential to become a professional goal: become very proactive about helping the environment. I will do this by raising awareness (among friends, family, and acquaintances) about recycling centers, energy efficiency measures, convincing my relatives to compost their organic garbage to feed the soil in their back yards etc… Also, I plan to actually visit electronics recycling centers and other materials recycling facilities to see exactly how it gets done. Perhaps there may be a viable entrepreneurial opportunity waiting for me in green-friendly waste management.
Third on my list major goals (and, therefore, a part of the vision) is to attain a CPA license. This is goal is most likely realizable four or five years from now. To achieve this, I will take the following key steps: after earning an undergraduate degree I will go back and do a comprehensive review of all the major accounting concepts that my undergraduate curriculum required me to know. In the process of earning a bachelor’s degree we often don’t have time to sit with all the material and let it thoroughly soak into our long term memory; there are just too many demands competing for our attention. Next, I will diligently study while attending a CPA review course (Becker etc..) Next, I will work for a Certified Public Accountant to gain the necessary relevant work experience to qualify to take the test. While working in that capacity, I will talk to current professional accountants for insight about “how things really work” in the field and outside of academia.
The fourth major goal in my life is also a professional one: After enough years of experience, win the appointment of a 5 year term to serve on the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Often I feel as if there are shortfalls in the GAAP standards. Concessions are made in certain financial accounting rules that appear to have no valid conceptual justification; instead, these concessions appear to be politically motivated. As geeky as it sounds, improving financial reporting transparency is an important professional goal for me. Too much important information in society (such as earmarks buried in bills which get passed into law) “fly's underneath the radar.”
My aggregate vision: by the time I reach mid 60’s I am looking back at the things I’ve done and feel as though I’ve: made a positive impact on the world, have built enough financial security to enjoy a comfortable retirement, and be in a position to give back to the community, and to the world. Yes, I can see myself reflecting on all of this while the warm sunshine is beaming down onto my face as I gaze out over the Mediterranean ocean.
9 comments:
Like most people, you worry about the future and have most goals set toward a professional career which will be able to leave us "better off" in the future. However, I think your vision of helping the environment is the most interesting and probably the most fulfilling. Although you may truly enjoy accounting and since you are going to make a career out of it, you must enjoy it to a degree, but helping the environment will satisfy you in a different way. It is almost like a hobby and doing something you want to do rather than doing something because you have to, will make you work harder and more diligently. Not only will you satisfy yourself but you are also helping the rest of the world. Not everyone is so conscious about the world around them nor do they realize the impacts their actions have when they choose to throw trash on the floor instead of in the garbage can. I think your vision of helping the environment is a great vision because you aren't thinking about yourself and being able to do that regardless of what it is, is a vision within itself.
Great ideas, man. I think what you are doing is perfect. You are helping the world, yourself, and everyone else. The CPA test is extremely hard. I know a lot of people taking it and it takes a lot of determination to study for it. The new 5 year plan is annoying, but probably worth in in the long run because you will have more knowledge of the subjects before you take the test. I agree with your 4th goal of the GAAP standards. I actually work on tax workpapers at my job converting GAAP to tax for tax returns. Some of the rules are absolutely ridiculous. I suggest you keep going on the path you are on now. Finish college and go for the CPA. While doing that you can help spread the word about the environment. Accounting is a great job and pays really well. You can earn the income you need and maybe one day start your own Green business.
its great to see that you didn't just have self-benefit goals. A lot of people lose sight of whats really important when they set their goals and enact their visions. I too wish to become a CPA, and know that it entails a lot if work. So good luck to you. I hope when you turn 60, you can look at the past accomplishment and be content with the difference you made.
To Michelle wan:
I never thought about helping the environment as a hobby. However, now that you mentioned it, yeah...I think it can become a hobby. It entails coming up with creative ideas and "playing" with the new ides.
As for your comment about thinking selflessly and how you consider it to be a "vision in itself": I think selflessness is indicative of a person's perspective on the world; and our perspective is the "observation point" from WHERE our vision is positioned.
To Brian W:
It's good to know that someone else out there can appreciate my perspective on the apparent lack of integrity displayed in some of the GAAP accounting standards. Sometimes changing the status quo seems to be an impossible task..but it seems more achievable when you know that others out there would like to see that same change.
To Paul Ramotar:
Your comments about loosing sight of what's really important & about becoming a CPA being a lot of work suggest an important point: it's easy to set goals, however, while in the process of achieving them, we may find ourselves diverted from our complete vision.
To say it more metaphorically: while in the midst of the trees we we may loose sight of the forest itself. Thanks for the reminder.
Everyone usually has anxiety when it comes to speaking in front of a large crowd. I feel though that it was one of the best things to be able to do. If you conquer that inner anxiety and are able to speak in front of large groups with ease you will be in a better position to succeed in many things you want to do.
Wow...I found your blog to be somewhat inspiring! Coming from the family I come from, I was raised to be concerned with making money, being ambitious, and staying hungry. Reading your blog reminded me that when we leave this world we can't take anything with us, so it's best to make your mark while your here. Simple things like helping the environment and changing accounting standards may seem trivial, but it might be those little things that count at the end of the day. I'll definitely keep this type of logic in mind as I continue my business ventures.
I also Plan on becoming a CPA. I think that your goals are pretty clear cut and you seem to have it planned out. I hope you pass the CPA exam, i heard that it is very hard, but im sure that as long as you have your plan and stick to it, you will succedd.
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