As a young professional anticipating a career in accounting or just starting out on your journey, there is a lot that you do not know. Luckily, if you are willing to, you can learn about and benefit from the experiences of those who have walked the same path before you.

We asked some of our team members to share the best advice that they have received and how it influences their work. Here is what they had to say:

The best advice I received was twofold. It came at a time when I was excited about a potential new project, but I was delaying sending emails to get the ball rolling because I was worried about rejection. I was afraid of putting myself out there and afraid of what the response to my unexpected email might be.

The advice I was given was to “eat the frog” and that the worst response I might get is “no.” The concept of “eat the frog” is simple: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.” That is, when you have an important and/or difficult task before you, just get it over with—don’t let yourself put it off. The second piece of advice—that the worst response I might get is “no”—simply helps to reframe the risk involved in the task I’m avoiding.

It comes down to this: you don’t grow by staying in your comfort zone, and a lot of the time those “frogs” are the things that will push you to exciting new places.

Kari Bohning, CPA

Senior Audit Associate at Blackman & Sloop

The best advice that I have ever received is “Life is all about managing expectations—most of all your own.”

Our world expects many things from us as individuals, and we expect things in return. However, it is important to manage these expectations. If you go through life trying to live up to another individual’s expectations of you, you will only be disappointed. On the other hand, trying to force the world to meet your expectations does not work either.

I like to think of it as “happiness” equals “reality” minus “shifting expectations.” The idea is that you will be happy if your shifting expectations are lower than reality. When you feel your energy or happiness slipping, it is important to focus on softening your expectations. Not only will you be better off in the moment, but you will benefit in the long run, too.

Mikayla Zucker

Business Advisory Associate at Blackman & Sloop

We hope that you will find value in reading about Kari and Mikayla’s experiences, and we wish you the best of luck as you undertake the journey of your accounting career!