Failure is a fact of life, and it’s an obstacle from which many lessons can be learned. But, if possible, wouldn’t you rather avoid failure altogether?
In a recent SmallBizTrends.com article, author Deborah Shane shares “7 Reasons Why People Don’t Succeed,” arguing that all successful individuals encounter failure, but they are successful because they persevere. Here are four of seven most common obstacles to success:
1. They Become Irrelevant. Technology advances at the speed of light these days, and with it social media trends and consumer interests. And while as a financial professional you may feel immune to these advances (accounting is still accounting, regardless of what people are tweeting), not staying current on these developments will cost you a competitive advantage.
2. They Lack Discipline, Focus and Balance. You cannot be a successful entrepreneur without these three things. Shane encourages entrepreneurs to approach their businesses with “Olympian discipline,” explaining that Olympic athletes “set their goals, surround themselves with a team of coaches and commit to a grinding, daily regimen of practice to achieve.” This same mindset can be applied to managing a new business.
3. They Lack a Deep Sense of Belief in Themselves. If you believe you’ll fail, than you might as well surrender your shingle now. However, if you are convinced you’ll succeed, your chances of success are much greater. If you find yourself lacking the necessary confidence to more forward, don’t despair. You can change your thought patterns by practicing positive thinking. Sometimes it just takes a little concentration to eliminate the negative self-talk we all engage in.
4. They Have Skills Gaps. As Shane explains, “Make sure all your skills, certifications and qualifications are up to date and current for today’s standards. No matter what career you are in, make sure you are adapting to and using the best practices today.”
The Professional Bookkeeper Program
If you need to hone your accounting skills, or if you’re looking to acquire a new skillset in accounting, UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program is not only reputable, but it’s self-paced, enabling a busy professional like you to take your time or complete the program quickly, in less than 60 hours.
And when you take this program you are trained to act as your clients’ Profit Expert. What is a Profit Expert? A proactive accountant who realizes that the information he/she generates provides crucial data that can make or break a business. It’s the accountant’s job to share this data with business owners, explaining it in such a way that they both understand what the information indicates and can use it to make informed business decisions. The PB Program will train you how to do that.
You will gain the confidence and skill necessary to start and manage nearly every client’s books, and when you have a question, our follow-up program enables you to call and ask one of our seasoned professionals.
Let Universal help you avoid all the pitfalls in becoming a contact accountant! Act now and enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper Program day. Call Universal at 1-877-833-7908.
Resource
Shane, Deborah. “Fail Much? 7 Reasons Why People Don’t Succeed.” 16 November 2014 SmallBizTrends.com
