Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Remember When You And Your CPA Firm Were Young and Cool?
Today’s title is something I often remark on during my live presentations….
I use Elvis Presley as an example of “being young and cool” and over time, becoming “old, fat, slow and complacent.” – - You can tell what I mean by the pictures!
When you, Mr./Ms. Baby Boomer, joined your firm I bet you were brimming with excitement and ambition and the firm felt the same way. You were hungry and maybe even agressive.
Then, over the years, success happened. You are making more money than you ever expected, became complacent and maybe find yourself in the “cruiser” mode.
Stop and take a deep breath….. the young people entering the profession today want to work for the “cool firm.”
When I was actively working inside a growing CPA firm it was our on-going goal to be the “cool firm” in our marketplace. We had client parties with themes like “The Future’s So Bright You Gotta Wear Shades” and gave everyone sunglasses with the firm name on the stem. At the firm’s 50th anniversary party we used the theme “Fifty Years and Still Rockin‘” and we dressed in poodle skirts and white t-shirts and black leather jackets. An Elvis impersonator met everyone at the door and had their picture taken which we later mailed to them in a special card.
My point is, you have to keep working at being cool.
Jennifer Wilson has a great article current running on the CPA Insider site – Is Your Firm Old School or Cool? Check it out, it will make you think.
- "It seems like once people grow up, they have no idea what's cool."
