My son, Austin, is celebrating his birthday today – he just turned 4.  I remember last year on his 3rd birthday he woke up extra early, and as my wife and I were not yet ready to face the day yet we lounged around and watched cartoons for an hour or so with him before getting ready for work.  And one of his comments that early October morning last year has stuck with me vividly.  “Daddy, when will I be 4 years old?”

My immediate thought to that question was “Slow down, Austin.  It’s already going so fast and you’re getting so big so quick”.

I thought about his question again today, exactly one year later.  And as I reflect back on the past year – the changes and accomplishments, risks taken and rewards earned – it might be his thought provoking question that has benefited me the most during that time. 

I train and facilitate clients on how to always focus on value and reduce/eliminate waste and inefficiencies in their processes.  Just think about how we can apply that thinking to our everyday lives.  Because of Austin’s question, I’m consistently reminding myself to slow down and enjoy the journey.  With my escalating responsibilities and to-do list, clients to service, presentations to make, prospects to call, etc… it can get overwhelming.  But if you always come back to focusing on slowing down and considering the value of what you’re trying to accomplish, the tasks become much more clear and easier to accomplish.

I cringe sometimes when I hear CPA firms push so hard for hours and utilization.  Besides the point they are burning good people out, they are inadvertently pushing for quantity not quality, inefficiency and not client value.  Anyone can put in hours.  But are they effective?  And are they profitable?

So, try thinking counterintuitively.  Every once in a while slow down to think.  Have your client service teams do the same.  Enjoy the journey – you shouldn’t just be putting in hours.  That leads to burn out, which is not productive.  Those hours should mean something, they should equate to value.  It’s up to each person individually to find their right place in the professional environment - the balance between a great career, a great family and service back to your community.  Help others to find that place as well – your firm should be receptive to it.  The more you find yourself in that right place when you’re at the office, watch how much more productive you can be. 

Think back to Austin’s innocent question and how we should be slowing down to enjoy life and the blessings we have.  You and your clients won’t regret this change in thinking.