IMGCAP(1)]Recently I was asked if I could provide some reasons for my success.
This gave me an opportunity to think about it and I came up with a list of 10 reasons, which I am presenting here. I hope you take away some ideas from this. If you have your own list, I would appreciate it if you would share it with me.
1. Exceptional client service: Making myself user friendly by anticipating clients’ concerns and trying to deal with them before the client brings them up. I try to put myself in my client’s shoes to see what they want.
2. Being prepared: Never wanting to be unprepared for a meeting.
3. Continuous learning: Desire to learn new things and seeking out what’s new.
4. Learning from others: Listening, recognizing and grabbing ideas presented by others.
5. Giving and paying back: Desire to give back and pay back by sharing with colleagues. I learned and grew from others who helped me without any underlying motive, and by helping others I am paying them back. I had great role models and was fortunate and grateful for that. I also try to have everyone I interact with learn something from me, and I eagerly look for opportunities to mentor younger colleagues.
6. Doing great work: I try to always do great work. What I do is not specifically client driven, but by my ego that causes me to try to excel in whatever I do.
7. Following the rules: Cutting corners is not a sustainable strategy. But I also try to use whatever I can to help my clients within the established structure. When the rules don’t work, I try to change them, if possible. And be completely honest at all times.
8. Not kicking aside opportunities: I always tried to take advantage of opportunities that came my way.
9. Smart and nice people: I surrounded myself with great, smart and nice people. Life is too short to do otherwise.
10. A supportive family: My parents showed me what kind of person I could become. My wife Ronnie helped me become that person with her great loving support.
Edward Mendlowitz, CPA, is partner emeritus at
