Nerds are officially cool -- cool enough to have recently overshadowed their prototypical rivals, jocks.
The 2012 London Olympic Games arrived with great fanfare and record ratings, but one moment outside of the U.K., and even the planet, trumped it all. On the day Usain Bolt cemented his status as the fastest man in this world, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity was out discovering new ones.
Those livestreaming online video of NASA's successful Mars landing turned the historic feat into a Twitter trending topic. The mission's camera-ready flight director, Bobak Ferdowsi, and his unique hairstyle, garnered particular attention. Soon, "Mohawk Guy" was an Internet sensation, later receiving a hair-envy shout-out from President Obama.
But geek chic has gone beyond Internet confinement in recent years, with TV shows like Breaking Bad and Mythbusters popularizing science, and superhero movies breaking box office records.
In other words, it's time for accountants to embrace their authentic nerdiness - and all the good it represents. Particularly when it comes to being trusted advisors, an esteemed role that accountants safely occupy, based on positive client feedback and surveys within the profession.
With this kind of cache, there's a whole other lighter side to explore. And it's happening. Marketing has become cheeky, as evidenced by Macias Gini & O'Connell's "Boring Accountants" campaign. CPAs are playing dodgeball at conferences and uploading dead-pan comedy monologues and Star Wars parodies to YouTube. Our new Accountant of the Month moonlights as Duke Maynard von dem Steine from the Kingdom of AEthelmearc.
This is truly the time to let your geek flag fly. Now casting for Handlebar Mustache Guy or Pixie Cut Girl: @ATomorrow.
