Do you need to understand and embrace how incoming innovations will change the way we do our jobs? Absolutely, but that’s not enough. You also must identify key skills only humans provide, cultivate them, and make them a key focus of your practice. Establishing yourself as a valuable advisor to clients is just as important to futureproofing as understanding how blockchain could change audits or AI will make data entry a thing of the past.

Understanding a client intimately isn’t just a matter of knowing their financials. Every business wants to make money and be successful, but that's far from their only motivation. People start particular companies for particular reasons, ranging from a desire to serve their community to environmental concerns and beyond. In addition to these core components of who companies are, owners each possess a collection of values and principles that they hold near and dear to their hearts. As an accountant, especially one that seeks to become a trusted advisor, it’s on you to learn about these values.

In an accounting world obsessed with advisory services, it’s strange that we often overlook the foundational aspect of relationships: communication.

You don’t need to be a research expert to find countless articles online detailing the vital importance of advisory services for accounting firms preparing for the future.

Not so long ago, we won our clients through referrals, and most of our client base lived within a 5 to 10 mile radius from our office. We went to local networking events in the evening and possibly advertised in the local paper, yellow pages or maybe even sent direct mail.

As technology continues to transform the accounting industry, it’s important to remember that what will always differentiate us as accounting professionals from technology is our ability to humanize the numbers and create long-lasting relationships. In particular, this means the connection we build with people and our ecosystem -- our clients, teams, colleagues and business partners.

Many of you have been communicating almost entirely via digital platforms for more than a year, so I don’t need to tell you Zoom fatigue is real. When hours of everyday are spent communicating via videoconference, chat, text, email, and more—all without so much as one in-person conversation—it’s only natural for burnout to set in. And when it does set in, stress and anxiety are sure to follow.

In the past year, our workspaces have changed a lot. Many of you have gone from having a dedicated office to working entirely remotely to switching back and forth in a hybrid model. No matter where you do your work, though, a lot of the stresses are the same.

I don’t need to tell you that it’s been quite a year. The memes about 2020 are everywhere so there’s no need to repeat them here, but suffice it to say we’ve all been through a lot these past 12 months. As stressful and chaotic as this time has been, there are plenty of lessons to take from it—far more than in a “normal” year, even. From a personal growth perspective, those lessons can be powerful and long-lasting.

If you want to advance your career, taking risks is a necessary evil. If you want to rise above the competition, risks push you out of your comfort zone.

As boxing great Muhammad Ali once said, "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

I have always enjoyed philosophical books. They offer great insight and inspiration on how to improve my life and how to better approach my work. Along the way, I have discovered that some of the greatest wisdom comes from the simplest lessons.

The holiday party. It is a staple of workplace culture, almost to the point of cliche. Every sitcom that centers around a workplace includes at least one episode that occurs during a company holiday party. No surprise, then, that in a year when everything about business is a little different, holiday parties will be too.

As we approach the coldest part of the year, it’s clear that our current work-from-home (WFH) forecast shows no signs of slowing down. With the lower temperatures likely to produce a spike in Covid-19 cases, it’s possible restrictions will be tighter during the winter than during the previous few months.

If you want to advance your career, taking risks is a necessary evil. If you want to rise above the competition, risks push you out of your comfort zone.

Back in the olden days when we spent most of our work lives in offices, we separated our days with countless little breaks. We went on walks, ate snacks in the break room, had conversations with our fellow team members, and more—and we never thought twice about it.

This far into an unprecedented year, I’m willing to bet that you have your remote workflow down pat. You know when to start your day, how to reach out to clients and teammates for help, and what to do if Zoom crashes during an important meeting.

These TED Talks teach you how to be an effective risk-taker. If you want to advance your career, taking risks is a necessary evil. If you want to rise above the competition, risks push you out of your comfort zone.

"People will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

This is one of my favorite quotes--often attributed to poet Maya Angelou and others--because it highlights something everyone in business struggles with--focusing on the entirety of the experience rather than one isolated activity.

During the beginning of the year, when all of us were adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t have to devise a perfect work-from-home strategy. Even if you had some experience working remotely, you probably weren’t planning for a day when going to the office would be an impossibility. It’s only natural that corners got cut in the rush to transition.

Sometimes the most complex issues in business and life can be solved by the simplest of means. The Greek philosophy of stoicism teaches you the basic truths about life. Embracing this wisdom can provide the guidance you need to be a better person at work and home.

Instead of work-life balance, strive for work-life harmony. Forget what you might think you know about work-life balance. It's almost impossible to have true balance between your professional and personal life. After all, balance implies that there needs to be a strict tradeoff between the two.