Take the Lead

Source: Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders

The following is a complete reprint, reproduced with permission, of a blog post by Rita Keller.

I have worked in the CPA profession for over 30 years. I have seen CPAs drag their feet with embracing and implementing new ideas and trends. It's always “let others do it first and then we'll see.”

A prime example is going paperless. CPA firms began moving into the paperless world in the late '90s, and there are still a huge number of firms who aren't there yet. “It takes more time.” “It's too hard to review on screen.” “I can do it faster if I have a paper copy.” “My clients want a paper copy.” “I have older clients who don't have a computer.”

Right now the major topic is social media. There are all kinds of excuses aired by CPAs why it won't work for them and their firms.

Please, please read this recent blog post by Michelle Golden: “Listener Beware: Don't Take Everything You Hear From Experts as Gospel.”

CPAs, in my opinion, place too much weight on comparing themselves to other CPA firms. One of the common questions I hear is, “What are other firms our size doing?” What I would like to hear once in a while is: “Who cares what other firms are doing, let's try our idea and do it our way!”

Think for yourself – read and take to heart advice from successful business people outside the CPA profession – be more creative and don't always rely on other CPA firms to lead the way for you. Why don't you lead the way for them?

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs

For the original post, read “Are your firm's leaders pooh-poohing social media?”

From Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders, February 2, 2012, http://ritakeller.com/blog/.