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Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the Best of You?
July 2024
Having recently returned from two weeks in Asia, I reflect on what has been a momentous occasion of building relations, sharing, learning, cultural experience and friendship.
I started in Bangkok, Thailand, where we discussed current climate (not the weather - although that will have come up at some stage - but, economically), as well as advances in the accounting profession, technology, business development and politics.
Everywhere I travelled, I was afforded such fabulous hospitality and everyone seemed so genuinely pleased to welcome me.
Next stop was Jakarta, Indonesia, where word had spread about “an award” and immense effort had been exerted into making me feel like a celebrity. The hotel’s digital signs guided to where the “International accounting leader of the year” would be performing. And, once in the room, I was met with a huge banner highlighting my new-found fame.
A lot to live up to…
The Q&A session was extremely enjoyable; particularly the younger generations asking how I had been so successful (whilst managing to maintain expressions that revealed absolutely no sense of irony whatsoever), what they could learn from me, and why I think I had won “the award”. I felt honoured and positively overwhelmed. Our discussions included AI, sustainability, the future of accountancy, leadership and personal brand. I was flattered that so many follow me on social media and read so many of my posts.
I’ve always been careful about promoting achievements. (You hadn’t noticed?!?) After all, Morrissey once said “we hate it when our friends become successful”. And on that note, I suppose I should be happy with “Accounting Leader of the Year” over “Last of the Famous International Playboys”.
I then moved onto Hong Kong; again presenting to our colleagues on the global network and we discussed hot topics of the profession.
This all culminated in Russell Bedford International’s Asia Pacific conference, Yokohama/Tokyo, Japan.
If I have been deemed “successful” then, answering the question as to why, I’d say just be the best OF YOU, and work as hard as you can, with determination, try to be kind and respectful to others, listen to everyone you meet (they all have something to share), establish good relationships (they will help you in future life), learn from hard lessons that might seem bad at the time but could end up being really important for your development, and use your passions and personality to distinguish yourself.
That’s it really!
And remember, success is subjective. We can all have it, in a variety of ways. And behind every “successful person” there’s a number of aspects in their life where they will have been far from successful. So don’t be intimidated by success or (what others perceive as) successful people. We’re all human and we’re all just doing what we can.
It was a pleasure meeting so many wonderful people in Asia; each successful in their own right.