We are rapidly approaching the end of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge. It has been entertaining and also brought back memories, both good and bad. Life is full of opportunities and challenges. I used to play golf, racquetball, and intramural volley ball (in college). My fondness for those sports waned over time. Being almost seventy now, I suppose I should have expected that.
The aspect of humanity that I am most astounded by is our diversity of capabilities and interests. As a former finance and accounting guy, dealing with money does not bother me at all. Here’s another random memory that demonstrates that: When I started my first accounting job (at an iron valve and casting plant in Washington, Iowa), they gave me a desktop calculator/adding machine. I had not used one before. I watched the others and noticed they used their right hand. Even though I am a leftie, I started using my right hand on the machine. Suddenly, I was the fastest accountant on Earth, as I could add columns of numbers with my right hand, and then write the answers with my left. That served me well throughout my career. Clearly, that was before the advent of desktop or laptop computers.
When it came to investing, once again, it was a snap. I understood the financial markets and how stocks and bonds worked from the time I left the University. When 401ks began, I was eager to jump in.
My ex was not so comfortable with that stuff. However, she has other amazing skills that far outshine me. My ex is a huge extrovert, while I am the opposite. She led the way and I just followed. She is also an wonderful dancer (she danced with her siblings when they wanted to practice something new). When we danced together, she made me look good. When I was in college, I had a large selection of LPs (vinyl records to any younger folks in the audience). I played my music all the time. Now, they just sit there, and I seem to have no drive to set up the turntable. I even have a LARGE collection of music in my iTunes library. Not used in too long to remember.
Given my finance knowledge, I also love to read annual reports and especially 10-Qs. Of course, I skip all the propaganda by the CEO and focus on the numbers. I have also been asked by several of our legal beagles to review contracts. I guess you could say that I am better with documents and accounting books than people. You would not be wrong.
Now I know it was all for the best. Everything good and bad in my life has led me to this moment. Any deviation in my past would most likely have changed my present. I do not want that. Sure, each of us has ups and downs, great joys and sorrowful downs. But that is life. I could not and would not want today to change. All is well. Be content with your life, and all the doubts and fears will fade. Life is not necessarily easy, but life is the only option we have at the moment. My best advice for today is to enjoy every moment, treasure your family and friends, and know you are exactly who were expected to be. I wish you all the best.
Speaking of the best, be sure to check out the blog posts by my fellow travelers in this 30-Day Blogging Challenge. It looks like all of us are going to make it to the finish line, but see for yourself. The link is below.
Hi Karl–When I was working, I WROTE that stuff the CEOs spewed in annual reports! I had to rely on the finance staff to supply me with the financial material, pie charts and bar graphs, etc. I’m not a graphic designer, so I would gather the verbiage and sit down with the photos, tell the graphic designer what look I wanted, and he/she would put it together. It was always a team effort.
When I was on the board of directors for several small not-for-profits, I had to convince them that they needed to do annual reports, even if the publications were only online. Annual reports are a great tool for not-for-profits when they’re fundraising.
I hadn’t thought about annual reports for a long time, until you mentioned them here. Another blast from the past!
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Dear Wanda, I’m sorry about saying that I ignored the Corporate spiel, but we finance and accounting types understand numbers. Let the stockholders and potential acquirers pay attention to that. I’m sure it helps them. But as I have always said, numbers don’t lie. On the other hand is the old axiom that states that figures don’t lie, but liars figure.
Hi, Karl,
You have summed up your life and no regrets. Life is never fair. There is always a curve ball around the corner, whether we like it or not.
Take care and keep looking forward.
Shalom shalom
Pat, you are so right. We never know what is going to happen in the future. I still imagine moving out of California (one of the nuttiest states in the country), but I have not done so yet. We’ll see when and if the spirit moves me.
Hi, Karl,
Although I did well in Math courses in school, numbers tend to muddle my brain, especially in this phase of life. What you have is a gift. Isn’t it a comfort to be happy with where you are in life, knowing that every step along your path brought you there? It is for me.
Blessings, and Happy Easter!
Patty
Patty, yes, I am very glad to be the person I am today. Any minor change along the way, and my life would have been totally different. Perhaps in the next life I will try to be more of a risk-taker.
I was always amazed with my controller who could add columns of numbers on a calculator without looking at it – like many of us do with a computer today. I did ask her if she was aware when a mistake was made while doing this and she mentioned that she would get an odd sensation and look at the results…like we do with a laptop. At least I do. Another thing about her, she never used a calculator without a roll of paper in case she needed to check her numbers. That is not a job I’d like full-time, but she did teach me a lot that made my job in management easier.
You’re right, John. Accountants are quirky people, which I know having been one. I still laugh when I see the Gary Larson cartoon entitled Punk Accountants. I recall that one had a tattoo that said, “Add, Subtract, or Die.” I don’t know if you ever dealt with the corporate tax accountants or not. They make regular accountants look like salespeople. Their tax knowledge is incredible, but they were still always a bit weird. We accountants love that.
Karl, I landed a job at a Catholic church as the business manager and had to do the Parish annual report, payroll and taxes, and Archdiocesan report. I also had to give a presentation to the parish council members once a month and had to know what those numbers mean, especially when everything became computerized. I guess you could also call me a systems analyst because I had to bring everyone on board with computers. There was no uniformity in the office at the time and it was definitely needed. I rose to the challenge as accounting became my second career after I left the newspaper industry.
Okay, over and out!
Your life sounds as if were so interesting Karl; of course we all have good and bad moments. Some of us may have regrets, however that does nobody any good. So we must all live whatever life is left to us to the full, be grateful for those around us and be happy.
Joy, I could not have said it any better. Thanks again.