Episode description
Episode 113. In today's interview, "Mental Resilience for Accountants: Randy Crabtree."
Randy Crabtree is co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals in the USA. Since 2019, he has hosted the bi-weekly “The Unique CPA,” podcast, which ranks among the world’s 10% most popular programs. (Source: Listen Score). You can find articles from Randy in Accounting Today’s Voices column, the AICPA Tax Adviser . He is a regular presenter at conferences and virtual training events hosted by CPA associations, state CPA societies and top 400 CPA firms across the country.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
◆ why mental health and resilience is especially important for the accounting profession
◆ what is pushing accountants and CPAs into the 'red zone' or threshold of what they can cope with mentally
◆ the physical and mental symptoms of overload in accounting professionals
◆ why the hope that 'a slower day is coming' is false and how things are just getting faster
◆ the challenges for a stable profession like accounting to deal with the changes of a pandemic, a hybrid workplace or even technology
◆ what can happen when accountants start not being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of their job
◆ how a life-changing trauma like a stroke or major illness can alter the direction of one's life
◆ how 'hitting a wall' forces people like accountants to recalibrate life and career
◆ the mental healing that must accompany physical trauma of a major illness or injury
◆ why nobody is immune from life altering situations and how mental health issues are available to all
◆ the impact of mental breakdown, anxiety and panic attacks for professionals like accountants and CPAs
◆ the role of therapists, coaches and counselors for everyone to help deal with mental, emotional and physical difficulties
◆ what sometimes makes handling mental issues more difficult for men than women
◆ breaking the illusion that accountants don't know everything and can't do everything
◆ the importance of having people looking out for you and outlets to confide in when things are going on 'inside'
◆ why it is often harder for loved ones when someone close to them goes through illness, injury or mental health issues
◆ the unique challenges of super smart professionals like accountants who are super busy and under huge pressures
◆ the illusion of success for accountants that come with billing 3000 hours but also huge pressures
◆ strategies for accounting professionals and CPAs to cope with the pressures of work
◆ the importance for accounting firms to hire people with outside interests from 'the work'
◆ shout out to the book "What's Your And? Unlock the Person Within the Professional" by John Garrett
◆ the relevance of fun and enjoyment in non-work activities for accounting professionals and CPAs
◆ how accountants have become therapists, coaches and counselors for their own business clients in these challenging times
Check out Randy's previous interview on here:
"Career Advice for Accountants & CPAs with Randy Crabtree"
Also check out Randy's interview with Rob for his Unique CPA podcast entitled:
"Changing Your Life for the Better Now"
https://tri-merit.com/podcast/changing-your-life-for-the-better-now
Randy’s perspective took a sharp turn in 2014 when he suffered from a stroke. The path to recovery led him to re-focus on the importance of helping others and incorporating things he was passionate about into everyday life. As co-founder of Tri-Merit, this meant educating others on stroke awareness, early detection and on the simple pleasures in life like craft beer. He is Randy