Change: As Necessary as it’s Inevitable
At a state society member event in El Paso, Texas, an older gentleman told me about his daddy that had passed away 53 years ago, and if he were to come back today, he wouldn’t understand very much about the modern world. He wouldn’t understand the phone he had in his pocket, the computer he used every day, or the car he drove. But, he went on to explain, he would understand that times change and we have to let them.
The profound respect this gentleman had for his father continues to resonate with me as does the lesson his father imparted: Change can be scary and intimidating, but it is necessary — and it’s inevitable.
Consider for a moment what happens if we don’t embrace change. Consider Kodak. It didn’t fail because it did not create a product for the digital age. In fact, Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975. It failed because it didn’t embrace new technology and adapt to a marketplace with new consumer attitudes.
There are many other examples, of course. The point is flexibility and adaptability are integral to remaining relevant. You need to focus on your market, your surroundings, and what your customers need in order to succeed.
That’s what the AICPA and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) have done with a proposal to create a new accounting association to represent and advocate for the entire accounting profession, while preserving the member bodies of both organizations. The AICPA Board of Directors, governing Council, Business and Industry Executive Committee and Government Performance and Accountability Committee have all endorsed the proposal and 52 state societies have passed resolutions of support. It also has broad support from finance and firm leaders across the profession. Now they’re asking for you to vote ‘yes.’
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