Advice for a Successful Career in the Accounting Profession

CHAPTER FIFTEENCharacter Traits that Can Help You Succeed

Key Takeaway

It takes more than being smart and gifted to achieve success. There are other key character traits, often in your own control, that can be a differentiator over the course of your career.

A variety of factors can impact career success, and you can expect to encounter twists and turns in the road. Sometimes, you will need to deal with circumstances beyond your control that can delay or frustrate your progress. Occasionally, things work the other way, and you’ll be presented with an opportunity you weren’t necessarily expecting. A cynic might attribute these events to luck or fate, but I believe there are factors within your control that can greatly increase the likelihood you will be successful over the long term. I’ll focus in this chapter on some important traits that I believe can make a huge difference in your ultimate success. It is critical to understand that your unique outlook and the traits discussed below, as well as your behavioral tendencies, can have a significant impact on your work, interactions with others and overall career progress. It is worth noting that none of the factors below is related to your IQ or what university you attended. They are areas anyone can focus on and prioritize and doing so will help you achieve your objectives.

Attitude. I believe the most important of the factors ...