Of course, there are more than three things that I’ve learnt, but I decided just to focus on the main ones…
1 – It’s ok to make mistakes
Mistakes happen. It’s also ok to get stuck. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, you can’t know it all! We’re only human. As long as you keep learning from asking, rather than asking the same thing repeatedly, and certainly learning from mistakes, then you’re showing development and willingness to learn, which is all anyone can ask. One of the questions I remember asking is ‘what does this box on this HMRC form mean again?’, and I’d eventually built up my own directory of HMRC- speak. When I became a manager, it was great to watch Jess refer to the booklets of notes I’d made over time as a quick reference guide.
I remember carrying my trusty notebook around with me constantly for at least my first year, and even now I feel lost without something to take notes on. You never know when you might need that little bit of information that you recorded last year! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not immune to mistakes now, but they happen a lot less frequently where I have recorded answers to refer back to.
2 – Your team are your support network
What would I do without the rest of the team!?
Support with technical queries? They have my back. Support with daft questions? I know they’ll rib me for it, but they’ll answer. Support with personal development? Of course. Support with personal issues? Definitely. And I offer the same back.
We all know how the saying goes, that you see your work colleagues more than your own family. I like to think we operate as a bit of a dysfunctional family (we really wind each other up at times, only sometimes on purpose), we’re all there for each other and are striving for the same thing. I can safely say I have a good few friends for life.
In all seriousness, I’ve come to understand the importance of having a team that are all on the same page and of the same positive growth mindset. Ducks versus eagles and all that… (If you haven’t watched that video, I’d highly recommend it). At Blu Sky, we operate firmly on the belief that attitude tops aptitude, as skills can be taught, whereas mindset cannot.
3 – Expertise comes from experience
If you’d have asked me what SEIS or EIS was during my first couple of months, I’d have had a quick google and summarised in a sentence. If you’d asked me after 6 months, I’d offer you a really detailed explanation of the process of applying for S/EIS relief for investors.
A year in, and I would be able to talk more broadly about the S/EIS process and the benefits and implications of offering it. Second year, I’d be able to chat in more detail about the reliefs, who can claim it, and also boast of the relationship I’d formed with HMRC. Year 3, and I was then the office expert on the process, benefits, scheme, and even began to educate others so that they could get involved in the process.
It was a constant learning process, but there’s no greater feeling than one of our accountants asking me, a non-accountant, a question about it. As valuable of a role I know I play, being regarded as an expert in S/EIS made me feel like I ‘belong’ in a team full of accountants, like I’d earned my keep!
At Blu Sky, the team are great at sharing knowledge, whether that’s after a seminar or course in a team meeting, or by producing reference guides or a blog. Our greatest asset is each other. We designate someone to be the go-to-guy-or-gal for queries on the subject, to lead the way with any legal or process updates, so that we have an even spread of knowledge throughout the team.
Onto 2018
Well, my last three years have been a whirlwind of fun, learning, trying and succeeding, so my goal for the year is to continue that trend. I’m looking forward to building up my knowledge and experience. I’m looking forward to keeping pace with and helping to lead what is a fast-growing business dealing with some pretty complex (client) issues! I’m looking forward to seeing where we’ll be this time next year. Onwards and upwards!
