[nestle_life]

Every time I’m at the office filing a tax return, I think to myself, “Why the #%}{ does this even matter?” I desperately want to shoot myself in the head. I get thoughts of commuting suicide. I work at one of the best accounting firms in the country, but I look around and I don’t understand how people can be complacent with their job, life, etc.

I love being weird and enjoy voice impressions, acting, singing. I enjoy creating videos, scripts, and acting with a green screen. I love people who are quirky, creative, out there, and who don’t fit in a box.

I’ve been in the workforce for 1.5 years, however, I still haven’t found an accountant who shares similar hobbies as mine. I get depressed knowing that I’m in a wrong path. I’m reaching out to accountants who share similar views as mine or, better yet, enjoy similar hobbies as mine. The world can provide us with endless possibilities, and I’m at an office, filing taxes. Please help!

[ridiqls]

I feel the same in that way.. i like exciting hobbies and interests and traveling. but hey something's gotta pay the bills and certain accounting aint so bad. I'm relatively young so I can put up with hours for a few years and then once I get the experience I plan on going to a steady 40 hour week and spending the rest of the time doing things I want to.

[Martin]

nestle_life, I was like you once,but unfortunately I did not have enough talents to pay the bills. I even modeled for JC penney when I was 18,but that did not pay much either. Accounting is boring as hell,but you can get a job anywhere. I graduated 10 years ago, and 8 of 10 friends who graduated with me no longer work in Accounting.

I wonder why you chose the less creative career in the world?

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[nestle_life]

Because I thought I was being immature, and that when I would “mature up”, I would be happy doing accounting.

I'm 30, now, and my thoughts haven't changed. Maybe I'm not immature, and just different from the norm.

[nestle_life]

Have any of you thought about a career in advertising?

[Martin]

nestle_life, you should get at least 3 years of experience in tax, and then try to move to private. It will be as boring,but you might get to leave at 5 and make more money. You will be the same robot,but now you have a life after work.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[nestle_life]

Have you never thought about changing careers?

[s2sylvir]

To be honest it sounds like the only thing stopping you from pursuing what you want is yourself. Why is it immature to choose something more exciting than accounting? Why is leaving accounting “different from the norm”? Is it because you're afraid that it won't make enough money? Are you afraid of failure? Are you afraid of how others will judge you?

Anyway, these aren't actually questions I'm hoping you would answer. My point is is, “what's stopping you from leaving accounting?”. So in my opinion, only you can help yourself. If you overcome this hesitation, I think it will lift a huge weight off your shoulders…..

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[Martin]

One hundred million times,but Im 37, and i hate studying. The only other career where I could make over 70K would be in the medical field, and Im too old for that kind of pressure. Im going to try to finish this exam, and see what can i do with the extra cash and free time private accounting will offer. I might start a business. I speak Portuguese and Spanish,so I might take advantage of that and start a business between the US and South america. You seem to be a lot younger than me,so you still have a chance,but if you like money, there are not that many careers that pay as much as Accounting.

s2sylvir, what did you do different the last time you took Audit?

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

I can assure you that anything gets boring after you're paid to do it for long enough.

I was an ocean lifeguard for ten years on what may be one of the busiest beaches in New Jersey and couldn't wait to get into accounting. Now I spend my weekdays wishing I was at the beach again.

It helps to have a creative hobby as an outlet. It provides balance.

[Anonymous]

I should add that you may want to look at the culture of your firm.

What you do is not as important as who you do it with.

[Anonymous]

Firstly, if you're having suicidal thoughts please, PLEASE reach out to someone. A family member, physician, friend, etc. – just someone who can help.

Secondly, I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm a creative thinker and art's my passion, specifically ceramics and figure drawing. So people in accounting who have quirky, artistic sides definitely exist 🙂

I take classes at my local art council to connect with other like-minded people and find time after work and on the weekends to squeeze art into my life. It's not ideal, but I understand that I couldn't, and wouldn't want to, make art my career. I like keeping my career and hobby separate – that way I never get bored!

But if you're feeling life is absolutely miserable maybe consider a career switch. It's never too late to make yourself happy. Good luck and take care of yourself.

[s2sylvir]

@Martin

Well…. My problem was a personal one and I doubt others have the same issue. But, I changed the way I approached the study material. My particular issue was that I kept thinking “audit is easy, I can memorize, piece of cake”, without actually making a true effort to work with Becker. I kept thinking if I just did the video lectures and read the book I could pass. I was like “Why would I spend hours on MCQs? That's not how I studied in college”. I think the more times I failed, the greater my arrogance became. The final time I basically told myself to “cut the crap” and used Becker like it was supposed to be used (listened to all the lectures again, did every MCQ, did all the SIMs, took notes). Anyway, I'm pretty sure that's what it was, since I was able to pass BEC and REG back to back after I passed AUD. Whew…

Okay, except the transactions cycles and sampling lectures. Even on the 5th retake I skipped those 2 sections. Some habits just die hard XD

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[mla1169]

When I was 33 years old I was a newly divorced single mother of 2 with only a high school education.

When I was 40 I was working on my Masters in Accounting.

When I was 42 I got a CPA license.

At 30 the world is your oyster. You can shake everything up and start over if it's what pleases you. Even with grown up responsibilities.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Liss, Master of Coin]

@nestle_life, where do you live? If you are not living in So.Cal, you might consider moving. Then get a job in the entertainment industry (FYI: this is where I live and work.) .

I don't advise people to become actors or writers, because it is very competitive; only a very few are lucky enough to make a living out of it.

I agree with whoever said that modeling doesn't pay well; again only a few very lucky people are able to make a living off of that.

However, those are not the only jobs in the entertainment industry. Just like any business, they need accountants!

If you can, find a job for a production company. You can be around a lot of creative folks. The day will come when they may need an extra body in a shot. That can be you!

I second whoever said that every job can get boring. Even people here, working with celebs and making TV, get bored due to the monotony. I figure that's the business side of anything; whatever job/company you work for will eventually get streamlined the more you do it, and the monotony will set in.

However, if you work in Entertainment Industry, you'd still be around a lot of creativity, so that will hopefully help offset any boredom.

CPA (MA, Non Reporting) since Oct. 2015

 

B – 33, 71, 79

A – 32, 61, 70, 83

R – 33, 58, 73, 69, 81

F – 47, 78

1st test 01/19/2013

Last test 05/26/2015

 

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[taxgeek83]

First off, if my interactions with the people in my life are any indication, enjoying tax and accounting is not “normal.” I'm actually the odd one out in my group because I enjoy what I do. And no one has ever accused me of being mature. 😉

Secondly, mla is right – the world is your oyster! You've got some experience in public accounting – it may not be your ideal career, but use it to get where you want to be. Like liss said, every industry needs accountants. Public isn't the only job out there. Use your resume to break into the industry you want to be in and go from there. Easier said than done, I know – but if it will make you happier in the long run, it's worth the effort!

In the meantime, have you looked into any theatre groups where you live? It might be a nice outlet until you can break out of public and do what you really want to do. 🙂

[Author]

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