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My Week: The Why

19th May 2017
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Bonjour folks. It was a hellish week. It got too much for me. My stress was over selecting a contractor to do the work in FT Tower.

The project manager whose role it was to provide me with three quotations, only got me one- his choice. I suspect, he would get a cut from his chosen contractor. 

I managed to get two other quotes from our clients who are in the building trade. All the three quotes, we reviewed, were more or less of similar in costs.

After discussing the quotes with the project manager, I went for the project manager preferred choice. I do not think it would work as well otherwise.

Why?

I have purchased a small unit. The work could have easily been done without a project manager and a branding consultant. I will explain why I am doing what I am doing at substantially higher costs.

The project manager is an architect. He knows how to make a small place look not so small. His designs prove that he will bring some flair to an otherwise what would have been a dull accountant’s practice. I do not want to spend most of my waking hours in such a place. Just the project manager designs justified his fee. There was no way I would have come up with his design.

Furniture

The office furniture he has suggested will make the small unit a great place to work. He convinced me that using the existing furniture will just not work. I now see his point. So the current furniture will be donated to a charity and FT Practice Ltd will buy everything new.

Branding Consultant

The branding expert and the architect have worked closely together on the plan to brand the unit. The designs have proved that they have done a brilliant job. On my own, it would have been another TaxAsssit unit. I am NOT TaxAssist or Xero (have you seen some websites!). I have my brand that I love, and I am totally committed to it.

Accountant Thinking

My accountant’s brain looking at the costs on a spreadsheet did shout at me and said, NO! NO! It is too much. It is why accountants are not good in business and in the main have a back office role.

We are certainly not visionaries or risk takers. Are accountants business advisers? Come on! That is just talk of practice gurus. Most of us do not even have our own house in order. How can we advise others! We are mere technicians. Let’s not pretend we are more than what we really are.

I had real difficulty in getting out of my accountant's brain, think long term and go with my vision. Even now I question myself about the whole project and the costs. There is something inside me that so wants to do what I am doing.

Will it Work?

Just think if we allow thought of failure to stop us taking actions. As sacks of meat race, we would have become extinct millions of years ago. On this project, I have gone with my gut. Failure would be me not following my vision.

I think the property purchase is a no brainer. Paying rent has no capital return. I cannot say I should have done this earlier. I tried. It did not work. Fourth time lucky.

 

Replies (5)

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
20th May 2017 23:36

FT are you going all Google and having hammocks and break out areas for staff to brain storm in

We need to some pictures when done.

Thanks (3)
By mrme89
22nd May 2017 08:50

The north / south divide.

Down south you retain the services of a project manager and branding consultant. Up north we get the builders in.

Thanks (3)
Red Leader
By Red Leader
22nd May 2017 11:25

A reasonably coherent blog post this time.

Thanks (1)
Neophyte
By Neophyte
22nd May 2017 13:19

Great progress FT. It sounds like a real struggle between head (costs) and heart (vision). I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end. Make sure the space works for you and how you work and it's an office that you and your staff love to work in. Can't wait to see the photos!

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avatar
By dbowleracca
31st May 2017 20:02

I have to disagree with the comments you have made regarding Accountants being business advisers.

Many Accountants, perhaps the majority, are just number crunchers - it's what they were born to do and do very well.

However some of us have very good entrepreneurial vision, which coupled with our analytical skills and problem solving ability, makes us great advisers to businesses. Personally I feel that I'm more an entrepreneur than an accountant at times, the ideas I produce at client meetings have lead to millions of pounds of extra turnover and profits for my clients over the years. I've also got a few calls wrong, which happens, but the lessons learned have always been valuable and have helped the clients to become better in the long term. Nobody had to take my advice though and quite a few don't, and I do take a shameful pride when my advice turns out to have been correct :)

In relation to your new premises I think it's great you have really gone for it and invested in professional help. I'm sure it will look wonderful and look forward to you sharing some images in the blog when it's done.

Thanks (1)