I think there is also a lot of "crankiness" around. Everyone is tired of it all and taking it out on the next person. I have done it myself and sent off a mildly cranky email to a client. He rang a little while later. I assumed he was annoyed with me too, but he asked if I was ok! He had just come from a meeting with his client (also an accountant) and he said that he heard accountants were tormented with all these schemes. So we are not alone.
What I find hard is expecting to know the fine detail of the scheme 10 minutes after it has been announced. We study for years to get an accounting or tax qualification but we are expected to be experts in all this new stuff as soon as it is announced.
I had considered posting the question anonymously but I didn't think that would be fair on those that responded. They wouldn't have the benefit of anonymity.
I am blown away by all the responses!
This pandemic has taken a lot out of me. It has taken away most of the things that used to keep me sane such as travel, live music, meeting friends and hobbies I used to enjoy with my son. (He is going to be too old to hang around with me soon.) But I know I am very lucky not to have lost anyone to covid.
Thank you so much. It really does help, knowing that I am not alone and also knowing that others have managed to survive this crazy world.
I'm looking forward to taking it easy this weekend.
I think the difference is that I am viewing myself as the business, rather than somewhere I go to work. It would be nice to have someone else to do these battles with.
I like the volume button metaphor. I need to dial it down alright.
It's funny you mention saying no. I said no to someone yesterday and got a dreadful email back saying that they would blacken my name on LinkedIn. It was someone looking for a "general information" type phone call (their words). I checked with them and they were not actually looking for us to be their accountant. I politely declined and said that we were concentrating on client work at the moment and due to the extra demands of covid we were not in a position to offer these type of calls.
The venom I got back in that email was unreal. About how my business was bound to fail etc. How irresponsible I am. How they were going to tell everyone on LinkedIn etc etc. I know it is not true, and it says more about them, but it was all I needed!
I think my brain has had enough of all the changes to legislation!
I do miss exercising. I had one minor injury and then another over the summer. Doesn't stop me going for a walk, though, so I should make the effort.
I don't get to see my accounting friends or other business owner friends as much. I used to enjoy going for a coffee or lunch and offloading/bouncing ideas. I should make the effort to set up a call.
Seeing a therapist is a good idea. I did see one previously for another issue. Work is so busy, that I have been loath to take time off to see them again. It's also slightly stressful in itself taking to someone about this kind of stuff.
I have been mainly eating my stress rather than drinking it! I do look forward to a glass of wine at the weekend though.
My answers
Absolutely sick of it!
I think there is also a lot of "crankiness" around. Everyone is tired of it all and taking it out on the next person. I have done it myself and sent off a mildly cranky email to a client. He rang a little while later. I assumed he was annoyed with me too, but he asked if I was ok! He had just come from a meeting with his client (also an accountant) and he said that he heard accountants were tormented with all these schemes. So we are not alone.
What I find hard is expecting to know the fine detail of the scheme 10 minutes after it has been announced. We study for years to get an accounting or tax qualification but we are expected to be experts in all this new stuff as soon as it is announced.
Is it wine o'clock yet?
I had considered posting the question anonymously but I didn't think that would be fair on those that responded. They wouldn't have the benefit of anonymity.
I am blown away by all the responses!
This pandemic has taken a lot out of me. It has taken away most of the things that used to keep me sane such as travel, live music, meeting friends and hobbies I used to enjoy with my son. (He is going to be too old to hang around with me soon.) But I know I am very lucky not to have lost anyone to covid.
Thank you so much. It really does help, knowing that I am not alone and also knowing that others have managed to survive this crazy world.
I'm looking forward to taking it easy this weekend.
Too true!
I think the difference is that I am viewing myself as the business, rather than somewhere I go to work. It would be nice to have someone else to do these battles with.
Or what about:
"It's fun to charter an accountant
And sail the wide accountancy"
That's interesting. I'm going to check it out.
It certainly didn't help!
I don't know how GPs and other healthcare professionals do it.
I like the volume button metaphor. I need to dial it down alright.
It's funny you mention saying no. I said no to someone yesterday and got a dreadful email back saying that they would blacken my name on LinkedIn. It was someone looking for a "general information" type phone call (their words). I checked with them and they were not actually looking for us to be their accountant. I politely declined and said that we were concentrating on client work at the moment and due to the extra demands of covid we were not in a position to offer these type of calls.
The venom I got back in that email was unreal. About how my business was bound to fail etc. How irresponsible I am. How they were going to tell everyone on LinkedIn etc etc. I know it is not true, and it says more about them, but it was all I needed!
A lie down sounds nice.
I think my brain has had enough of all the changes to legislation!
I do miss exercising. I had one minor injury and then another over the summer. Doesn't stop me going for a walk, though, so I should make the effort.
I don't get to see my accounting friends or other business owner friends as much. I used to enjoy going for a coffee or lunch and offloading/bouncing ideas. I should make the effort to set up a call.
Thanks for the support. It helps!
I needed to hear that. It's not life or death. I actually used to say that in the office. It's not like we are operating on someone. It can be fixed.
My brain is just not processing this type of logic as it did before.
Seeing a therapist is a good idea. I did see one previously for another issue. Work is so busy, that I have been loath to take time off to see them again. It's also slightly stressful in itself taking to someone about this kind of stuff.
I have been mainly eating my stress rather than drinking it! I do look forward to a glass of wine at the weekend though.