I believe the real value of professional accountants, including construction financial management accountants, is their ability to analyze complicated financial information and present it in actionable format to nonfinancial decision makers. Unfortunately, we often lose sight of our real value because we become far too busy with our everyday tasks. We retreat to the comfort zone of our offices and focus only on those problems that come our way. Let’s call it the Tidal Pool Approach to Management. We process most of what the tide brings to our "in" box and let it wash out with the next tide through our "out" box, firmly secured in the tidal pool of our office. This approach is comforting and soothing, like the sound of surf, but very dangerous. We need to feel the business pulse. We need to get out in the field. We need to meet with management, use our extraordinary analytical skills, and fulfill our mission as financial translators. It is our real value.

We can start by "getting off our if’s, and’s, and but(t)’s" for CFMA Honolulu and inviting a prospective member to a hosted luncheon at The Pacific Club at 11:30 am on Friday, October 12th, by notifying Wes Mikuni at 839-9002, or emailing him at wes@rsinouye.com – the membership drive ends October 31, 2007. There are prizes for successful recruiters.

Your comments are most welcome. You can contact me at Carl@CPAloha.com