When I was working as a tax manager for a big national CPA firm, I believed I had to work ungodly hours for a very good salary.
During tax season, I would work until midnight, get up and run for exercise at four in the morning, and be back at work at seven a.m.
Even during the off-season, I would go in to work on Saturdays, and occasionally on Sundays.
I was surprised to see some of my fellow workers at the office. There we were, salaried employees, working with no overtime pay. Giving our best effort for the company.
After one tax season, I came home for dinner with my family. The children were sitting at the table, smiling like Cheshire cats. My wife explained, “They’re glad to see you. You haven’t been home for dinner in three months!”
After eight years, I was stunned when I was told I would be leaving the firm.
It turned out I had been given a favor. I started a new CPA firm partnership and the national firm was acquired, resulting in many of their former clients becoming clients of our new firm and enabling my partner to also work in the firm full time. Almost all of the other partners and employees left the national firm after the acquisition.
Eventually, our partnership split up and I set up my sole proprietorship (one owner) CPA firm within a ten-minute walk from home. My wife was able to babysit our granddaughters while my oldest daughter worked with me as my office manager. I was able to come home for lunch and dinner and my daughter saw her daughters during lunchtime.
When my second daughter and her husband started a restaurant and our grandsons were born, my wife and I were able to spend Saturdays babysitting the boys while their parents worked at their restaurant.
The professionals on my team worked a half-day on Sundays during tax season. That was our relaxed, “dress down” day, almost like a party.
Eventually, I sold my sole proprietorship CPA firm to one of my former employees.
I could have worked at another CPA firm, probably for more money.
I think I made a decision for a much more satisfying life.