Reactions to Last Week’s Post

Last week’s message was that your PTO isn’t a benefit to squander on the next action-packed extravaganza. Your PTO is provided to you first and foremost for your recovery and renewal. Your work is demanding and requires your all, your best. When your work is less than that, it cheapens you, your contributions and the profession.

Having read the Message last week, two senior partners sent me emails that were so insightful and heartfelt that I got their permission to use them for this post. Their sentiments are felt by so many in the profession and it was refreshing to hear from two voices that represent the many.

One Response

This response is from Ryan Lindsay, a younger senior partner at Gray, Griffith & Mays.

“Valid point. Constant connection can be draining but it’s the new world we live in. It’s expected of almost every service line.

I had a manager recently quit because “I saw how hard the partners work and I don’t want any part of that”. He apparently doesn’t understand that part of the reason we work hard is because we enjoy what we do! I enjoy serving clients and bringing value to the firm MORE than watching Netflix…playing XBOX, etc.

Some of my partners are empty nesters. Their kids are gone…and they enjoy coming into the office on Saturday for a couple hours. They enjoy working later and maybe come into the office a little later. I’ve learned we have to do a better job of discussing these things.

One thing that has changed is that accounting Partners are sometimes afraid to show how much fun they are having—afraid to show how financially successful they are. They don’t have parties at their houses, don’t do happy hours, don’t play as much golf as in the past. I can remember 21 years ago…that seemed a little different. I think COVID may have shaken this up a little. It made us realize that life really can be shorter than planned. We all need to relax…not just on PTO on a beach…but throughout the week. To keep a good perspective and enjoy what we do.”

Thanks to Ryan for his awesome perspective that doesn’t get shared much. Did you count the number of times he mentioned “enjoy” and “have fun?” Here is a professional that loves what he does. He has found ways of connecting his love of what fulfills him with his work with clients and the firm.

Another Response

The next response is from David Hill, a seasoned senior partner with Arnett, Carbis Toothman. David is the (primarily) the firm’s Administrative Partner and provides strategic people-management thinking, along with serving as the firm’s CFO and other duties as assigned.

“I wasn’t sure where this was going at first. At first, I was thinking, “This is BS. We give experienced people 2 months off each year between various PTO options and holidays (even newbies get over 4 weeks of total time off). This is a hell of an investment for us.

But I like the way you went with this.  So many of our staff come back worn out and then coast the first week back to “rest up,” so we have to “invest” even more time in this area.  Yes, we have all been guilty of this but this [Message] was well said.”

David’s perspective is similar to Ryan’s, but from a different angle. Viewing PTO as an investment your firm makes in your health and wellbeing is substantial—and worth it. But if you don’t use it as intended, the profession can be overwhelming.

These are two responses from partners who have come up through the ranks in a demanding profession and LOVE what they do.

Your Response?

That said, I know there are other perspectives as well, even contrary to what Ryan and David put forth. I welcome your comments and will include them in future posts, either anonymously or attributed to you.

The bottom line is that you owe it to yourself to connect your work with your sense of purpose and passion. When you do, your personal and professional enjoyment explode and changes everything.