Inland Power and Light In search of what I want to do with a business related degree, I have struggled to decide on whether to go the accounting or finance direction. To ensure I make the right decision, I decided to take a few courses from each. Though this may be a waste of time to some, I find it very valuable when it comes to making a decision for my future. My passion has always been with numbers. Math is what I am good at and what I enjoy the most. Assuming this would lead me toward finance, I was quickly awoken when accounting seemed to come much more naturally. After graduating, I plan to land a job somewhere in the accounting field and work toward becoming a CPA for my own private firm. Due to the direction of my future, I decided to interview an individual who is a licensed CPA.
John Francisco is an intelligent, determined, and hardworking individual who works for Inland Power and Light as Chief of energy Resources. He has been working for this company since he graduated twenty years ago. Inland is a rural electric cooperative serving 39,000 meters in thirteen countries within Eastern Washington and North Idaho. The company currently has ninety-six employees and approximately sixty-five million dollars in annual revenue. For the fairly minimal area that Inland Power covers, the company is highly successful.
The industry John works in is electric distribution, in which they provide electricity, build, and maintain the lines that distribute electricity to homes and businesses. As John said, “we don’t currently generate any power, but purchase all of our needs from The Bonneville Power Administration.” John’s main focus in his position is extensive life cycle cost modeling and risk analysis. He does not deal with debits, credits, or the journal entry aspects of accounting. While interviewing John, I realized that almost every company needs someone in an accounting position. Depending on the size of the company, some may need more than one. For myself, the importance of pursuing a degree in a field that has multiple job opening is key. I also believe it is critical that I enjoy the work I am doing. Accounting can provide me with a secure career that I will appreciate. In the last stretch of school, I was curious to know what other steps may need to be taken to get myself to a position like the one John holds. He explained to me the work he put in to get to where he is. John was formally educated with an accounting degree and a CPA license. Rather than just the education part, John explains how the willingness to tackle any task you are faced with is valuable. The importance of listening intently to everyone around you and committing to hard work is essential. He emphasized that no job can be seen as unimportant or beneath you. One may understand that time is valuable in order to learn an industry. John makes another very great point that authority is earned not granted by title, which is how he ultimately found himself in a “Chief” position. What I grasped most from Johns answer to my question, what steps did it take to get to the position you currently hold, is that once you have the education and knowledge look beyond that. Yes, these things are valuable, but without the concept of hard work and the eagerness to want to improve one may never find themselves in an authoritative position.
Often times I wonder if I am taking any unnecessary actions to get to my end goal. I ask myself if there are any steps I have taken in my education process that I regret. I use to think the answer was, yes. John made a very good point. When asking him this question he immediately answered, “no, not a single one.” When I asked him to elaborate he explained to me that every position he has held in his current company and even other work and education has given him the experience and skillset necessary for his work he does today. John made a clear point that the mistakes and diverse experiences one faces are critical to the development of an individual. His response to the question created a refreshing feeling for myself. Graduating high school and heading to a private Christian college to study premed, I felt was a waste of my time. I blew 32,000 dollars on my freshman year alone and realized that career path was not for me. Deciding to make a move and continue my education at Eastern has been a wonderful decision, and though I carry some financial baggage from my freshman year I also bring many life lessons and experiences that will provide me with many opportunities in my future. Life is not easy. Finding a job after college is one of my biggest fears. I know that I will face many challenges, as I have already. In an accounting position, I know that I will be faced with unlimited opportunities to succeed and to fail. Only having customer service experience an important question for me to ask John was, what were some challenges you faced on his journey. John said, “I have had to learn that people are more important than facts and technical ability.” Though he has the knowledge, John faces much more difficulty with his employees and customers. Dealing with the clientele, however, is the most important aspect. Without these people there is no job. One may overlook this aspect and often find themselves all about the knowledge and technical piece of a job when really none of it will matter if there were no people to keep the company going. Not all jobs directly deal with people, but in some form people have a part in all. Some companies are large and some are smaller. Inland Power is a smaller company, which means there is limited growth potential and patience is highly regarded. John states, “I have had to work extra hard to make up for past mistakes where he has not valued people enough.” It is important to value the people you are around and those who you work with. One will always face challenges in the workplace and the reactions and steps we take to overcome the trials placed in our career journey are essential. I look forward to the challenges I may face in the workplace. As an independent hard working individual overcoming obstacles is rewarding. Life would be boring if there were never trials we had to face. What does it take to get to a place of success? To achieve success in life it takes dedication, motivation, and the willingness to listen. Within Johns career he explains, “it takes unwavering dedication to the mission of the company, willingness to acknowledge my mistakes and have open ears to listen.” Working to provide the company you are employed at with success is significant. One must be prepared to tackle any job or task that is thrown their way, even if it appears to be divergent from the path one would otherwise take. I think that it is very valuable to share ideas, but if it is not ultimately ones decision one must listen to the higher authority and do as told. While working for anyone, one may be faced with paths that seem useless. Even when ones idea may be more successful it is important to listen and do what is asked of you. I think that this is hard for many. Failing in specific situations, gains successful tips for others, as they will learn from what was ineffective. John has ultimately provided me with the understanding that formal education is a very small piece of success. More importantly to be successful is dedication and loyalty. Though it takes education to land oneself in a position such as John, it goes far beyond education after that. John tells me, “ I wouldn’t be where I am today if I left the company after five years where I felt like I should have been in charge and was under appreciated. In spite of my desires I was not prepared for the work I do today when I was only a few years out of college.” For one to understand that a career takes development and time in a place to gain the ability to preform in certain positions is hard for some to understand. Freshly out of college many want to land a job and make bounds of money. This is not likely. Just because one takes the first necessary steps to a successful career, experience also plays a role in the process. Though one may be able to skip some of a process, the development still must be there. One must earn what they get. Too often people think success should be handed to them. Spend the time and work on something and I guarantee success will follow. Learn to love the place you work. So often people take for granted the opportunities they hold. John shows a deep care for his company. He is faced with unlimited challenges and has a great team who works for him. No job is perfect. One will always be able to find a downfall for the environment one works in. The way you handle the situation is what determines the enjoyment of the job. Working together and developing the team relationships is important. Every job has different duties; find a job that you appreciate the responsibilities you hold. I asked John, if there was anything he could change anything in the process he took to get to his position would he, he responded, “yes, I would be more mature early on and respect those I worked for better. I could have learned more quickly had I realized how much I cold gain by listening and acting rather than trying to be right in every situation.” He has shown me that being wrong can be good. To admit to failure is good, it proves one to be courageous and the willingness to want to improve and press on. I have developed many feelings for what I want my future career in the accounting field to look like. I am aware that I will not be given exactly what I want, but have some expectations that I want to work towards. As an employer of whomever, I hope to have the freedom to fail. To me this means that I will be trusted to make decisions and am allowed to make mistakes without a risk of retribution. However in some sense, I want to be held accountable for my actions. I want to work in an environment that challenges me to be the best me I can be. I am willing to put in the work that is necessary for the job. Giving my time, dedication, motivation, and willingness to listen I want to provide a company with the best addition to their team they could have ever expected. I understand that I am not the best, but I will walk in confidence that I have something great to offer that maybe no one else does. While I may face obstacles finding a job after college, I am determined and have the mindset that I will land in the perfect place at the perfect time. Patience is something I am working on and will continue to work on as my education may take a few years to pay off. More than just playing with forwards, futures, swaps, and options, I am excited to continue my education and ultimately put to use my development towards a successful career.