Does anyone ever think about what they might have done differently if they got a do-over? I'm turning 40 this year so I've been doing a lot of reflecting on my life and I'm not sure I would go back into accounting if I had a fresh start from the beginning. Anyone else feel similar?

I just think about the women i would have avoided, had i a do over

I'm over 40 and have thought about this a lot. I have no clue what I could pivot to outside of my present skillset as I am not the "sales" personality. I don't know what field I would choose were I in college again but something else would be a serious consideration. My near 20 year career is mostly defined by being overworked, underpaid, and cycling between burnout and managing burnout. The industry is facing a major labor pipeline issue yet the vast majority of organizations are not being proactive with retention at all. It's going to be chaos in the next 10-15 years as a massive chunk of accountants retire because the amount of new workers entering the market is dwindling. Who can blame them?

The reality is there’s no point in life. You just gotta decide on how to maximise your fun and make a legacy while you’re still stuck in this skin suit. It doesn’t matter if you’re an accountant or a doctor, an astronaut, famous artist, or the financial supporting cast. There’s no point to any of it other than to live it.

The one way I justify it is knowing that I do what is maximising my income relative to the risk I am willing to take and that I do something I’m fairly good at, which is the best way I can contribute to society. Look at how celeb children don’t care what there parents do and it really cements how little it matter to the people that matter most to you.

I will do my best to persuade my son in a different direction. Even if business and accounting are the goal there are a lot of different ways to make a living. Life in public probably going to look so different for that future class of accountants.

Definitely wouldnt have done accounting. The partner model is going to be gone in another generation.

I think about this almost every day. Every day I have a feeling of general disillusionment and a sense that this career provides no meaningful value to me other than a paycheck. Had I known 5 years ago what I know now, I wouldn’t have chosen a niche area of tax with almost no exit opportunities outside of public, and probably would have chosen a different career altogether. I can’t see myself retiring from tax. The thought of being in constant sales mode as you move up the ladder really doesn’t appeal to me. I also can’t see myself going back to school to work in another field. It’s a dreadful feeling, knowing you can’t stay but don’t feel like you have anywhere else to go.

I would have done finance no question. I feel like I work 2x as hard for half as much as what my friends make in that field.

I had no choice (I am from a different country that works so bad overall medicine and law were not a good choice). I left when I was too old to start from zero. If I had the chance again I would certainly be in a different field.

Just wait till you become a partner and earn money by exploiting managers and below.

Somewhere, out there, there is a version of me that made the right choices. This time thread ain't it.

Case 63 podcast kinda delves into a person having multiple time threads. Can be annoying, but I enjoyed it. Science wonks can check reality at the door.

Yes i would have gone into architecture or marine sciences. I'm in my 50s and a female. These paths were not promoted really for women back in the day.

Yes of course! This is not a fun profession!

I would not go into accounting. Now that I know myself better I’ve realized this is a mismatch - I get overwhelmed too easily and can’t deal with nothing ever being streamlined and constantly changing (at least in some of the jobs I have worked). That said, it is a great field and I envy those that can handle it.

I would have stayed running my own business after my husband died. Going back into the world force was my mistake. I'm 52 and have hardly ever fit into any accounting department. I love doing full charge bookkeeping, that's allot of fun in my opinion. However with smaller companies you sacrifice stability, they grow too fast or get taken over by a bigger company.

I think what I want to do now is consulting for growing companies and helping them re-organize. I wouldn't chose a do over because I was able to be home to raise my girls when I was running our business from home.

I often think back on my life and what changes I could have or should have made, but I think that’s a normal part of growing older is thinking what if and what you missed out on I would like to say I wouldn’t go back into accounting but sitting here now, I don’t know what else I would have done. I’m not talented enough of what I would’ve called my dream job so accounting is probably the best option for me.

The initial excitement for finding a high aptitude in accounting becomes quickly doused when you have numerous attacks on your knowledge and experience in the workplace. Feeling pushed to continue obtaining additional education/degrees in order to prove your abilities, still doesn't prepare anyone for walking into a business and being able to take over management of a financial department.