Going for Gold

This week, as I was glued to the TV, watching the world’s best athletes do their thing at the Olympics, something strange happened. Somewhere between Arianne Titmus's powerful strokes and Michelle Jenneke's tenacious determination, I started to see some surprising parallels between them and, well… us. Yes, us, the humble bookkeepers slogging it out during the last throws of the end of the financial year. Hear me out—it is not as crazy as it sounds!

Just like Olympians, we bookkeepers spend the entire year in training. We plan, we strategize, we refine our techniques, all in preparation for the big event. We might not be shaving seconds off our lap times, but we are certainly shaving minutes off our BAS lodgements and payroll reconciliations. And when July rolls around, it’s game time. Just like Ariarne dives into the pool ready to give it her all, we dive into cloud accounting and reports, prepared to hit our personal bests.

Of course, just like in any high-stakes competition, injuries are part of the game. Ariarne may have avoided shoulder injuries to clinch her gold, but this week, my right arm decided to remind me that I am not invincible. Stiff and sore, I had to switch to my left hand for mouse operation. Sure, it wasn’t as graceful or speedy, and yes, I did accidentally delete everything in my sent mailbox (twice!). But just like Michelle Jenneke hurdling with a pulled hamstring, I kept going because the show must go on.

And let us not forget the curveballs. Olympians face unexpected challenges—weather conditions, last-minute rule changes, or a surprise opponent who suddenly hits their peak. For us, it is not yellow cards or drug tests (thankfully, as my July sample would probably show three-quarters chardonnay!), but we do have our own version of these challenges. Take, for example, Stephen Jones MP and the sudden changes to our Code of Professional Conduct. These changes, announced with minimal consultation and understanding of our industry, were like a rogue wave crashing into our carefully timed swim. Just as we were gearing up for our big July event, this disruption threw us off course. Thankfully, the start date for the code of conduct changes has been delayed, but it left its mark. The work still needs to get done, deadlines still have to be met, but somehow the excitement of giving it our all during this financial Olympics has lost its shine.

So, here I am, reflecting on my Olympic-worthy efforts and wondering if it’s time to hang up my “competition” shoes. Maybe it is time to retire and enjoy watching the next generation of bookkeepers take on the challenge, or maybe I'll just pour myself another glass of chardonnay and keep going, because after all, the finish line is still out there. And when I get nostalgic, I can always look back fondly at the homegrown fun we had during a COVID lockdown and the Tokyo Olympics. This was definite proof that isolation and too much work is a breeding ground for losing your mind.

Keep striving for your personal bests—whether you are in the pool, on the track, or behind a desk. We might not get medals, but we do get satisfaction (and maybe a little bit of glory) from knowing we gave it our all.