People are frequently surprised by my dedication to the job. And I have to admit, my level of commitment, loyalty and work ethics is quite high. Some even think that I have a stake in the company or am related to one of the owners. But no, even though a CFO, I am just an employee. Moreover, I have advanced my career by moving from one company to another about every 5 years. Hence, any particular company is just another line on my resume. My compensation is not tied to any volume factor and bonuses are discretionary. So, why do I work so hard?
I am definitely NOT doing it for the BOSS. Those who read my posts know that I have deepest respect for entrepreneurial bravery and ingenuity of business owners (even when I address their negative traits as a source of frustration). And I cannot really complain; most of my bosses have shown a lot of appreciation for my efforts. But, unfortunately, they are capable to see only the superficial aspects – long hours, multi-tasking, etc. The quality of the impact I make on their company completely escapes them. Plus, unlike others, I don't run to report every single achievement.
So, no I am not doing it for the bosses or their recognition. One can say that the reasons fueling my drive for excellence are selfish. I do it for myself. I simply cannot do it differently. It doesn't matter whether anybody else acknowledges it, if what I do is not up to my own standards, I get extremely disconcerted.
I have learned this about myself a long time ago – dissatisfaction with my own performance is the biggest source of frustration and anxiety. So, the choice is simple: either apply your absolute best or suffer the psychological consequences. That is why I work so hard. It makes me feel at peace and, yes, proud.
Few years ago I was flying with my boss to Amsterdam for meetings with our bankers. I was outlining the important issues I wanted to address and touched on the impressive growth rates we have achieved. I guess my excitement affected him and he felt compelled to tell me how much he appreciated my hard work. This is what I told him, "When I came, the company was doing $40M a year. It did $80M a year after, $120M a year after that, $160M last year, and I guarantee $200M this year. Knowing that I was instrumental to that growth is what drives me."
You say, vanity? And may be you are right.
The Frustrated CFO 