“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
This quote, by Louisa May Alcott in her classic novel “Little Women,” came to mind as I was enjoying CFO.com’s most recent story on CFOs who are thinking about the second act of their careers, and how companies must plan to prepare for it.
Bill Maw, a CFO veteran, left his career for a time, only to pick it back up with a new company. While he admitted that maintaining his lifestyle is important, he was also incredibly honest with himself: “As you get older, your brain is at risk of decay if you don’t challenge yourself.”
Now? “I have a purpose,” Maw said.
CFO.com’s stories on succession plans, second acts and finance chiefs who continue to challenge themselves are some of our most-read. I am curious as to why that is.
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One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about working with the CFO.com team is the community we get invited into, and the genuine openness that we are able to establish through a trust relationship. We want to hear your stories, we want to tell your stories, and other CFOs want to hear them. We’re for “CFOs, by CFOs,” for a reason.
One of the most interesting facets of these conversations is a saying imparted to me many moons ago:
“Wherever I go, there I am.”
As I’ve met and talked with many of you in person at various events, what strikes me is that, even though there is the idea that you may have reached the summit — at least from my personal observation — of your career goals, you still see that there are more mountains to climb. More growth initiatives, bigger companies to lead, more complex transactions to navigate, and on and on. And ultimately, when it is time to hand over the controls to someone else, and find a new ship to learn to sail. The excitement — and the anxieties — I learn from you are entirely a common human experience, no matter what our job titles are.
This excitement, mixed with equal parts confidence, compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and even a gentle spirit when it is required, is what I think allows CFOs from different industries and walks of life the desire to connect and hear each others’ stories. Ask each other what you’re up to. Learn what will happen next. As Heraclitus was attributed to have written, “all things flow.”
Sometimes, you give us the permission to share these stories.
What a treasure that is.
And that might be my final thought.
