Peter Margaritis, The Accidental Accountant

This Is a Wonderful Opportunity to Share This Story

April 25, 2015April 29, 2015 From the desk of Peter Margaritis

After I finished reading Steve Gilliand’s book, Making A Difference, and I thought about those who have made a difference in my life. I began to question, if I had made a difference in someone’s life, even with a random act of kindness.

Recently, I was talking to my mother and she told me that a family member, Tommy Kavunedus, is in the hospital and she would like to visit him. So, I decided to fly to Ft. Myers, FL for a few days to visit with mom and drive her to Clearwater to visit with Tommy and his wife Carolyn.

Well, mom and I get in the car for our 2 1/2 hour drive to Clearwater. I am as guilty as the next person– constantly checking my iPhone for email, text messages, Facebook messages, sport scores or whatever. We have all heard that we are way too connected to our devices, and communication now exists in the clouds verses direct face-to-face conversation.

Since I am driving, I can’t check for emails and other messages, so mom and I talk the whole way to Clearwater. The topics are not important, we are just enjoying spending quality time together.

We get to the hospital and I give my email a quick check – nothing pressing. We walked into Tommy’s room and found him sitting in a chair next to his hospital bed. His hospital gown hung loosely off his body and he looked frail. As we looked at him we were unsure if he recognized us. Mom said, “Tommy, do you know who we are?” In a low, gravely, Marlon Brando Godfather voice, he said, “of course I do. Hello Polly and Petie. ”

After some initial small talk, he began to tell us a story about how his father and my grandfather immigrated from eastern Greece to Harlan, Kentucky around 1910. As I listened to him tell this wonderful story, his face began to show life. His eyes sparkled and at times he would laugh. Periodically, he would pause and say, “this is a wonderful opportunity I have to share this story with you” in his Godfather voice. Other times, he would tear up and say,”can you believe what these young immigrant boys went through.”

During his story, he kept referring to his dad, Charlie Kavendues, and Steve Margaritis. I was a little confused because my grandfather was named Pete Margaritis. I just felt that in his failing health that he was confused. However, the details he shared in telling this story showed that his mind was as sharp as a tack. At one point in the story, he mentions that Steve Margaritis died due to a ruptured appendix and Charlie went to Lexington, found his brother Pete and offered him Steve’s piece of the business. This is where I stopped him and asked him to repeat that part of the story. See, I never knew that my grandfather had a brother named Steve. I remember my dad – Michael – telling me stories about his father Pete but never mentioned anything about Steve Margaritis. WOW, I had a great uncle I never knew existed.

For three hours Tommy regaled us with a number of wonderful stories. I sat there listening intently and at times I would feel the vibration of my iPhone alerting me of a message or phone call. Out of high regard for this man, I didn’t pull my phone out and shut it down and I never looked at my iPhone for the full three hours. I was disconnected from the outside world and completely in the moment, void of any distractions.

I have to say that was one of the most impactful three hours I had spent in a very long time. What started as a son wanting to make an impact in his mothers life, turned into a very wise man having a wonderful impact on this 54 year old guy. Tommy Kavunedus made a huge difference in my life, reminding me the importance of our heritage, our past, and to take time to visit with the ones we love more often. Tommy, thanks for Making A Difference in my life.

Can Everyone Become a Leader?

April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 From the desk of Peter Margaritis

Business schools at premier universities say they are training leaders, developing leadership in students and teaching students how to take on great leadership roles upon graduation. But do they? Can leadership be taught to someone who has never managed, let alone led a group?

I work with teams across the country and within minutes I know who the leaders are in the group, not because of their title but because of their ability to connect with others. Leaders are authentic, they enthusiastically represent the shared values of an organization.

Managers may be great at managing workload, clients, personnel and all the other components of running a business but that does not make them leaders. Every organization can develop future leaders by creating an atmosphere that allows the people to learn, grow, experience and develop their skills.

In my leadership courses we focus on the skills that effective leaders must possess, like integrity, vision and yes, a sense of humor. We work on ways to inspire creativity in themselves and others. And I encourage everyone to use networking skills to help them step up and step out as a leader. Not everyone gets it, not everyone is meant to lead a group or a company. But everyone can benefit from the opportunity to explore and expand their skills.

Taking Care of Your Customers

April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 From the desk of Peter Margaritis

When we talk about customer service we usually mean the people who pay for your services. You may have a vision statement that says something to the effect that you “will always offer the highest level of customer service” or maybe something like “always strive to exceed expectations.” But what about your internal customers – what is your vision statement for your staff?

In a recent blogpost, Seth Godin outlines how different companies define customer service, and how that should align with their bottom line. Made a lot of sense to me. I started thinking about the levels of service given to internal customers, the people you hire and pay to represent your firm. I decided to define levels of service for staff members, and how each level impacts the financial goals of a firm. Here are the internal customer service standards that separate great firms from the weak ones.

Create a strong workplace that supports individuals in remarkable ways. Although pay would seem to be the key ingredient here, it is not. Consistent attention to each person and their professional growth – from classes and workshops to managing workload; offer benefits that gladly (not grudgingly) provide personal time, vacation days and sick leave; recognize hard work deserves hard play. Are the values of your company aligned with how you treat employees?

Provide the tools to do exceptional work. Every one can tell when they are considered an asset versus an expense. When you don’t pay attention to current technology, when you force people to use outdated tools or do not provide things like tablets and smartphones, you send the message that your staff is really not worth the investment.

Okay, sometimes it is about the pay. Actually, it’s generally about equity in pay, promotion and recognition. Develop compensation packages that give everyone the opportunity to succeed financially.

Design a work environment that brings out the best in people. Windows, lighting, artwork and comfortable, attractive furnishings say a lot about a firm to your staff (and your external customers). Outdated furnishings, let alone ugly and worn, say a lot too! You spend at least one third of your life at work – make it a great place to be and to share with others. Silicon valley has taken work environments to whole different level, and the investment pays off in retention, invention and commitment from staff.

Have fun. I’m not suggesting that work isn’t…well, work. I am strongly suggesting that people do better work when they enjoy where they work because they are proud of the group they work with, the environment they work in and the sense of satisfaction they receive every day. So whether it’s retreats and parties, team building and workshops, or starting each day with a laugh, creating a fun place to work brings high levels of customer service to internal and external customers.

Will Their First Day Be Their Last?

March 12, 2015April 9, 2015 From the desk of Peter Margaritis

Newly hired accountants can be a bit overwhelmed on their first day with a firm, especially if it is their first day as a professional accountant. There is so much structure: sit here, do this, use our lingo, and work until we say to stop. Maybe you don’t mean it to seem so…rigid. Maybe you want to create a lighter environment. Are you succeeding?

I found this blog post that gives an honest accounting of what new accountants experience. This blogger works in a firm that values communication and interaction with fellow staff members and clients, so he is adjusting to the work and the environment. What I found most interesting were his final remarks:

“As far as I’m concerned, it would actually be quite difficult to be an introverted auditor seeing as how communication with not only the client but your team is crucial.”

There’s An App For That

March 11, 2015March 12, 2015 From the desk of Peter Margaritis

Whether you work from the same office every day, travel occasionally or, like me, work remotely much of the time, staying connected, informed and efficient is important. Need to share large files or maintain internet access or actually see the person you are meeting with even when they are across the country? No problem, there’s an app for that!

Here are a few tools that work really well for me:

Dropbox –This file sharing tool is easy to use. Just open an account and load your files. Then click the share button and add the recipient’s email. They will receive an email from Dropbox with a link to your shared folder. Recipients see only those files and folders you have selected to share with them.

Evernote – This one takes some practice but only because there is so much offered. Organize files, maintain journals, store photos and graphics – it’s all there. Evernote syncs with all your devices so add something on your phone and your laptop has it too.

Skitch – A partner with Evernote, Skitch is a great tool for saving web pages and documents. Not the links (you can do that with just about every app) but you can open the doc or page, do a Screen Snap, add comments and save to Evernote or email it.

TripIt – For all of us frequent flyers, keeping track of flight itineraries can be a bit of a hassle. Send your confirmation emails to TripIt and the app organizes it all. You can receive flight information and travel alerts through the app, too. No more hunting for emails! If you travel exclusively with one carrier, get their app – it will do the same thing plus you can check in, get seats and get your boarding pass.

Skype – I usually use FaceTime when I want a one-on-one face-to-face conversation, like with my family, but Skype is great for group meetings. Like other apps, they let you have group video calls and screen sharing, which can be pretty helpful.

What app helps you stay productive?