Matt Klauser, CPA, CM&AA, CHFPPartner at BKD
Dallas, Texas
Connect on LinkedIn
I am an athlete. I always have been and always will be. Being an athlete has served me in so many aspects of my life. It helped pay for a portion of my Drury education. But more than that, it taught me the most important life lessons I have ever learned.
My former Drury soccer coach gave me some advice that I’ve carried with me since: “Focus on what you can control.”
In sports, I learned that there are some things you simply cannot control. For example, I cannot control the weather, so I played many soccer games in rain, snow or extreme wind. That made my job difficult. Thankfully, it also made it difficult for my opponent. Oftentimes, the team that is able to brush the conditions aside, maintain a positive attitude and work hard will prevail.
As a merger and acquisition advisor, I have learned that I cannot control the macroeconomic environment. The Great Recession adversely impacted the level of acquisitions being completed during 2008 and 2009. But it was the same for everyone, and just like in sports, the firms that are able to avoid getting distracted by temporary conditions often end up much stronger in the end.
As you wake up each day, focus on two things:
As a college student, I know there are tons of distractions and a lot of pressure. I also know that much of it is out of your control. You will see your peers (and, at times, even your professors) allow those things to negatively impact their attitudes. If I can give you one piece of advice as you prepare to enter the job market, I beg you to take a moment and consider whether the item adding stress to your life is within your control.