Random Memories
My first professional job. December 1986 I was fixing to graduate college and Jeanette and I were getting married a couple of weeks after that. I don’t remember when I began sending out resumes which were really inquiries since I had never set foot into an accounting firm/office. I really wanted to move to Florida , there was some intrigue in the ability to roll down your windows in the winter which won me over so I sent out some resumes to florida firms and some Chicago firms just in case. I got two bites from south Florida and one from Chicago. I booked a flight to Florida and set up a couple of interviews. I went to the first interview in Miami and it went well. Just didn’t know if I wanted to work in Miami. The second interview went great – it was with London Witte and company a firm that recently had many locations throughout the country but now only had offices in Indianapolis and Ft Lauderdale . The only principal partner was Ed Hirschberg who had lived in Morton Grove Illinois which wasn’t far from where I grew up. We had a lot in common . He was born and raised near Indianapolis a midwestern guy and we had a lot of similar life experiences . He took me under his wing allowed me to learn and grow as a cpa and included me in helping him directly in client work and pretty quickly put me in a supervisory role over newly hired accountants who were young like me . He had confidence in me. He sent me to weeklong continuing education seminars out of state and gave client contact and responsibilities. He treated me like he would a much more experienced cpa. I gained ton of knowledge. And when he went out of town with his wife and kids he let me use his 300zx when I was still driving my Datsun 210 wagon without air conditioning lol. He sent me to Indianapolis to learn from their more experienced staff. And Learned about life as I stayed at the Columbia hotel on the circle which was the place of state house and senators and learned to always have a suit jacket . I didn’t bring one to breakfast but they seated me anyway…..behind a pole lol oh how we learn. A lot of who I am today as a professional is because of Ed. I owe him everything

Dear @telina27 and @amazz94,

I want to officially introduce you two as pen pals! Both of you are such kind people with creative minds. Telina, Alex is artists. Alex, Telina is a writer. You both have had loss in your life but also have experienced a lot of love from your families.

I thought I would start you off with an icebreaker question. You guys also don’t have to reply to this thread. You can start your own.

But the icebreaker is, what is the best compliment you’ve ever received. I have two. In high school, I didn’t get into honors English. My guidance counselor advocated for me.

He said, “If you give her a challenge, she won’t only meet it, she will far exceed it.”

I got into honors English that year and also got an A in the class. I wanted to prove my guidance counselor right.

In my 20’s I also had a friend tell me, “When I need to make a strong decision I think of you.”

I didn’t know she perceived me that way. I was so touched.

Anyways, feel free to start a new letter in any of the groups/topics and start writing to each other.

Be kind. Be supportive. Be honest and have fun! Let me know if you have any questions.

xo

Hey @mehraslam and @ashley_topham, I wanted to introduce you both. Ashley meet Mehr and Mehr meet Ashley. Either one of you can start writing each other or you can both do a post. Just go to your profile and start writing and @ the other person. Make sure you select group (you have to be part of a group to post in that group and respond.)

I wanted to get you guys started with an icebreaker. The Icebreaker is What is one of your favorite childhood memories and how has it impact the person you are today?

I will share one of mine. Every Saturday morning my parents used to sleep late because they liked to go out on Friday nights. So, my brother and I would be up early all alone. My brother, who was four years older, used that time to teach me what he learned in school. I absolutely loved the one-on-one attention from my brother. He wasn’t teasing me like he did most other times of day. He wasn’t competing with me like we did when we played sports. He was helping me grow and giving me a head start in life.

I ended up getting such a head start, when I got to Kindergarten the school decided to skip me to first grade. I was so excited to make my brother proud and realized I should listen to my brother more often. So, through the years, I always looked to him for advice. Decades later, I still defer to my big brother. He believes in me and encourages me and he is a big reason why I have persevered through some of my darkest days.

I can’t wait to hear your stories! xo PS. Don’t forget to join the different groups before you post your letters.