Reflection time: Professional Life
Life has been good to me thus far. Over 8 weeks of the summer, I was working in Denver as a CPM consulting intern at a public accounting firm called RSM. The culture of the firm, even though it is something most firms pride themselves on, is amazing and I really feel that the people and the style of work suit me. RSM essentially does 3 main things – consulting, tax, and audit – and within these 3 departments there are a ton of different teams that do cool shit.
My team, specifically, focuses on digital data consulting and attempts to generate value for clients (yessir) by helping solve their data and digital needs. This includes streamlining their data and helping clients implement Corporate Performance Management (CPM) software such as Solver and Workday Adaptive in order to address their data implementation needs such as COGS calculation and revenue modelling. In a nutshell, I’m part of the team that ensures businesses and clients don’t waste time on Excel and can have their data safe, secure, and easy to access and analyse in other platforms without manually inputting cells so they can improve their financial reporting process.
Here are some core tasks I have worked on thus far:
- Shadowing my team on client calls
- Taking notes on client calls and stand-up meetings
- Learning Solver and Workday Adaptive via online courses
- A LOT of ping pong
Thoughts on my career
With regards to what direction I’m going in professionally, I’ll be honest. I have no fucking idea.
A part of me loves the comfort and challenge of working on solving problems in consulting. Another part of me wants the challenge of conducting equity research and being the brains behind selecting certain stocks like Bill Ackman or Warren Buffet. Ultimately, I’m not sure on how my future career and life will unfold. And, personally, to an extent I’m fine with not knowing.
But choosing one direction means losing out on the whole other possibilities of life that I could have. A fairly haunting realisation I have come to with age and, do I dare say, wisdom?
As of writing this, I got my full-time offer for the CPM consulting position at RSM. This job would be located in Chicago even though most interns are working out of Denver – this is because I asked my recruiter specifically to put me in a bigger city if he can as I would prefer the hustle and bustle of a big city.
So… time for big decisions.
The Paradox of Choice
We all face big decisions in our lives and there comes a time when we become the authors of our lives. Not the side characters or the guest appearance. But the main actors and directors and writers.
The only difference between truly successful people and those who don’t feel like they’ve made the best of their lives is big choices and actions – successful people have intent and drive behind each decision whereas others drift through space and time. Just existing. Seeing the future out. Is that really a good way to live? Am I a victim of letting life take control of me as opposed to the opposite?
So I’ve decided the best thing for me to do would be to accept the full-time role in Chicago and also continue searching for better jobs out there.
Personal life stuff
I also really enjoyed the friends and connections I made while in Denver. I turned 21 on July 9th 2024 and threw a HUGE party with all my other intern buddies and roommates in attendance. My company brought me a cake and the office sang “happy birthday” to me in the break room during lunch. I also got 2 cards which were both signed by my bosses, work colleagues, and other interns in the company. I was over the moon as I didn’t expect the director of my team to bring me candles and wait for me to cut a birthday cake.
Before I threw my 21st party the same night, I had heard absolutely crazy stories about people’s 21st birthdays. My roommates and friends always talked about their experiences with 21st birthdays and, I won’t lie, it SCARED the shit outta me. Almost everyone had done something wild and fun during their 21st and I felt the pressure to live up to their versions of being “young, wild, and free.” My roommates threatened me with a good time, constantly repeating to me that I shall “never remember” my 21st and ” you’ll blackout before you realise it.”
So after some self-reflection, I decided that I can make an exception to my fairly strict rules I had set for myself with regards to alcohol and weed consumption, and go wild for the night because why not?
And I’m happy to report that I did survive the night without blacking out or throwing up.
And I’ll be honest, I did really enjoy myself and had a great time where I felt celebrated. Which is what you should want on your 21st.
Final thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Denver. Outside of work, I did the following: went on a 14er (a hike in the mountains that’s at 14,000 ft of elevation), watched my first baseball game at Coors Stadium, went bar-hopping and explored Golden, visited Colorado Springs, played TopGolf for the first time, learned how to rock-climb and frequented climbing gyms in the Denver area, won an office Ping-Pong tournament, tried weed for the first time (never again Dad, don’t worry), learned what a keg-stand was and then proceeded to perform one (for real, please stop reading if we share blood), played pickleball for the first time, played golf with my intern buddies, and had my first legal drink.
Sounds corny, but I’ll always cherish my time in Denver as I felt so alive and learned so much. It’s made me realise that life can be so incredibly grand and colourful if you open yourself up to new opportunities and new people. I hope I can keep in touch with my friends and the people I crossed paths with in the future.
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