Adaptable study-wise

Jeremy Tauri.

A big part of why I became an accountant and business owner is the encouragement of my parents. They were very keen to see me get into the business world and an accounting career.

I rang my mother before I wrote this to ask her why. She said: "You were good with numbers and you weren't too sure what career path you would take exactly, but accounting meant you could apply yourself in any industry you wanted to."

She is right. There are bean counters and bookkeepers involved in the money matters of businesses in every sector.

If you are thinking about what you might study this year, it might be worth thinking about a qualification that can be applied broadly.

There aren't many 18-year-olds who have a terribly clear view of what the future holds, and embarking on a degree that will take many years and cost many thousands of dollars can seem like a big commitment.

But my parents were right that if I did not start studying something, there was a risk I might not do anything at all.

By taking up a business qualification, I was able to apply myself to something that could transfer to a number of different careers. The years would not have been wasted even if I decided to do something entirely different. Business skills are important because makes they enable you to make the most of your potential to take on decision making and challenges that come your way.

Being knowledgeable about finance takes out a level of stress from life, too.

As it is, I have been able to work up to owning a company with a business partner.

If you are starting the year unsure of what the best way forward is, have a look around to see what kind of qualifications are available that will give you transferable life skills.

What's the key lesson from all of this? Maybe teenagers really should listen to their parents every now and again!

- Jeremy Tauri is an associate at Plus Chartered Accountants.