I gave Liz a much deserved 'last Monday of the year' off from her column so that she could be with her family over the holidays.
As we have just begun the 2021 process for identification of a new Top 100 and ProAdvisor of the Year, I wanted take this final QBO Monday Minute to say that I am not the only one who understands the meaning of 'ProAdvisor'.
Each year, I write one, two or perhaps as many as three or four articles about the process we use in identification of Insightful Accountant's Top 100 ProAdvisors and the ProAdvisor of the Year. I stress the various criteria involved in the classifications that become our Categorical Awards and the importance of being prepared when you complete your formal application after having been nominated (or after self-nomination).
It seems that I can talk (or rather 'write') till I am 'blue in the face' and people still don't understand about the fact that it really all boils down to 'the standard' that is a ProAdvisor. But you know, I am not the only person who has written about this, nor the only person who has spoken about it over time.
I wanted to point out to you an article that one of our Top 100, Kathy Grosskurth, who is also a past member of Intuit's Trainer/Writer Network , previously wrote for Intuit's Firm of the Future Blog a few years ago titled, 'Credentials, Designations and Accreditations: Are They Still Needed?'
One of the interesting facets about this article is that it is not just Kathy's opinion, but rather her compilation of a number of other noted members of the QuickBooks community at the time, with whom she spoke to garner their opinions on the topic. These individuals including Rolette Warren, Veronica Wasek, Phyllis Robinson, Mariette Martinez, Laura Lincoln and Brent Blackburn all provide compelling views on the importance of 'certain credentials being of importance' to QuickBooks clients in regards to ProAdvisors. Tammy McCartney also spoke about the importance of reputation and experience of ProAdvisors, as did several of the others.
Jaime Campbell, Megan Genest Tarnow and Valerie Gonyea discuss the importance of 'credentialing' when it comes to the holder themselves, as they strive to be the best in their field and be taken seriously. Certainly one of the goals of Insightful Accountant's Top 100 Program was to serve as a peer recognition mechanism.
Another interesting contribution was that of Christine Galli who addressed the importance of changes in the professional requiring periodic review and credential modification.
I hope all of you will take the opportunity to read this blog post from the past, it's an 'oldie but goodie', and even if you read it when it was first published, take time to read it again. Let it be a motivator for you to prepare yourself in every way possible as you go forward into Insightful Accountant's Top 100 and ProAdvisor of the Year process this year, and each year to come.