{"id":1705,"date":"2025-01-23T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nononyathi.co.zw\/?p=1705"},"modified":"2025-01-19T21:59:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T21:59:41","slug":"my-first-decade-in-tax-lessons-for-each-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nononyathi.co.zw\/index.php\/my-first-decade-in-tax-lessons-for-each-year\/","title":{"rendered":"My first decade in tax \u2013 lessons for each year."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ten years ago, it seemed so far-fetched that one day I’d be sharing such an update. It’s so surreal because to me it feels like yesterday when I took a leap of faith and embarked on my tax career journey. If you’re visiting my blog for the first, you can read the story of how I started my journey here: I gambled my way into a tax career<\/a>. Below, I share lessons for each of the years that have led me to celebrating this milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 1 – Just start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I vividly remember my first year as a tax professional \u2013 it was a whirlwind. After leaving my finance job, I couldn’t land a job, so I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own tax consulting business. I quickly realised that finding clients wasn’t going to be easy. It took a lot of networking, door-knocking, and even some cold calling to get my first few clients. But the payoff was huge when I finally started helping those first few clients navigate the tax system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 2 – Believe in yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my second year, I realised there was a big gap when it came to educating taxpayers. I saw this firsthand while helping a couple of entrepreneurs with their taxes. So, I decided to write a tax guide to help them out. It was a lot of work, but I’m really proud of the finished product. My first publication was in my second year as a tax professional and my second one came a year or so after that. Also that year, I started working with some major companies. It was a big step for my business, and I had to learn a whole lot about more complex tax issues. It was tough, but it helped me grow as a tax professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Year 3 – Adapt to new environments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My third year as a tax pro was a year of change. I finally got my first job offer as a tax consultant. It was a tough decision, but ultimately, I decided to stop running my own business and focus on this new opportunity. It took some getting used to, going from being my own boss to having a manager, but the change also came with some major benefits, like more resources and a steady paycheck. Switching to being an employee had its ups and downs, but it ultimately opened doors to new opportunities. I’m really glad I took that leap, even though it wasn’t an easy decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 4 – People are always watching<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My fourth year in the tax world was a little crazy. I got approached by so many different companies, it was hard to know what to do. After struggling to get a job in my first year, the jobs were now coming for me. In the end, I decided to stay where I was to gain more experience. But, just as my fourth year was wrapping up, I got a LinkedIn message from a tax partner at one of the Big Four firms. This was the third time in the year being approached by a Big Four firm . It was totally unexpected, but super exciting – especially because it was a partner who reached out. It was time to grow and this was the right opportunity for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year 5 – Be you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My fifth year was a total game-changer. I finally made the move to a Big Four firm! It was definitely a learning curve, coming from a boutique firm. The projects were bigger, the clients were bigger, and the whole experience was just on another level. There was definitely a learning curve, but the experience I gained at the Big Four firm was invaluable. It was totally worth it, and I’m so glad I made the jump. Overall, I learnt to bring the whole of me to a Big Four environment – my blogging and writing experience came in handy. I was surprised when I bumped into a partner (who wasn’t from my department) and they asked about my blog. Say what! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even if you lie down for people to walk on you, some will still say you're not flat enough. pic.twitter.com\/V7fDxh54gy<\/a><\/p>— Bold Type \ud83d\udc51 (@nonhlie_enn) January 8, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>