"Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too: A Black Accountant’s Success Story"
The book "Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too: A Black Accountant’s Success Story" by Frank K. Ross is an inspiring autobiography following the career of a young, black male in his quest to succeed in both his career and life. By examining Ross’ journey I have gained a better understanding of the challenges one faces before reaching success.
Ross begins his journey by recounting his early history as an immigrant from the West Indies (Ross, 2006). Ross came to America in the 1950’s, right in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement (Ross, 2006). His firsthand account of the quest for equality laid the foundation of strength he drew upon later in his life when faced with challenges (Ross, 2006). After successfully becoming an American citizen, Ross felt that no goal was unattainable. This theory drove him to make his life inspiring to others.
When Ross began his career as an accountant, he was one of the few black men to do so. He was often forced to fight to receive equal opportunity (Ross, 2006). Eventually he became a president of the National Association of Black Accountants (Ross, 2006). Within the organization he took his experiences and knowledge to help others in similar situations. Later in life he still strives to mentor others and spread the word about equality in the work place (Ross, 2006). He speaks frequently to others and relays what he has learned, driving others to set higher goals for themselves.
While reading this book I found myself reflecting on the lessons demonstrated by Ross and applying them to my own real life experiences. Those in the accounting field need strong, listening and communication skills, a customer service orientation, attention to detail, problem-solving, integrity, a high stress tolerance, and adaptability. By working hard and always trying me best I developed a stronger sense of work ethic and professional identity. Ross’s description of the Civil Rights Movement inspired me to learn more about equality in the work place.
I found this book instrumental in helping develop my own professional identity. I hope to use my knowledge of legal and ethical practices to make my future endeavors a success. I look forward to using the skills I have learned throughout this book about communication and planning to better identify my goals. In terms of developing my identity, I am still working to insure that I operate in a professional and ethical manner at all times.
My favorite part of the book was Ross’s story about coming to America. His story of immigration touches a cord with me and reminded me that no matter what our dreams may be they are obtainable in America if we work hard. Ross described New York as “dazzling and awe inspiring.” (Ross, 2006). He also coined himself a “pioneer” with his efforts to become a successful accountant in a time when it was not a common job for a person of color (Ross, 2006). The story within this book is in all aspects a story of the “American Dream” that could be relevant at any point of America’s history (Ross, 2006). The courage Ross showed during the early years of his career became my favorite moments of the book.
I responded were positively to Ross’ account. His tone was very neutral without bias. Even though much of his story was meant to tell the story of minorities of society, he places his stories with accurate historical context that doesn’t come across as defamatory to those who are not of color (Ross, 2006). When faced with inequality in the work place, Ross never complained or caused trouble (hence the title!) instead merely biding his time and making his mark with his outstanding performance (Ross, 2006). I found this a very commendable asset.
I believe that I was asked to read this book because it is a story that can translate into everyone’s life in some aspect. Whether you are interested in learning more about accounting, setting goals, civil rights, or the American dream this book has a bit of it all (Ross, 2006). Ross’ story of rags to riches illustrates how a good guy can succeed through hard work, not because of his race, sex, economic class, or through dishonesty (Ross, 2006). Ross relied on his business sense and maintained a polite respectful demeanor that would serve most people well in the work place (Ross, 2006).
In conclusion, I feel that “Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too: A Black Accountant’s Success Story” relayed many important messages that I hope for carry forward in my future career endeavors. The aspects of mentorship and goal setting are skills I hope to employee in all aspects of my life.
Works Cited:
Ross, F. (2006). Quiet guys can do great things, too: A black accountant’s success story. Writing Our World Press.
