An accountant turned photographer? That doesn’t compute.
Hello, my name is Beth, and I’m a recovering C.P.A.
It’s true. For 20+ years of my life I worked as an accountant. First with one of the big national accounting firms, and later as a self-employed bookkeeper for private businesses. I was good at what I did, and was successful. But I was also extremely bored and unfulfilled. That is why I shifted gears 8 years ago and turned my hobby of photography into a business by launching Studio B Photography.
But here’s the rub. Despite my success as a photographer, it’s been hard to shake my previous accounting persona with those that have known me a long time. Sure, they are completely supportive of my ‘new’ career as a photographer (it’s been 8 years… should it really be considered a ‘new’ career?), they admire my work, and celebrate my success, but they also believe that deep down inside me is a latent accountant who must be dying to get out. This is especially true at tax time. Every February/March I somehow find myself dusting off my old ‘accounting visor’ and helping others prepare for tax season. In fact, the past two weeks alone I’ve spent over 40 hours as an accountant, and perhaps only 5 as a photographer. And you know what? It’s been draining. The left side of my brain is tired, and the right side of my brain is bored.
I can’t wait for tax season to be over…
How many photographers do you ever hear say that?
Beth Poe | Free Form 
I can relate to this after 34 years in the nursing profession. I just don’t think I want to do it anymore. One of the doctors I worked for was afraid I’d lose my “identity” if I stopped. Not even sure what that is anymore, but I hope to find out 💗
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Angie. Your identity has so much more to do with who you are vs. what you do!