Over the years, I’ve trained many accountants and finance professionals.
Somewhere along the way, the things I repeated so often became “Burton’isms” in the office. Little sayings my teams could recite by heart. They are pet peeves, quirks, or better yet...hard-earned truths about how to approach our work with pride, discipline, and excellence.
Some favorites:
“The transaction does not exist unless it’s POSTED in the bank, not PENDING.”
Accuracy starts with reality.
“Slow down and think it through.”
Rushing costs you 2-4x more time fixing the mistake later.
“A win is a win, no matter how small.”
Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader, give yourself a self-five and go for a walk.
“Keep it simple. Simple is always best...usually faster too”.
Complexity is often just confusion in disguise.
“If you want to find the problem, follow the money.”
Accountants say numbers never lie. That's true, but numbers can be hidden, take the time to see the details.
"The truth will always reveal itself with enough time."
Goes for most things in life.
I'm not talking about perfection, it’s more about owning what you do so deeply that excellence becomes your default setting. It’s about creating reliable systems and habits that prevent chaos before it even starts. And it’s about knowing that the small, consistent wins are what build the big ones. That is a choice you can make everyday.
In our field, know this: the world runs on the accuracy, clarity, and integrity of our work. So why not do it with pride & excellence?
Photo: San Cosme Viñados, Ensenada - Baja California
First published on LinkedIn.