Hello and welcome to my first blog entry!
To get acquainted, I’ll start with a brief introduction. I am a Business Analyst based out of our Chicago office and have been with Accenture for about 18 months. I started full time after graduating from Notre Dame and am a diehard Fighting Irish fan. A Kansas City native, I now live in a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s north side where I frequently enjoy good food and time with great friends.
As I sat down to brainstorm what to write for this first blog, I found myself reflecting on this current stage of my life. In doing so, it became clear to me just how blessed I am to be here today and how many fortunate opportunities have come my way. I have a large, amazing family whom I love dearly and, although they are dispersed across the country, I get to see them quite often. I have great friends who are with me both to celebrate in good times and strengthen me in bad. I have a job which challenges and stretches me to do things I didn’t think possible, and allows me to connect with brilliant and fascinating individuals every day.
Before I ramble on for too long about how fortunate I feel, I will get to my point. Where I am today is a direct derivative of the actions of others. All that I have been given is exactly that – a gift given to me. As such, it is my responsibility to pay it forward; to take advantage of my opportunities and create opportunities for others. This idea is epitomized in an excerpt from one of my father’s favorite quotes by an unknown author:
“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
I use this idea to measure my personal success and it embodies what I hope to attain in my career at Accenture. I strive to use the tools and experiences afforded to me to create value and opportunity. Fortunately for me, there seems to be an endless supply of useful Accenture tools, be it an innovative thought process, a lending hand from a seasoned veteran or availability to help out at a local charity event.
I hope that this brief introduction has given some insight into what inspires me. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences through this blog as I strive for my own personal success.
Cheers!