The man of the hour talks about how passion can turn dreams into reality and make a difference in leadership style
Passionate, unshakeable, and imaginative – these were among the exciting qualities that Andrey Akbashev possessed that catapulted him to the top of the chain. “Everything is possible, and nothing is impossible if you put effort into the things you do,” he explained. An accountant by profession, he is also the owner of Akbashev Tax Group, specializing in individual and business tax preparations, bookkeeping, sales tax, and many more. Born in Uzbekistan and now a resident in New York for more than two decades, Andrey recalled how easy math classes were to him, “I always loved math and numbers; it came naturally to me.” It’s no question that he remains among the pioneers in providing accounting services across the 50 states of America. Andrey is represented by ZavoMedia PR Group headquartered in NYC. ZavoMedia strongly believes in Andrey’s vision and in his abilities to create a bigger impact in the accounting industry nationally. His PR team, ZavoMedia has fostered strong relationships over the years globally securing placements for renowned entrepreneurs and CEO’s. Armed with resilience and wisdom, Andrey often asked questions like, “Do you love the job? Do you love what you do?” when talking to accounting aspirants looking into having a career in the finance industry. He highlights how passion can affect one’s performance, making or breaking the path to success.
- Turning Passion into Reality
Before attaining the glory of all his achievements, Andrey started his dream of creating his firm from his house. His humble beginnings were challenging as he had to balance his attention and time between his day job and meeting with his own clients after work. “I slept very little, but I was able to run both things at the same time. If you decide to take that path of designing your own life, it’s very challenging, but at the same time, it’s gratifying,” he revealed. After every project, he burned with passion and determination that helped him gradually expand his services to serve more clients. By the time his firm was up and running, he dared to leap and made the transition to managing his business full-time. Undoubtedly, Andrey’s persistence and tenacity helped him shape the future he wanted for himself.
“I learned that the world is round, and you’re bound to meet the same people again at some point. That is why it’s imperative to give the right impression,” Andrey shared. “The first impression should be about showing the true, genuine quality to everyone. When people remember the authentic experience they had, it will create a ripple effect in which they would either come back for more or pass on to others their experience about your service.” Indeed, his words ring true to any business owner who understands the mechanics of sales. His level of commitment remained resolute despite going through turbulent changes significantly when the pandemic hit.
- Education Influences Decisions
Andrey believed that financial literacy and education help entrepreneurs to create better decisions. Over the years, working with various companies, from minor to large-scale corporations, gave Andrey ample experience in different financial situations he helped solve. The common denominator is rooted in a lack of understanding and knowledge in accounting. Therefore, he dedicated his time to teaching his clients about the ins and outs of accounting to help them understand better how the process works. “Involving the clients in the process makes them more aware and mindful of how to manage their financial assets and liabilities. They become more loyal to you because they know what you have to offer,” he disclosed.
- A Unique Leadership Style
When Andrey started running his firm, he knew that he had to step up and lead the team early on. Thanks to his years serving in firms and working with multitudes of business corporations, he combined all the positive lessons he learned from his previous bosses. “My leadership style is different; I mixed all the good things I’ve learned from my mentors and older people I’ve met. I took the good out of all that I’ve seen,” he said. Leading the crowd can be a daunting task. “It’s a huge responsibility to bear, and you have to lead by example,” Andrey confessed. “But being able to guide them to the success that all of you will share in the end is something that motivates me to become a better leader.”
- Ultimate Takeaway
Andrey’s life is a culmination of hard work, ingenuity, and zeal that set his career to epic heights. When asked about his ultimate takeaway, he accentuated passion as vital to success. “Don’t focus too much on making money. Instead, focus on doing what you love to do, making your life easier and happier. The more time you spend at it, the better you get at it, which will make more people want to work with you,” he revealed. In conclusion, success finds its way to people who are happy with what they do.
