Core Values and Characteristics Part 1

By now you probably know a little bit about Blumer CPAs.  You know we are intentional in every aspect of the firm, from onboarding clients to internal operations and firm values.  We wanted to take some time to shed some light on our internal Core Values and Characteristics that we appreciate as a firm.  

Each week we set aside time in our team meeting to do “Core Values and Characteristics” call outs.  I’ll be honest.  When I first started at Blumer CPAs, this was hard for me, but over the last couple of years, I am learning to embrace the “call-out”. Mark Twain said, “The happy phrasing of a complement is one of the rarest of human gifts, and the happy delivery of it another.”  

A word we use often at Blumer is “community”.  A lot of companies want to feel like a family, but when it comes down to it, is that really what you want at work?  Families are definitely valuable and they have their place, but families are also messy.  Families are comfortable, but we don’t always bring our best self to the “table”. Also, you’re kind of “stuck” with your family, right?  You don’t get to choose your parents, your siblings, your kids (and certainly not how they behave), or even that crazy uncle. (Someone else chose him, and you probably wish they didn’t.)

I looked up the definition of community, and these are some of my favorites:

1. A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals
2. Joint ownership or liability

In a community, you’re not forced to be there…you want to be.  You have a stake and pride in the outcome or fruits of your labor.  We try to bring our best self and we try to bring out the best in each other.  THIS is why we do our call-outs each week.  We want to put the spotlight on each other.  Ultimately, when someone else sparkles, it shines a glimmer of light on the whole team. 

Throughout this series we are giving you the opportunity to peek inside the intimacies of a Blumer team meeting… to see what glue actually holds us together and builds the strong culture that we love.  We are not your average CPA firm. We don’t go our separate ways and do our own job.  Yes, we each have a job to do, but each person’s role intentionally leans on others.  “No man is an island” at Blumer CPAs and now we open up and share our team values and characteristics with you…

Blumer CPAs Core Values:

• Commitment leads to Loyalty
• Collaboration leads to Strength
• Confidence leads to Initiative
• Humility leads to Consideration
• Honesty leads to Integrity

Blumer CPAs Characteristics:

• High autonomy, high accountability
• High value, high service
• High dependability, high trust
• Extreme Ownership

To learn more about the why behind our Core Values, check out part 2 of this blog series.