Patti Tattersall is a Kelowna accountant at BDO Canada and is participating as a guest blogger for BusinessGrowthStrategies.ca. In this blog, she discusses her challenges with passion and business. Find out how she aligned career success with fulfillment in all aspects of her life in this blog!

When my son was 6, he drew a picture at school of him and his father playing soccer…and me sitting at my desk. I got pretty emotional after seeing the picture, especially considering that my husband works full-time too.

I started my career as an accountant in public practice in Kelowna about 14 years ago.  As time and experience progressed,  the opportunity to become partner was being brought up with all the additional responsibilities that come along with it and I couldn’t stop thinking about that picture my son drew.

Finally, one day I walked in and quit my job.

I decided that if I could work a 9-5, I would be much happier since there would be less stress on my family. I took a controller position at a local manufacturing plant.  quickly realized that it wasn’t the actual job I had, it was how I was working I quickly became bored with the job and realized that even though it gave me the time to be with my family, I wasn’t any happier.  I love what I do as an accountant at BDO and I couldn’t take that passion to another place.

Related: How The “Employee Mentality” Holds Back New Business Owners

Ken Davidson (Kelowna accountant and author of BusinessGrowthStrategies.ca) and I stayed very close during my time away from the accounting firm and he would always ask when I was coming back. My reply was always the same: Never! Although there was one day he asked me again and my reply was different…

“What are you offering?”

And I proceeded to tell him what it was I wanted, including the ability to leave the office at 10am to go to a school performance that one of my children are in.  I even took Spring Break off and took my kids to Maui…not many accountants can do that during tax season!

I was really clear about discussing what it was that I wanted and needed to be able to return to a work environment that didn’t just meet my professional needs but also my personal needs.

I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work in a great environment, with wonderful people, truly making a difference and still be able to be there and watch my kids grow up.

Related: Can Your Business Keep Up With Your Lifestyle?

It’s all about personal decisions, realizing what you want and making sure that where you are will conform to that. If not, there are lots of opportunities out there.

How have you married your passion with business? Leave a message in the comments below.

About the Author

Patti Tattersall works with Ken Davidson, with over 12 years of service with BDO Canada as a Kelowna accountant. Patti is part of a strong and talented team providing accounting, taxation and consulting services to a diverse group of clients. Patti enjoys real estate investing and creating plans for owner managed businesses to save taxes during their business cycle and upon successful business transitions.  Patti is a member of the BDO Business Transition Team and a Senior Manager in the Kelowna office. Outside of the office Patti and her husband, Scott, find themselves at ice rinks, soccer fields or swimming pools cheering on their children.  She has an active family that enjoys skiing and camping.  Patti is a Rotarian with the West Kelowna Daybreak Rotary and welcomes new clients to connect with her at ptattersall@bdo.ca