Michael Maksymiw, Jr

CPA, baseball player, golfer, runner, dad of 2 young women, Disney fanatic. Here to learn how to lead & change the future of the CPA profession

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@AccountingAsArt Check out Truss. I know some good folks there. And I like what I see so far

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@AccountingAsArt I like adding "awesome" to the good, bad, ugly group
Cuz something went awesome and it's nice to celebrate some positivity during a tax debrief

[Bryant Baseball @_BryantBaseball]

Welcome to the Show

Congrats, Wardo!

[Verity CPAs @VerityCPAs]

Celebrating 14 years, made possible by the trust of our clients and the dedication of our incredible team.
#VerityCPAs #14YearsStrong #Since2012 #CPA #Accounting #TaxPreparation #TaxPlanning #Audit #Advisory #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwners #FinancialStrategy #HawaiiBusiness

[Simons @Simon_Ingari]

"Why does our top performer get the worst reviews?" the boss asked.

I was reviewing their annual performance data.

"Show me," I said.

She pulled up the ratings.
Diana: 2.8 out of 5.
Below average on "collaboration."
Low marks for "team player."

"What's her actual performance?" I asked.

"Exceeded every target.
Landed our biggest client.
Trained three new hires."

"So why the low scores?"

"Her peer reviews are dragging her down."

I scanned the comments.
"Too direct."
"Challenges ideas too much."
"Not supportive enough."

"Let me talk to Diana," I said.

"I used to give honest feedback," Diana told me.
"Said our pricing model was broken.
Got dinged for 'negativity.'"

"What happened with the pricing?"

"They finally fixed it six months later.
After we lost two major accounts."

"What else?"

"I questioned why we needed
eleven approvals for a simple contract change.
Manager said I wasn't being collaborative."

"Are you still giving feedback?"

"No. I learned my lesson.
Now I smile. Nod. Say everything's great.
My reviews are improving."

"But nothing's actually improving?"

"We're making the same mistakes.
Just with better vibes." She chuckled.

I went back to the boss.

"Your review system doesn't measure performance," I said.
"It measures compliance."

"That's not true."

"When was the last time someone
got promoted for challenging bad ideas?"

Silence.

"When did someone get rewarded for preventing a mistake?"

More silence.

"You've trained your best people to stay quiet.
And your mediocre people to stay nice."

A few months later, they redesigned the system.

Added a category: "Constructive Challenge."
Points for identifying problems early.
Rewards for preventing costly mistakes.

Diana got promoted.

"What changed?" I asked the boss.

"We stopped confusing agreement with alignment.
Stopped mistaking silence for harmony."

"And?"

"Turns out our 'difficult' people
were our most valuable.
They actually cared enough to speak up."

Here's the truth about performance reviews:

Most companies don't reward performance.
They reward performance theater.

The person who says the meeting was great
beats the person who says it wasted an hour.

The person who agrees with bad ideas
beats the person who prevents disasters.

You think you're measuring contribution.
You're measuring conformity.

And your best people?
They've already figured out the game.

They're just deciding whether to play it
or find somewhere that values truth over comfort.

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@uptonaccounting Kindle unlimited /audiobook subscription for 5 yrs

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@cbriancpa Had a conversation with a smart person today. I asked: do you value your personal wealth accumulation over others' basic needs? Acknowledging that you "have enough" for more than your own basic needs (savings, vacation, etc) covered?
Instant answer: yes
Me: 🤔

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@MichiganMattCPA Tell clients your staff is awesome and you're there when needed, and their other option is someone reading prompts off a screen w zero experience at a box store tax prep place
Who do they want in their corner when they need someone?

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

If you can help, reply and / or DM me and I'll connect you with the firm that asked for help

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

#TaxTwitter
If you're reading this you might have capacity to help a friendly firm out.
Sitch: SJ owns 2 India CFCs. Got proceeds from CFCs, buyback tax was paid by CFCs in India. Transaction not taxable to individual in India.
How to report transaction in US?

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@adammarkowitzEA @AprioAdvisors has an in house R&D team that's great working with other firm's clients
I'm happy to connect you

[Codify @CodifyBaseball]

MICKEY MONIAK GOING FULL KEANU REEVES MY GOODNESS

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@NeverCallMeRich Dude, I'm in Redlands!
Were dropping our daughter off for sophomore year of college

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@andreamacdcpa We have two accounting only firm's in our Alliance. I am happy to intro him to both

[Verity CPAs @VerityCPAs]

Dustin Verity spoke at #AICPAEngage on how tech is revolutionizing audit. From Inflo to AI workflows, Verity CPAs is leading smarter, faster, high-quality engagements.
Want to elevate your audits? Let’s connect. 📩 [email protected] | 808.546.5026
#FutureOfAudit #CPA

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@Taxsavvyjessica @AtlantaTaxes moved his CPA firm, and family, to PR a few years ago. He may be able to chime in

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

Awesomesauce!!

[Big4Transparency @B4Transparency]

First offer going out to a laid off PwC employee today through the Big 4 Transparency talent pool!

The offer is coming from a small firm looking for someone solid to be a part of their succession plan. They’re a member of the @AprioAdvisors alliance, so big thanks to @MikeMax32CPA on helping drive this one home!

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@B4Transparency Awesomesauce!!

[Big4Transparency @B4Transparency]

And just like that, first 2 interviews for folks impacted by the PwC layoffs are being scheduled 🫡

We move fast around here

Shoutout to @MikeMax32CPA and the whole Aprio alliance for rallying behind this

[Michael Maksymiw, Jr @MikeMax32CPA]

@BrianWolfe6 How much it has changed since you started and how much it will change.
It's not something you can know everything about, it's constantly evolving, and you won't be bored