Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anthony (“Tony”) Malik. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Anthony (“Tony”) with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
There are, of course, numerous factors that contribute to a strong work ethic in any single person. I am no different. However, one thing that is probably a major contributor to my work ethic is gratitude. I am truly grateful that I was lucky enough to enter a line of work that I had spent years preparing for, grateful for the delightful professional network/friends I have been able to develop over the years, and, last but not least, grateful to our clients who entrust us with their business. It is important for me to maintain this attitude because it impels me to give my work my best. Another thing that contributes to my work ethic is creativity or playfulness. For example, I may plan my tasks in such a way that I may do things in an order different than what I may be accustomed to. This builds anticipation in me for the day’s work ahead.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the owner of a small international tax practice, Point Square Consulting, where we focus primarily on micro-multinational businesses and investors. As one can imagine, the work is incredibly complex. This can make the work either dreadful or exciting depending on the practitioner’s experience level The learning curve is very steep and this will inevitably cause practitioners in their first six to seven years to dread their work, if not altogether exit the profession. However, if practitioners are able to “stick with it” and attain mastery over their craft, it is a tremendously rewarding experience. The ability to be able to perform one’s duties with ease, facility, and to the satisfaction of clients can enable one to enter a very conducive and enjoyable state of flow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Critical thinking. One is not likely to do well in this line of work if they either regurgitate tax law or prepare two pages of accounting calculations and hand over an answer. To advance to higher levels in this profession, one must be a good thinker. In practice, one will confront many situations for which there is no precedent and oftentimes no law that specifies how a certain transaction or innovative business model ought to be treated. This requires the practitioner to use good reasoning techniques to devise viable solutions for the client. For developing these critical skills, I can’t recommend studying philosophy enough, particularly logic and epistemology.
2. Vocabulary. Having an expansive vocabulary equips one with preciseness of thought and effective communication. I try to always reference the dictionary whenever I come across a word to which I do not know the meaning.
3. Health and hygiene. Being healthy and energetic is essential. International tax practice is cognitively demanding. Once cannot perform the requirements of the role if one is unenergetic or suffering from brain fog. A clean, healthy diet and disciplines exercise regimen are very important.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss is one of the books that comes to mind. A serious eye opener for me was reading about personality types. Certain people do not appreciate if one goes above and beyond for them. Instead they think one went beyond the call of duty for them because they were owed that. And they will be timing their clocks for one to go above and beyond for them again because one would owe them that too. I would not have independently come to that conclusion because it goes against how I was made to understand society since a tender age.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pointsquaretax.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointsquaretax
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymalik7/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pointsquaretax
