Terry Starbucker

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Fish Heads and The Value of Great Leadership: An Unforgettable Lesson

Terry Starbucker

After all, I just came from the public accounting arena as a CPA, which was all about debit and credits, numbers and figures, and processes and controls. “ We’ll get better “, he’d promise. Consequently, I tended to focus more on the problems themselves, and all the nuts and bolts surrounding them.

CPA 237
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The Secret Life Of Terry Starbucker

Terry Starbucker

He started his career back in 1982 with the accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney in San Antonio, Texas (yes, the secret Terry was a CPA). He started at Bresnan back in 1994, and in previous positions also got to travel to cool places like Chile and Poland.

CPA 263
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(How I Discovered) The Incredible Power Of The Two Most Important Words

Terry Starbucker

I spent hours at my cubicle just studying up for the CPA exam, and serving as a “go-fer” for the higher ups in the office (lets just say I knew my way around the copy and storage rooms). Up to that point it had been an uneventful start to my career, since the summer is a slow time for most accounting groups.

Power 321
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Calibrated Trust: The Undeniable Value of Professional Skepticism

Terry Starbucker

Fortunately, (way, way back in 1982) I started my career as a CPA and auditor, and I learned about this thing called “ Professional Skepticism “. I have this natural tendency to want to trust everybody. I know that’s not good, so I have to fight that tendency, especially as a leader in the business world.

CPA 150
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Goldilocks, The Three Bears, And Effective Goal Setting

Terry Starbucker

I started as a CPA back in 1982, and was always pretty handy around a spreadsheet (even when they were just 12-column green pads). Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Goldilocks…… I’ve done a lot of budgeting, planning, and goal setting over the course of my career.

Goal 283
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Leaders Should Be (More) Human Too: In Praise of Touchy-Feely

Terry Starbucker

He liked hiring young accountants (I happened to be a CPA at a large firm at the time) because of their bottom-line savvy and buttoned-down approach to looking at a business. People that could match his style of leadership: autocratic and one-way, with a large helping of fear.

CPA 150
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So You Want To Be A Leader? How To Unlock Your Leadership Destiny

Terry Starbucker

I obtained my CPA certificate, rose quickly through the ranks and within 5 years I was a Manager on the fast track to partner. I remember the day I knew I really wanted to be a leader. Funny thing was, it was 5 years after I “accidentally” became one. I started my career as an accountant, right out of college.