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  • wynn
    Diamond Member

    • Oct 2006
    • 3338

    #16
    As an accountant you are supposed to see two columns of figures separated by a thin black line, but as a business owner you know that the line is a wide grey one.
    All the best and hurry back to the world of entrepreneurship as soon as your articles are over.
    "Nobody who has succeeded has not failed along the way"
    Arianna Huffington

    Read the first 10% of my books "Didymus" and "The BEAST of BIKO BRIDGE" for free
    You can also read and download 100% free my short stories "A Real Surprise" and "Pieces of Eight" at
    http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/332256

    Comment

    • Mark Atkinson
      Gold Member

      • Jul 2010
      • 796

      #17
      I've had a couple messages enquiring about where I've been and how things were going, so I thought I'd just throw out a quick update for anyone who's interested.

      I wrote what were certainly the most difficult exams I've ever written and even managed to get myself a bout of food poisoning just in time for one of them! The waiting period for results from UNISA is ridiculous (about 45 days) and the stress has a way of mounting pretty quickly as you near the release date.

      Seems the stress was all for nothing, though. I did pass all 5 of those horrid six-hour exams and even managed to net myself a top 10 position in SA for my efforts. (Shameless brag!) I really wasn't expecting that, particularly after I ignored many warnings from PwC not to continue to run a business this year, so it was a happy surprise.

      2013 has been a very trying year in several ways, so I'm thrilled to finally be done with varsity and moving into another world.

      Just the little hurdle of the board exam to get through now.

      Thanks for all the words of encouragement and support! All my friends, family and even our clients have been so accommodating and supportive throughout the entire year. It's nice to know that young guys can try to "do it all" without being held back too much.
      "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." - Socrates
      Mark My Words - Arbitrary thoughts on ordinary things

      Trench Life - A blog for young professionals, BY young professionals

      LinkedIn

      Bafokke Shirts - South Africa's No. 1 Fan Shirt!

      Comment

      • pmbguy
        Platinum Member

        • Apr 2013
        • 2095

        #18
        Well done Mark! You are one of those people I just know will go right to the top. You punch way above your age (23), most people that age are stuffing around looking cool in the club. You did not mention Cum Laude, but I can faithfully assume you got it (“Top 10”). Dream Big!...don’t let anybody say it can’t be done, you know it can. You got something special inside you, follow your instincts.


        One small piece of humble advice I would like to dispense with is this: Please please don’t get sucked into corporate, at least not for too long.


        I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours.
        Keep us posted
        It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. – Charles Darwin

        Comment

        • Mike C
          Diamond Member

          • Apr 2012
          • 2891

          #19
          Congrats Mark. I am glad that it is working out for you ... you work hard, so you deserve it.

          Thanks for keeping us posted.
          No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop "The Lion and the Mouse"

          Comment

          • ians
            Diamond Member

            • Apr 2010
            • 3943

            #20
            Well done Mark.
            Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.

            Comment

            • wynn
              Diamond Member

              • Oct 2006
              • 3338

              #21
              Well done now don't lose your way in the corridors of power!
              "Nobody who has succeeded has not failed along the way"
              Arianna Huffington

              Read the first 10% of my books "Didymus" and "The BEAST of BIKO BRIDGE" for free
              You can also read and download 100% free my short stories "A Real Surprise" and "Pieces of Eight" at
              http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/332256

              Comment

              • Dave A
                Site Caretaker

                • May 2006
                • 22803

                #22
                Participation is voluntary.

                Alcocks Electrical Services | Alcocks Pest Control & Entomological Services | Alcocks Hygiene Services

                Comment

                • HR Solutions
                  Suspended

                  • Mar 2013
                  • 3358

                  #23
                  Seems the stress was all for nothing, though. I did pass all 5 of those horrid six-hour exams and even managed to net myself a top 10 position in SA for my efforts.
                  A BIG Congrats Mark - You are going to do very well

                  Comment

                  • Mark Atkinson
                    Gold Member

                    • Jul 2010
                    • 796

                    #24
                    Thanks everyone.

                    Originally posted by pmbguy
                    You did not mention Cum Laude, but I can faithfully assume you got it (“Top 10”).
                    Unfortunately not. BCompt Honours must be one of the few courses where you can get a bunch of 60s and still place top 10. I think there may be 2 people in the country that graduated Cum Laude. I did finish my degree Cum Laude though, but that's just the degree.

                    Originally posted by pmbguy
                    One small piece of humble advice I would like to dispense with is this: Please please don’t get sucked into corporate, at least not for too long.
                    I don't plan on it! I'm not a fan of top-down corporate structure.
                    "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." - Socrates
                    Mark My Words - Arbitrary thoughts on ordinary things

                    Trench Life - A blog for young professionals, BY young professionals

                    LinkedIn

                    Bafokke Shirts - South Africa's No. 1 Fan Shirt!

                    Comment

                    • IanF
                      Moderator

                      • Dec 2007
                      • 2680

                      #25
                      Originally posted by Mark Atkinson
                      Unfortunately not. BCompt Honours must be one of the few courses where you can get a bunch of 60s and still place top 10. I think there may be 2 people in the country that graduated Cum Laude. I did finish my degree Cum Laude though, but that's just the degree.
                      Mark
                      Well done the course and the volume of learning must be great that so few people got Cum Laude. When do you write the board exam?
                      My daughter graduated last year BSc IT honours with Cum Laude and there were at least 6 of them who got it at UJ.
                      Only stress when you can change the outcome!

                      Comment

                      • Mark Atkinson
                        Gold Member

                        • Jul 2010
                        • 796

                        #26
                        Originally posted by IanF
                        Mark
                        Well done the course and the volume of learning must be great that so few people got Cum Laude. When do you write the board exam?
                        My daughter graduated last year BSc IT honours with Cum Laude and there were at least 6 of them who got it at UJ.
                        That's a brilliant achievement to have graduated any honours course Cum Laude! I guess the BCompt course is just really tough. The volume is absolutely immense.

                        We write the board exam late in January. Around the 23rd, if I'm not mistaken.
                        "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." - Socrates
                        Mark My Words - Arbitrary thoughts on ordinary things

                        Trench Life - A blog for young professionals, BY young professionals

                        LinkedIn

                        Bafokke Shirts - South Africa's No. 1 Fan Shirt!

                        Comment

                        • Dave A
                          Site Caretaker

                          • May 2006
                          • 22803

                          #27
                          Originally posted by Mark Atkinson
                          I don't plan on it! I'm not a fan of top-down corporate structure.
                          I'm sure you don't need this advice, but just in case you get tempted - this really isn't the way to tender your resignation.
                          Participation is voluntary.

                          Alcocks Electrical Services | Alcocks Pest Control & Entomological Services | Alcocks Hygiene Services

                          Comment

                          • Mark Atkinson
                            Gold Member

                            • Jul 2010
                            • 796

                            #28
                            Ah, man. Reading this thread has brought back so many memories. I've been so absent from TFSA for the last few years as things have become busier. How many of you old faithfuls are still around?

                            I want to update this thread! So much has happened in the last 4 years. I will start writing something soon.

                            #threadNecro
                            "The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." - Socrates
                            Mark My Words - Arbitrary thoughts on ordinary things

                            Trench Life - A blog for young professionals, BY young professionals

                            LinkedIn

                            Bafokke Shirts - South Africa's No. 1 Fan Shirt!

                            Comment

                            • Dave A
                              Site Caretaker

                              • May 2006
                              • 22803

                              #29
                              Was that all four years ago already

                              Time just flashes by.
                              Participation is voluntary.

                              Alcocks Electrical Services | Alcocks Pest Control & Entomological Services | Alcocks Hygiene Services

                              Comment

                              • Mike C
                                Diamond Member

                                • Apr 2012
                                • 2891

                                #30
                                Originally posted by Mark Atkinson
                                I want to update this thread! So much has happened in the last 4 years. I will start writing something soon.
                                Hi Mark - nice to hear from you again. Look forward to your update!
                                No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. - Aesop "The Lion and the Mouse"

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