the arc team spills their messiest moments and why grit—not perfection—matters most.
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accounting arc
with byron patrick, liz mason, and donny shimamoto
center for accounting transformation
in the latest episode of accounting arc, hosts donny shimamoto, cpa.citp, cgma; liz mason, cpa; and byron patrick, cpa.citp, cgma, lay down their professional armor to explore one central theme: grit—what it means, when it matters, and how it shows up in real life.
more accounting arc: more admins, fewer students, no plan | what career advice gets wrong for gen z – and how to fix it |your identity is not a liability | what happens in vegas… gets reported on a tax return | burnout, be gone: accounting needs a boundary breakthrough | the ultimate business hack you’re probably ignoring | resilience, real talk, and the road to mental wellness | blockchain could still reshape accounting | what gen z wants from business | firm differentiation depends upon client service |
“this episode was about being honest,” says patrick, ceo of verifyiq and co-founder of tb academy. “there are moments in everyone’s career where it all feels like too much.”
patrick’s “grit era” began the moment he graduated from college. within six weeks, he became a full-time professional and a first-time dad. “there was no time to think,” he says. “i was just doing what needed to be done.”
mason, ceo of high rock accounting, redefined impossible during her college years. “someone told me i couldn’t take 30 credits and graduate with honors—so i did exactly that,” she says. her story is part rebellion, part resilience, and all grit.
shimamoto, founder and managing director of intraprisetechknowlogies llc and founder and inspiration architect for the center for accounting transformation, shares a quieter but equally poignant struggle. after being rejected by his dream firm, he questioned everything—even his future in accounting. “that failure cut deep,” he admits. “but in hindsight, it was the best thing that could’ve happened.”
the hosts also tackle the emotional toll of the profession—from cpa exam failures to tech meltdowns to culture clashes. mason’s flu-stricken cpa exam horror story (“i threw up during the test and still got a 70”) is one for the books—and a testament to pushing through when the odds are stacked.
grit, they agree, isn’t just about endurance. it’s about purpose. “you can’t borrow someone else’s goal,” says patrick. “when it’s truly yours, that’s when grit kicks in.”
shimamoto reflects on the pressure high achievers face. “when we fail, we question our entire worth,” he says. “but grit is what gets us to the next day.”
the group agrees that grit is less about never falling and more about how we rise. it’s choosing progress over perfection and showing up when you’d rather walk away.
top 10 takeaways
- grit is not glorified burnout—it’s about purposeful persistence.
- you don’t need to follow someone else’s success blueprint.
- setbacks often reroute you to something better.
- crying and vulnerability are signs of self-awareness, not weakness.
- tech failures, cpa exam losses, and impostor syndrome are part of the journey.
- true grit includes knowing when to walk away.
- young leaders need better cultural fit—not just better hours.
- test strategy and self-knowledge are as important as knowledge itself.
- firm culture has a direct impact on resilience and retention.
- owning your “why” makes grit possible and sustainable.