--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reality is that a person who has…" description: "\"The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician.\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png" --- # The reality is that a person who has always struggled with… ![“The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png) > “The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician.” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Struggling with numbers predicts difficulty in accounting or statistics. **In simple terms:** Math challenges limit certain careers. Key Takeaway Develop numerical skills. Themes career education skillset Mood encouraging practical Type career development When to use this quote - job interviews - academic courses - career counseling Key Concepts cognitive ability confidence Questions to Reflect On - How to leverage other talents? - Can training overcome deficits? A Different Perspective Overlooks alternative strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountant/) [Accountant Statistician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountant-statistician-3813474/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Numbers Unlikely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers-unlikely-3813473/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-person-908676/) [Statistician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistician/) [Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled/) [Struggled Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled-numbers-3813475/) [Unlikely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlikely/) [Unlikely Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlikely-great-3813476/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [Every mind has another vision of reality. There is not a common reality. Every person thinks he is like the others, but every person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/every-mind-has-another-vision-of-reality-there-is-not-a-common/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [“This change of beliefs or way of seeing your experiences will allow you to filter reality completely differently. The assumption that a map is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/this-change-of-beliefs-or-way-of-seeing-your-experiences-will-allow/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [The reality is I'm not this person with this driving 'get it done' attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-giraldo/the-reality-is-i-m-not-this-person-with-this-driving-get-it-done/) [Greg Giraldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-giraldo/) > [I don’t believe one reads to escape reality. A person reads to confirm a reality he knows is there, but which he has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/i-don-t-believe-one-reads-to-escape-reality-a-person-reads-to-confirm/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [There's a very fine line between one person's reality and another person's fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-very-fine-line-between-one-person-s-reality-and-another/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [The reality of the other person lies not in what he reveals to you, but what he cannot reveal to you. 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Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Nothing is more destructive than the gap between people's perceptions of their own day-to-day economic well-being and what politicians and statisticians are telling them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy/nothing-is-more-destructive-than-the-gap-between-people-s-perceptions/) [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy/) > [The statistician cannot evade the responsibility for understanding the process he applies or recommends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/the-statistician-cannot-evade-the-responsibility-for-understanding/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-only-useful-function-of-a-statistician-is-to-make-predictions-and/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [ I have learned more \[from Balzac\] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/i-have-learned-more-from-balzac-than-from-all-the-professional/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [The average family exists only on paper and its average budget is a fiction, invented by statisticians for the convenience of statisticians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-porter/the-average-family-exists-only-on-paper-and-its-average-budget-is-a/) [Sylvia Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-porter/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. 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I got a D in math.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/i-could-never-have-been-an-accountant-i-got-a-d-in-math/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) > [I have a poverty demon. I'll ask my accountant if I can afford something, and he'll say, 'What are you talking about?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-poverty-demon-i-ll-ask-my-accountant-if-i-can-afford/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [You can't be the accountant in your accounting firm. You can't cut the grass in your landscaping business. You can't work on the vehicles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/you-can-t-be-the-accountant-in-your-accounting-firm-you-can-t-cut-the/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [“Let the learning be the journal of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/let-the-learning-be-the-journal-of-life/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [She was my accountant, so I just believed her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/she-was-my-accountant-so-i-just-believed-her/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [In the e-filing system, the accountant has the user identity and password of each company. This would potentially allow a rogue accountant to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/in-the-e-filing-system-the-accountant-has-the-user-identity-and/) [Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/) > [I had my first accountant when I was 20 and he reminded me I had a tax bill to pay, so I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-had-my-first-accountant-when-i-was-20-and-he-reminded-me-i-had-a/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [“If others qualify, it's a great going; if an auditor qualifies, it's not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/if-others-qualify-it-s-a-great-going-if-an-auditor-qualifies-it-s-not/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I was never a Certified Public Accountant... I just had a degree in accounting. The reason I was never a Certified Public Accountant was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-was-never-a-certified-public-accountant-i-just-had-a-degree-in/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Browse all 121 Accountant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-always-struggled-with-numbers-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-always-struggled-with-numbers-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/tom-rath-3501_accountant_the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-alw_433232.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or…” — Tom Rath", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The reality is that a person...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-always-struggled-with-numbers-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-reality-is-that-a-person-who-has-always-struggled-with-numbers-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```