How to can do

Success depends on the words you use, says accountant turned author

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Anthony Pennimpede

Age: 32

Occupation: Chartered accountant/author

Bio: Back in 2002, this très chill St-Leonard hunk was struggling to complete his accounting degree at McGill, “failing courses and, well, I just wasn’t sure what I was going to do anymore.” After messing up the all-important and highly challenging UFE exam later that year—“the UFE is to accountants what the bar exam is to lawyers”—poor old Anthony was devastated. “And it was embarrassing. I was already working at an accounting firm and it really made me feel like a loser, a failure in front of my colleagues.” Nevertheless, the following year, our resilient hero returned to school with a brand new approach to both studying and life in general, and when it came time to write the UFE again in 2003, the formerly lackluster student aced the sonofabitch like a motherfucker. Now gainfully employed at his chosen profession as well as being the co-owner of a “transport business,” in 2008 Anthony published a self-help book called Finding Your S.M.I.L.E., wherein he shares the wisdom and strategies he employed to see his goals realized. He speaks four languages, is currently working on a fifth, Portuguese, and drives a sporty 2000 Acura Integra.

One accomplishment Anthony can be proud of: Getting both Chapters and Indigo to stock his self-published title. “It involved many, many phone calls and some begging, but mostly just lots of persistence.” You can also buy Finding Your S.M.I.L.E. directly from Anthony via www.ap3media.com.

What you’ll learn about reaching goals in Finding Your S.M.I.L.E: “Lots of things. First, you need to write down what you want and what you feel you’ll need to get there. And carry that note around with you so you’re always reminded of your stated mission, your goal. I also talk about things like using the benefits of your family, of a positive vocabulary and how to develop your confidence by doing small tasks that make you feel good. If you do enough of them, you start feeling better about yourself and that builds momentum—and from there, you use that momentum to catapult you to the finish line, your stated goal. But as with any journey, there will be obstacles, like fear of failure, change and risk, so I address these issues as well.”

Some words to add to your “positive vocabulary”: “‘Yes,’ ‘I can,’ ‘I’ll figure it out,’ while avoiding the word ‘no.’ Basically, I’m talking about positive action words. Not always saying ‘No, I can’t do that’ but ‘How can I?’ Like Johnny Depp said in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, ‘Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can’t?’, know what I mean?”

Something else Anthony suggests you do: “Avoid negativity and haters. Because they’ll throw negative words at you, like, ‘You’re not pretty enough, or good enough, or smart enough.’”

So the ambitious should be avoiding their families then? “Okay, with family members, it’s more difficult. But at least by reading the book, you’ll be aware that this negativity exists and think twice before taking their advice.”

Current ambition: To get invited onto Ciao Montreal!, Canada AM “and finally, Oprah.”

Last book read: Why Men Don’t Listen & Women Can’t Read Maps, by Allan and Barbara Pease

Musical preferences: Bet.E and Stef, Monchy & Alexandra, Kamikaze Baby

Words of wisdom: “Don’t invest with Earl Jones.”

Comments: dimwit@hdot.net