This week, we’ll talk to Rebecca Fox, our dedicated Office Assistant at our Lone Tree, Colorado location. As an Almost Colorado Native, she has lived in the state for the longest period, having originally come from El Paso, Texas and Maryville, Tennessee. Rebecca's journey led her to the financial industry, utilizing her diverse background in speech pathology, editing, writing, and project coordination.
At WD Wealth Strategies, she applies her skills in administration and project management. Rebecca admires the company's commitment to continuous improvement and values the collaborative, learning-focused culture. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and spending time with her sweet Shiba Inu puppy, Beauregard Sassafras. Beau himself is an up-and-coming blogger hosting his own page, The Beauregard Chronicles.
It turns out that you are not one of the Colorado Natives at WD Wealth.
“No, I am not. But sometimes I say that I am an Almost Colorado Native, since I have lived here for the longest time I have lived anywhere. I was born in El Paso and lived there until I was ten when we moved to my mom’s hometown, Maryville, Tennessee. I loved growing up near the Smokies and around so many of my mom’s relatives.
I moved here for a job, quite some time back, and met my husband on a blind date that went so well that I stayed forever. That’s how it sometimes happened before there were dating sites. I was pleasantly surprised at what a catch he was and is. Being married to a CPA all these years I have learned two crucial insights about accounting and taxes. First, the invariable answer to any tax or accounting question is ‘It Depends.’ More importantly, the worst answer a wife can give to her tax accountant husband when he asks how much she spent that day is ‘I don’t know.’ Thankfully, I am a quick study. The best answer to the question of how much I spent that day is: ‘It depends. Do you want to know how much I spent in cash, or how much I spent in checks, or how much I put on the cards?’”
And, as you went to college, how was it you came to pursue your current path?
“It was a circuitous route, to say the least. I majored in Speech Pathology with minors in anatomy and child development. Within weeks of my graduation, I spoke out loud to God as to exactly why I never wanted to be a Speech Pathologist. I did not want to motivate people who were not motivated, I did not want to wait for long-term results, I really didn’t want to work with children. Years later I realized that I was so perfectly prepared to be a Mommie: I was working with children, I was waiting for long-term results, I was motivating little people who didn’t want to be motivated. The irony of it still amuses me.
My great fortune was to become an editor and a writer which I thoroughly enjoyed in two different demographics: education and marketing. But after my own children came, I segmented my career and later gravitated to doing admin and project coordination in the financial, medical, and quality industries.
I have to say that I am a testimony to the truism that nothing goes wasted. I daily employ writing, project managing, coercing the unmotivated, and a wee bit of ‘momming’ as every good office assistant does.”
With your long experience in the financial industry, what do you find most distinctive about the culture of WD Wealth?
“I am constantly amazed at how this company is in a process of continuous improvement. And I am constantly delighted about the culture here. We have so many dedicated individuals who pursue learning, collaboration. Not a day goes by without a hand up, a hearty laugh, some extreme effort to see that all are succeeding. I can say that I have never worked with such pleasant, keenly intelligent, and truly kind people. And I marvel at how we all come from such incredibly different backgrounds yet seem to find commonality and humor in everyday pursuits.”
If you had to name your favorite movie what would that be?
“That is such a hard question! I would have to say Second Hand Lions. I have watched it over and over. It’s a coming-of-age story that is funny, poignant, and so well written. I tend to gravitate to movies that focus on character growth. A big plus is the stellar cast: Robert Duvall, Michael Kane, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Joel Osment, and Josh Lucas.
I also love What about Bob? I know, it’s crazy. But it is so funny! And I love Mr. Holland’s Opus. And Roman Holiday. And The Book of Eli. And . . . . ”
Do you have an interesting or favorite quote you’d like to share?
“Funny thing, I love collecting quotes. Here are a few that I pull out from time to time.
The first one is from Teddy Roosevelt: ‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’
Another one that I like is from Bob Goff: ‘Figure out who you want to be. Have it inform what you do. Do lots of that.’
Finally, I read lots of Mark Twain who inspires me to write with wit and humor. Here is one of my favorite quotes from him: ‘The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.’ ”
What about recommended reading? Is there a favorite book you are reading now?
“I am re-reading Everybody Always by Bob Goff. It’s a companion volume to his book Love Does. Both books are written in short chapters detailing random encounters in his life that illuminate how love actually does—it’s not just an idea or words. Everybody Always is more of the same. Both books inspire me to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. We each have a chance to impact people for good. Likewise, in the warp and weave of life, others are daily leaving indelible imprints on our lives.”
Can you share a favorite podcast that you follow that relates to finance?
“I recently stumbled upon How to Money. It’s engaging, motivating, and on a simple enough level that I always walk away empowered and educated.”
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