Meet Michael Freiburghouse | Finance Executive & Family Man

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Freiburghouse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Risk is a critical aspect of life; both on the personal and professional front. How one approaches risk will have a material impact on their long-term success. When determining which risks to assume versus avoid, it is important that one be calculated, thoughtful, and understand their end goal throughout the evaluation process. Despite the appropriate level of due diligence being performed, when assuming risk one must be comfortable with the potential for failure. How one views failure and the undeniable learning opportunities that exist as part of it will determine whether they grow from such experiences or falter.

The assumption of risks has had significant impacts on both my personal life and professional career. By nature, I am a confident person. This inherent confidence has resulted in me “betting” on myself, my abilities, and work ethic to rise to the occasion and confront risk. Despite receiving advice to the contrary, I have taken steps backward and made lateral moves in my career to better position myself towards my long-term goals. I have also taken two unpaid sabbaticals to focus on personal development and my family needs. Although some advised against the assumption of such risks, in each instance, my experience has been that I have been propelled forward and grew tremendously as a direct result of such risks.

I do not believe that I would be where I am today without the assumption of risk and would advise everyone to do what they can to become comfortable with the notion of risk.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’ll be the first to admit that I rarely, if ever, am the smartest person in the room. Although I may not know it all, I routinely dedicate the appropriate amount of time and effort to solve problems, address business needs, and meet deadlines. Throughout my career in the ultra competitive accounting/finance industry, I believe that this humility compounded by a strong work ethic has set me apart from my peers. As a result, I am extremely proud of my career progression because it was achieved while staying true to myself and my values.

By staying true to these principles, I have not always chosen the path of least resistance; however, often times the path of most resistance teaches so much more along the way. Having entered the workforce on the heels of the Great Recession and enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, my authentic connection to these guiding principles has allowed for my actions to remain aligned with my beliefs even when facing adversity.

I began my career in public accounting and have since transitioned into corporate finance roles. As the nature of the roles I assumed changed, the primary lesson I learned along the way is to stay true to myself and my values. In doing so, you will be able to live with the outcome of your actions, whether it be favorable or unfavorable. Thankfully, to this point in my career, the commitment to my guiding principles has predominantly led to favorable outcomes. I believe that would be the case for most others as well.

If there is one take away that I’d like the world to know about my brand, it is that I will always be authentically me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

South Florida has so many exciting and vibrant options to enjoy. I am an outdoorsy person, so I undoubtedly would make sure to carve out time for the beach. I would mix in more bustling beach options like South Beach or Fort Lauderdale Beach with more tranquil beaches like South Inlet Park in Boca Raton. In addition to the beach, I also enjoy outdoor activities like boating, deep sea fishing, paddle boarding, cycling, etc., so assuming my guest enjoys being active as well, I’d mix in some outdoor activities.

South Florida also has a robust restaurant and bar scene that is reflective of its diverse population. As a result, I would be sure to visit places like Buccan in West Palm Beach, Dada in Delray Beach, and Chotto Matte in Miami Beach. I’d also indulge in some of the local Latin cuisine from places like La Panza in Deerfield Beach. Lastly, I would take my guest to the Wynwood Walls to soak in the incredible artwork after enjoying a bite at Coyo Taco.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many wonderful people that deserve credit and recognition as part of my story. I would be remiss to not give a shoutout to my parents for their love, support, and encouragement throughout my life. Being adopted, there is no doubt that my story would be entirely different without them. My wife has also been a tremendously positive force in my life. Her unwavering confidence in me and timely words of encouragement have provided motivation and reassurance even when the path got tough. My two sons also deserve recognition as I have found my biggest purpose in life as their father. I have also been blessed with countless coaches, teachers, colleagues, and mentors who have invested their time and shared so much wisdom in aiding me to where I am today.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-freiburghouse-cpa-08338762/