Things I have learned (thus far)…reflections of an accounting academic

•This paper provides self-reflections of the author, in six categories.•The paper shares with readers experiential insights garnered from the author's personal and professional life.•The paper asserts the value of experiential sharing to the process of faculty development.•The paper issues a call for future autobiographical sharings, as well as recommendations for implementing this recommendation.•The paper encourages other accounting faculty to engage in a systematic process of self-reflection.

The potential value of critical self-reflection in helping us (as educators) to monitor and assess aspects of our professional development is asserted by Brookfield (1995). As implied by the title, in this paper I share with readers self-reflections (or insights) regarding “things I have learned” over the course of both my professional and personal life. At a fundamental level, the paper asserts the merits of reflecting on and sharing one's own pursuits, and the potential value this sharing has on others in the academy – particularly younger accounting faculty (for development and mentoring purposes) as they themselves engage in critical self-reflection. Critical reflections are offered in each of six areas: importance of doing (seemingly) “little things” in life; forming and meeting expectations; focusing on the truly important things in life; insights from my role as a teacher; insights from my role as an administrator; and a lesson in humility. The paper includes a call for the future sharing of self-reflective insights by other accounting educators, including those of younger faculty, along with thoughts as to how this experience-sharing might be accomplished.