#sparkchamber 102025 — Paul Ray
October is LGBTQ+ history month, celebrating “the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images, and other resources.” In solidarity and affirmation of this public awareness campaign, #sparkchamber welcomes accountant and all-around amazing guy, Paul Ray. A long-time supporter of charitable organizations that make a difference in the lives of young people in his community, Paul is also a champion of LGBTQ+ rights and causes. In his own words:
“In my teens I considered pursuing the arts, but I knew the arts are a field where the relationship between effort and outcomes is tenuous at best. I did not have the self-confidence to risk failure. I pursued a business degree and fell in love with accounting.
“Double-entry accounting is a beautiful thing. It maintains order and balance.
“That desire for order, and the creativity that made the arts appealing, has served me well in the corporate world. It helps me solve nebulous problems and explain solutions in structured ways.
“But my work is only a small part of my professional life. Working in compliance at a life insurance company does not feed the needy. So I devote much of my free time to being chair of The Bill 7 Award Trust. It is a mom-and-pop charity that provides scholarships to queer youth in financial need. Queer youth are in disproportionate need as they are often not accepted — let alone supported — for being who they are. This is why The Bill 7 Award is so impactful. Not only does it provide much needed financial support, but it also lets recipients know there is a community that supports them. It changes lives.”
Visit the The Bill 7 Award Trust link for more information, and perhaps even consider making a donation in honor of the month.
1.] Where do ideas come from?
Understanding different points of view. Learning the connections and reasoning of other people allows me to think in new ways.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
Avoiding failure. This sounds very negative, and people reasonably will jump to thinking of failure in the traditional sense. There is certainly some of that. But my husband and I were happy when we made half as much money, so it is limited.
The failure I am motivated to avoid is failure to communicate. Failure to consider other people’s feelings. Failure to know my own worth. I see people failing at these things every day and the negative consequences it brings. By avoiding these I improve my life, and the lives of those around me.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
Early bird. Moving in 2019 to a new home was the right choice, but I knew I would mourn the loss of an east view and the sunrises it brought. I still do. I love this time because my best strategy and problem solving is done before 11. The rest of the day is tactical. If I miss the window, I do not bother trying. Tomorrow is a new day.
Tortoise. Short of immediate threats to life and health, the only things that matter [relationships, health, learning] are marathons.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
I can explain it to myself. Then I can explain it to others.