Massachusetts business leader urges community to value balance, resilience, and contribution as much as financial results
BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / August 19, 2025 / Accountant, and long-time Massachusetts business owner David E. Plunkett is urging people to rethink how they define and pursue success - shifting the focus from titles and profits to resilience, relationships, and community contribution.
Plunkett, who has spent decades leading in corporate finance and running his own tax practice, says true success is more than numbers. "It's not just the balance sheet," he explains. "It's knowing you've made a difference in someone's life, built trust, and stayed true to your values."
According to a 2023 Gallup report, only 33% of Americans say they feel engaged in their work, and burnout rates continue to rise. Plunkett believes this is because many chase success without defining what it really means to them. "When I was younger, I thought it was all about climbing the ladder," he says. "Now I see that success without balance is just another kind of failure."
Plunkett's own life has shaped his view. After losing his first wife to breast cancer following an 11-year battle, he channelled his grief into fundraising for cancer research and volunteering with the Salvation Army. "Resilience is a part of any real success story," he says. "Setbacks are inevitable. What matters is how you respond."
He also stresses the importance of small, daily wins. "I keep a ‘three wins' journal," he shares. "It helps me focus on progress, not just problems."
Plunkett encourages individuals to take time to define success for themselves - and to include more than just career goals. "Write it down. Make sure it covers your health, your relationships, your community. Then work towards it in small, steady steps."
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About David E. Plunkett
David E. Plunkett is a Massachusetts-based accountant and business owner with over three decades of experience in corporate finance and tax services. A graduate of Merrimack College and Suffolk University, he is co-founder of Miasserian & Plunkett LLC and owner of MPS Tax Services Inc. Beyond his professional work, David is a committed community volunteer, fundraiser for breast cancer research, and advocate for redefining success to include resilience, relationships, and service.
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SOURCE: David Plunkett
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