Ted Williams, the former Boston Red Sox left fielder and last player to bat .400 for an entire season, thought most other hitters coming to bat for the fourth time with three hits in a game would relax, not caring if they hit again, because a 75 percent batting average was good enough. But instead, when Williams hit, he thought, “Now is the time to try harder.”

Williams’ rationale stayed with me at a recent seminar where the theme was “success is our biggest enemy.” Maybe having a reputation of success became our profession’s biggest enemy when professionals at Enron, WorldCom, etc., followed the very trend of complacency that Williams batted against. Now is the time to try harder.

Investors Business Daily has a daily column called “IBD’s 10 Secrets to Success.” I would like to focus on three: set specific goals; take action on those goals; and innovate and be different, because following the herd is the surest way to mediocrity.

Goal setting has long been part of our business culture. Now that I have served you for three months, some goals I have set for our chapter are: convert to an electronic version of our newsletter (completed); hold two all-day tax conferences; improve communication within our own chapter, with other chapters and with New York state; partner with other professionals from a technical as well as a networking approach; and reactivate young CPAs and business information technology.

Where does success start? With NYS? At the chapter level? Membership level? I am asking you, our most vital resource, to get involved and continue to be part of our success.

I hope you had a great summer, and I welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions to make Westchester a better chapter and the Society better as a whole.

What goals do you have for your membership?

Don Kiamie can be reached at 212-213-2112 or donalbert@mindspring.com.