The Backpack of Rocks

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The laces were too tight from the start.

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By kilometre one, you can feel it. By kilometre two, your toes are staging a protest. By kilometre three, the rocks in your backpack start whispering their names. “Deadline.” “Rework.” “Just checking in.” Every step digs a little deeper.

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Meanwhile, the hiker beside you? Their bag clinks with snacks, not stones. They’ve got water, trail mix, and a playlist that suspiciously slaps. Same climb. Same mountain. But somehow, they’re lighter. They’re even smiling.

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By the fourth kilometre, your shoulders ache. The straps cut in. That creeping thought arrives: Why do I do this to myself?

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Because yes, you’ll both reach the top. But only one of you will want to hike again tomorrow.

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That’s audit season too. The work gets done. The reports get signed. But the grind? It sneaks into your weekends. It eats dinners with your family. It turns what should feel like a climb into punishment. You carry rocks you never needed, simply because nobody stopped to ask why they were in the bag in the first place.

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And here’s the kicker: the mountain doesn’t move. The regulator doesn’t care if your pack is heavy. But your back does. So do your friends and family. So does that version of you who once loved the trail.

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The truth: the pack can change.

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And right now? It’s the perfect moment to change it. We’re stepping into the last quarter of the year, the home stretch. For many firms, this is when the pressure doubles down. But it’s also when the right habits can carry you not just to the summit, but into 2026 without the limp.

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Audit Tip #15: Pair-review in tiny chunks.

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Ten minutes of review every day beats the soul-crushing Friday marathon. Catch errors early. Share the load. Keep the trail clear. You’ll walk taller, and your team won’t collapse at the summit.

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Because the climb will always be the climb. But whether you’re carrying rocks or snacks? That’s on you.

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So, here’s the real question:
As we enter Q4, when you unzip your pack today, what’s the first rock you’ll throw out?

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Until next week,
Christiaan

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P.S. 👉Book a 15-min demo here. Let us help you lighten the load.

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