I quit my job at EY after 13 years to launch my own business. Here are the 5 lessons I learned from my Big Four career.

Joshua Lee

• Joshua Lee spent 13 years as an accountant at EY before leaving to launch his own business.
• Lee took away five lessons from EY that he applied to his career as an entrepreneur and investor.
• He learned to take calculated risks, prioritize family, focus on the people who matter, read more, and be adaptable.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joshua Lee, a 45-year-old serial entrepreneur and venture partner in Brea, California,...