Fighting The Good Fight

Scores were released today.

While I’m not waiting on scores, I feel affected by my friends from twitter who are receiving scores also.

Unfortunately it seems like this window wasn’t a good one. And I can relate.

I know it sounds cliché, but now is not the time to give up. There are a number of reasons why you could give up. But just think about it. Giving up is taking the easy way out. What do you have to do to give up? You basically just put the books down and go back to life as you know it. Some of us may go back to our favorite hobbies, or some of us may just go back to that dreadful job. Giving up just says you know what “ I’m done with this” and “I’m not made for the long haul”. Atleast that’s what I told myself. However wiping your tears means YOU ARE THE MINORITY. Look how many people work in the accounting field. Now look at how many are CPA’s? Not many. Just think after your done with the CPA you can go back to your favorite hobbies or you can go back to that dreadful job, but either way your going back as a CPA. And let me tell you, telling your co-workers

(who I might add may not be as supportive or happy for you as you would like) is a great feeling. Now I’m in no means saying you should go and boast about it (because I’m the total opposite, I was actually very shy to tell people) but it’s a really big accomplishment

The hardest part of dealing with this exam from my experience was the mental toll. I CONSTANTLY had feelings of inadequacy. And yes I did have that urge often to give up. However I kept reminding myself of the lifelong benefit I would have once I was done. The opportunities are endless.

Studying really hard and then failing is a gut wrenching feeling. I was/am the Queen of a good cry. You have to let all your frustration and anger out. I must have called the AICPA and NASBA and the anyone else who was responsible for those ugly MCQ’s and Sims every ugly name in the book (sorry but its true). After cursing them until my tongue fell off and my eyes were as red as they could be and a whole box of tissue later. It was back to the drawing board. With BEC I went to the drawing board three times. It was there that I drilled down on my weak areas. When I drilled down I just basically read up on a topic word for word. Then I explained it back to myself as if I was teaching a class. Once I could explain it to myself I felt a little better. Explaining it to myself meant that I had a chance of atleast talking my way to the right answer during test time. The BIGGEST BIGGEST mistake I made with BEC was studying what I do know as opposed to studying what I don’t know. For example I was pretty good in economics but why in the hell was I doing a million economics questions and 10 capital budgeting questions. I look back at it now and it was a sort of a fear of facing reality that I really sucked at capital budgeting and I had to put in some hard core studying to atleast feel comfortable with it.My third time around I did a million capital budgeting questions and not so much economic questions. Initially I was studying like I would get lucky on the test, meaning “hopefully I won’t get that many capital budgeting questions so I will just do a little of them and then cross my fingers I get lucky” uhhhh that was a #Fail

One of the biggest realizations I had to come to terms with is the way I absorb info may be different from the way someone else does. It was this reason I had to change review courses. If you recognize something isn’t working and your financially able then don’t be afraid to scrap that course and go with another. If your not able to then you have to figure out how you can make it work for you. Either you can take more note cards, or do more questions, etc. Whatever has to be done just do it. And also there are so many websites you can use a resource. For example most of my help from capital budgeting came from just using Google and learning from there (since I felt like reading the same thing over and over after the third try was getting me nowhere).

The one thing I really want to stress is to not doubt yourself. You have to alteast tell yourself you have a shot at being a CPA just like anyone else. Again this may sound cliché but you can do it!!! I kept reminding myself that I didn’t need to be a expert in every topic I just need to recognize it when I see it and be able to make some sort of sense out of it. The exam is about knowing a little about a lot. Getting too in depth isn’t necessarily a bad thing but if your focusing your time on being an expert in one area and then in other areas your mind draws a blank your study plan needs to be revised.

Now I look back at all my trials and tribulations and some stories I can laugh at. For example I remember when I failed BEC with a 70 and I called my Mom of course crying and barely able to breathe. I told her to wait awhile before she told my Dad and my siblings because I needed time to get myself together. Of course as soon as I hung up the phone with her my Dad calls telling me how sorry he was (that made me cry even more) and then as soon as my Dad hung up, here goes my sister calling!!! I’m like Thanks Mom…can I catch a break.

If you didn’t get that passing grade this window take a couple of days to regroup. Don’t beat yourself up too much. The next step is to revise revise revise your study plan. Don’t beat yourself up about the points you didn’t get look at the points you did get and just build upon that. The goal is to build on top of what you know. Because in the end you know something you just need to know a little more.

Anyway I say all this to say, that yes it totally sucks right now. To fail feels like absolute crap. Your probably beating yourself up. But just know failure is temporary (unless you give up) but being a CPA is permanent.

Roger Raffle and Update

Roger is having another sale and a workshop. This is a great opportunity to get to know Roger and a great opportunity to enter a raffle to win a full review!!!


Wednesday, February 15th
12pm-1pm PST (3pm-4pm EST)
RSVP at www.rogerCPAreview.com/future-CPA-workshops/

In other news,

Not much going on over here, still on a job search.

My license came in the mail (and it is a beauty I might add).

Hopefully I have some good news to add soon.

Whats Been Up with Me??

Well I'm still on my job search.

I haven't been as persistent as I should have been but I'm getting there.

I've really been enjoying my life post CPA exam and I can only say positive things.

I've been doing my research on starting my own business, the hardest part is coming up with a name (can you believe that??). I'm determined to put my thinking cap on.

I'm so excited of all the opportunities that I know will come my way. I'm doing nothing but positive thinking because I will only accept positivity into my life.

On another note my favorite review course has a new promo video. Check it out below. Seriously Roger gave me confidence boost I needed. If your contemplating on which course to choose you should most definitely get Roger. I passed two parts in one window thanks to Roger. And his Audit course got me a grade of 86 even though I have never done an actual audit before.

Hope all is well!!

New Year New Goals

With the new year here its time to set 2012 goals.

I never put my annual goals down on paper until last year January.

Goals are so important. Setting goals is like a roadmap for your life.

I remember I used to always say how bored I was and how I had nothing to do, I realize now that's because I was living life with no agenda.

So here are my 2012 goals ( at least some of them)

1)Get my license active (already sent out my paperwork)
2) GET A NEW JOB!!!!
3) Generate another source of income
4) Save Save Save
5) Participate in more networking events and meet more like minded individuals.
6) Go on a much needed vacay.

So there it is.

And here's to a new year, with new goals, and new success.

One Bad Apple doesn't spoil the bunch

Well today I met with another recruiter.

He was so so nice!!! I felt like I was talking to one of my friends. We ended up talking for almost an hour about so many things I didn't even realize we talked that long.

I let him know exactly what I was looking for and he told me how he could help.

I let him know of my dream to work in a CPA firm. He told me that it may be slightly hard compared to someone who has worked their before but it's not unheard of and its not impossible. He said the fact that I passed the CPA puts me in a great position and that company's would be eager to learn more about me. He also threw some other areas that I could look into and I can say that I was quite interested in them also. It felt so good to have another perspective upon things. This just taught me that I will never let another person tell me what I'm capable of doing and I won't let other peoples premature knowledge of me determine what I can and will do.

Anyway, he also said to expect 1st Qtr 2012 to open up with opportunities. I am happy to hear that. Until then I will be plugging along and getting my post exam life up and running.
***Side Note***

Today I received some of the best tweets ever.
" Be so focused that no thing, no fling, and no bling distract you from living your dream" - The Daily Love "Worrying does not take away tomorrows troubles, it takes away todays peace" - Larger than Words "When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in his abilities, when GOD doesn't solve your problems he has faith in your abilities - Larger then Words

If this didn't brighten my day!

What's Next?????

Well now that I've got exams out the way, whats next?

My next big task is my job search.

I really need to make moves into the industry and fast. After telling my Manager about passing the exam she even suggested that its time I start looking. If that's not motivation to leave I don't know what is.

Today I spoke with a recruiter who was to put it mildly, very very rude. He basically made it seem like passing the CPA was no big deal and that there was no chance for me to get into a CPA firm since I have no background in auditing I personally think that he's totally wrong. For a second I was really upset. I couldn't believe that a person could just be so mean but I will not waste my time on somebody who knows nothing about me or my abilities.

My focus is to move into either a role as a Asst Controller/Controller or if the opportunity presents itself a position with a CPA firm. My goal is to really learn the ins and outs of the operations of an entity. Currently I'm in a similar role but I want to be on the client side/managing side of things.

I know that some people try to down play passing the CPA (as I have encountered) but I'm not downplaying it. If the CPA were so easy everyone would be a CPA.

I plan on blogging my job search and my movement into this new direction.

Here's to good news and growth!!!

I'm a CPA

I don't even know where to start.

I always dreamt about what my victory post would say. I just knew that I would have the right words to describe what I was feeling, however 3 days after getting my results I'm still speechless.

The reality is that I, ( me SAS) is a CPA ( well technically not until I submit paperwork ( but soon).

Let me just start off by saying that I must have checked for my results 20 times in a 18 hour period. On Thursday December 8th I learned my fate. And it was all good.
I passed Audit with a 86. All of my hard work was evident. The fact that I used my two week vacation to study rather than sit on a beach paid off. This gift of passing all 4 parts of the CPA in 18 months was finally coming true.

I remember while in undergrad I NEVER thought I would be able to be a CPA. I just felt like I was not strong enough in accounting to do it. I remember my professors encouraging us to go after the prestigious CPA however they made sure to mention that only the strong survive. And me, oh I just knew at that time I didn't have the dedication or ability to get it done. Now that may sound crazy, or possibly like I had little faith in myself but it was just that at that time in my life I just felt very average.

It wasn't until months after getting my MBA that I decided to pursue my CPA. While applying I realized that I was short 6 accounting credits. Taking more classes was the LAST thing I wanted to do, but I did.

I started my actual journey on April 9, 2010 with BEC which I subsequently failed. It took me 4 times to pass BEC and twice for REG.

In 2010 I had not passed a single part. I wasn't as dedicated as I was in 2011. In 2011 I made a promise to myself and to GOD that I would pass at least 3 parts. I told myself that my priorities were to be a CPA and that's it.

This journey made me believe in myself. Even when I was putting together my application I still was unsure that I could do this. My biggest fear was that I wouldn't pass and that I would become a professional test taker.

It wasn't until I passed my first part in Feb 2011(REG) that I felt like I had a shot at all.

The crazy thing that amazes me is that ever since I made the CPA my priority I didn't fail one part in 2011. I passed them all on the first shot. 2011 was like my new beginning.

This journey broke me down and built me up. I remember early mornings and late nights crying due to frustration. I remember asking myself why am I putting myself through this. I remember countless nights coming home to just me and my books and dinner. There were so many missed outings, parties, and vacations. There were times I would cry to my boyfriend about how I just wanted to give up. However I ALWAYS had that support from him and my family to keep going.

It is so important to have a good support system. If you have just one person that's enough. Even if it is your dog, you need something.

If there's one thing I learned, it was to fight. Fight like your life depended on it. Once you embark on this journey its no sink or swim, its swim or swim harder, there's no sinking.

Your going to have to give up something. That's a given. I definitely have fewer friends now. Some felt like I was brushing them off and they didn't understand, and some got tired of me saying that I had to decline. Now don't get me wrong I wasn't an absolute prude, but my outside activities were cut down by 85%.

Roger CPA review was a huge factor in me passing my last two parts. I felt prepared when going in for Audit. Besides normal test anxiety I felt at ease.

Passing the CPA is something that can never be taken away. The respect that is received is priceless. The feeling of accomplishment that I feel has no words. I can’t even tell you what it feels like, I think its just better for each person to experience the
feeling.

This journey took me 18 months, and I can say I wouldn’t change a thing. Some people pass in 6 months and for others it takes longer. In these 18 months I’ve learned how strong I am. I may have bad days but I still got it done. I may have had personal obstacles but I still hit the books. I may have failed 5 in a row (yes 5 in a row) but I still had that one ounce in me to say keep going.
I
have met so many great people during this journey. Some who I can say will be my life long friends. I’m so happy I stuck it through and didn’t give up. I’m just so happy and blessed to start this new chapter in my life as a Certified Public Accountant.