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.

No Pain No Gain

This study tip is brought to you by determination.

In order to succeed in life you have to put your all into it. If you know your not going to be putting 100% into something why bother? You know the saying nothing in life comes easy? Well this is one of the things. Don’t expect everything to be a walk in the park. You have to work for it. If your having sleepless nights and misery I think your moving along just fine..LOL. But seriously nothing worth fighting for comes easy so be determined, and be focused.

I often come across people who want the designation but don’t want to do the work. Either their journey will be very long, or their journey will be very short. I know at the end of the day my journey will be successful and I know that all the hours of studying, venting, ranting/crying will be worth it.

I hope this post has helped someone out there who thought about giving up, because please don’t. If one person passed this test, so can you!!

Just think the passing score is 75, not 99. So you need to be familiar with the material not an expert. Think about being an expert when you pass but now just thinking about getting those 75 points.

Confidence is Key

Confidence is key. That's the word on the street, and basically that's what it all boils down too. I've been having some great study days. I have 11 days until my test and I'm ecstatic that I still have so many days to do a second, third and maybe fourth review (yes I'm that anal).

My confidence today is from corporate taxes. When I first took REG this was my weak area. I can honestly say now looking back that I don't know how I got the grade I did when I first took REG because I have had so many A'ha moments.

I'm feeling good now. I'm not a tax expert but I feel like I know enough to teach someone who didn't know a thing about taxes.

I think Becker and Wiley supplement each other well. Becker has some flaws but thats where Wiley picks up.

My confidence boost is also coming from my new found Kaplan audio (thanks to Miss Gina). This to me is 10 times better than flash cards ( and cheaper).

I'm adopting the attitude of getting excited about studying. I have to look forward to studying. If I don't I won't have the attitude necessary to succeed. I try to accomplish everything at work pertaining to outside business before I get home, so that when I get home its all about CPA.

I'm so focused right now I can't contain it.

The Power of Support

I found this great article on line regarding effective study habits. You can check it out here . One of the many reasons why I decided to take Becker live was so that I could meet like minded people who were also trying to conquer the beast. I’ve met a couple of people in my class but I’ve also met some friends online. It’s so important to have a good support system because frankly many people just don’t or never will get it. So far I’ve met so many great friends online who are such an inspiration as well as a source of encouragement. One of my goals other than passing this test is to be able to provide the same support to others who are trying to pass. I can’t wait until the day when I can write about my whole exam experience.

Tonight is going to be a study group on twitter. It’s amazing how technology allows so many of us to communicate when we are all over the country and the world. A study group doesn’t necessarily have to be face to face but it should consist of people who are motivated and willing and able to share knowledge and encouragement.

Here’s to studying and becoming a CPA!!

How To Deal with Disappointments?

I guess I'm writing this post to everyone who's struggling with test. Because I'm not lying...I am!!

We can all learn from each other and I think its important to be open and honest. When I first discovered that I failed BEC by 6 stupid points I had to leave work early. I remember leaving work early, it was hot as hell that day and my eyes kept welling up with tears. I remember that day meeting my cousin for lunch. I really wanted to cancel our lunch date but I couldn't because he was already on his way. I just randomly checked my score and low and behold 69!!!

I called my Mom and the cracking in my voice said it all. I then told my cousin and he said don't worry you will pass just don't give up.

Then there's REG. I studied hard for that one too. But looking back I should have done more multiple choice questions in individual taxes. Well anyway that was a 63!!!

Enough rambling....

So how do I deal with disappointment?

I just think of the end result. How will feel when my initials are accompanied by CPA?
I will feel like the ish..( I know I know...I have to be humble...but I will feel like the ish...lol)

I was listening to some Kanye West song ( I don't remember the song because he's not my favorite person to talk about) and one verse said " Too whom much is given much is tested". If that ain't the TRUTH!!! Because I'm being tested right now. But you know what? I'll never forget this test. I constantly remind myself that this journey will lead me to the gold.

I also keep positive people around me. Its so much better to have positive reinforcements when you sometimes doubt yourself. I've never been a person who did bad in academics. I wasn't an A+ student but I made the Deans list frequently and I received scholarships. So this right here...is not like me. But I'll tell you one thing...it's humbling. Everyday I come home and I'm putting this test at the top of my list. I'm working MQ's on the train on the way to work. I'm reading on the way home and still doing MQ's. I make sure to take good notes and I make sure I know why I got a question wrong. I'm not a failure and I've never gave up on anything in my life and I won't start now!

So for everyone trying to make it through how do you keep going?

Message Boards

So this was on my mind today.

I really like using the message boards that are available to get sources of encouragement while trying to tackle the beast. However, I must admit they it can really be s source of distraction. For starters sometimes I find myself reading about everyone’s journey while I could spend that time studying, and also it can be discouraging when I see people who have to retake and retake and retake and retake again parts of the test. I can’t help to think if I’ll be in that same boat as well. I mean I have confidence in myself but then sometimes I get side tracked into thinking if I’ll be the AICPA’s cash cow also. I’m not blaming the message boards at all. I’m taking responsibility and realizing my own weaknesses and determining what is best for me. What’s best for me is to encourage myself (and others) as well as keep positive (and reading about multiple failures is not going to put me in that place).

I’m really thinking about limiting my time on these boards for only a few minutes out the week and only going on there if I have a question or maybe to be a source of motivation. I don’t want to turn a blind eye to the real issues that are evident when trying to pass but seriously I don’t need to have it in my mind that I may take me forever to pass.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this or going through this now.

The Benefits Of Becoming a CPA

Well besides the fact of having those nice three letters I see a number of benefits.

1) Increased marketability
2) More opportunities for growth
3) Ability to educate others from a professional perspective
4) Greater understanding of accounting and finance
5) Sooooo much potential to so many different careers.
6) Opportunity to work anywhere
7) Potential and ability to start own business (i.e. tax/bookeeping business)


I could go on and on....but I feel that these are the most important. I also feel that for me its important because I currently feel stuck at my job. I know that by obtaining my license I will have so many opportunities that will be in reach (atleast I feel close than what they are now).

I wonder what everyone else's motivaiton is?

So This is the Plan for This Week

So My goal is to finish Corporate Taxes this week and review partnerships questions.

Saturday night I went out to dinner with two of my coworkers one of whom is a CPA and sometimes it really pays to get out there and see what life is like on the CPA side. Guess what??? It looks pretty good. I needed that extra push and this spark to get me going again. So every week I'm going to make a study schedule and really really really put 110% into not breaking it. I'm also going to do atleast 20 questions a day in addition to my daily studying. My goal is to study atleast 2hrs a day during the week and atleast 4-5 hrs a day on the weekend. I'm realizing that the key is to retain info not so much strive for 1 million hours of study. Because you can study a ton and still fail ( hmmmm yeah I know the feeling).

Ok so let the adventures begin.