I took a little break from studying during the holidays. I really needed that break after learning that I didn’t pass BEC. I tried to jump right back in and review the materials, going as far as to even scheduling the exam. My passing grade was 73 and I tried to stay positive telling myself that I was so close and for sure next time I’ll pass.
However, sometimes things are a lot easier said than done. I found that I was losing motivation, not only due to the study break I took during the holidays, but also from the fact that I was just a couple points away from putting BEC behind me. So what do you do when that happens? There are a few good suggestions that I have found useful through personal experience:
- Remember that other people fail too: The passing rate is around 50%. Going into that exam room you know you only have a 50% chance of passing. Failure is just a part of the journey. Candidates fail time and time again before meeting their success. It’s a part of the learning process.
- Remind yourself of your past successes and accomplishments: whether they are other CPA Exam sections or college or career related. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small.
- Imagine yourself as being successful: Visualize your success. Watch yourself accomplish your goal and finally pass all the sections of the CPA exam. Make a mental movie of it. Make it as detailed as you like. The more detail the better. By doing this you are reinforcing your mental processing which will contribute to your motivation.
- Take a break: Yes, go do the things you enjoy and have some fun. Come back energized and ready to tackle that section one more time. This second time around will be a lot easier since you already know the materials, giving you time and energy to hone in on your weak spots
But the most important motivator that I’ve found to be very helpful is remembering why you want to become a CPA in the first place. It’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of “Why am I doing this again?” and to wonder if all the time and effort is really worth it. It is! Remember that becoming a CPA offers you the following:
- Job security
- Opportunity to travel
- Salary increase
- Prestige and respect
- Industry exploration
All of these benefits will be at your disposal until you retire, and that’s many years of living comfortably compared to the several months or year that you will take to study and pass the CPA Exam. Not every job offers these kinds of amazing opportunities. If becoming a CPA were easy, everyone would do it, and these benefits would be available to everyone as well. So whether you’re becoming a CPA to improve your life personally, professionally, or to provide more for your family, remember that it’s all worth it. This time of studying and juggling everything else going on in your life will seem small in retrospect once you’re a practicing CPA! So always remember the why behind your actions.
I hope these tips help you while you get through these tough times since they definitely helped me!
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
–Margo Pacific, Guest Blogger for Roger CPA Review