
Many individuals have this crazy idea that they will wake up one morning and suddenly feel confident and fully prepared to take the CPA exam.
They use this unrealistic fantasy as an excuse to continually put off signing up for the CPA exam; after all, if they don’t feel 100% ready in that exact moment, why should they make any kind of commitment?
What’s worse is that this way of thinking can cause these students to waste hours of their life studying in a half-assed manner, never fully dedicating themselves to a real success strategy.
Here’s the problem with this way of thinking:
Just like you can’t be kind of pregnant, you can’t be kind of committed to the CPA exam. You’re either in or you’re out: no half measures. Furthermore, the reality of the situation is that you will never be 100% ready for the CPA exam. Waiting on the sidelines for the perfect moment just causes you to waste your time. So do yourself a favor and schedule your next test TODAY!
Once you make up your mind and fully commit to passing the exam, you might be surprised to find that everything else will fall into place. By committing to a specific test date you will propel your goal of passing the CPA exam to the top of your priorities list. And with this kind of mindset (the mindset of a winner), you will no longer be able to justify any lame excuses to avoid studying.
You will find yourself rejuvenated with a new sense of motivation and purpose. When your end goal becomes laser-focused, your priorities have this strange way of rearranging themselves. This change is triggered by a new found motivation that is much more powerful than the passing of some arbitrary certification test. You will find a sense of pride in your struggle: a meaningful purpose where there once was a boring day-to-day grind.
For more on this idea, read the essay “The Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus.

When the fear of failure suddenly becomes real you are forced to step up to the plate and act like a BOSS; the alternative is to roll over and let life leave you in the dust. Fear is generally thought of as a negative attribute, but when combined with a positive desire to accomplish something significant, like becoming a CPA, it can be used as a powerful catalyst for success.

So free yourself of that half-ass “I can always retake it again” back-up plan and think of all the benefits that you WILL receive when you become a CPA:
- New job opportunities
- A hefty cash bonus or raise
- A job promotion
- Respect from your family, coworkers, and peers
Figure out what motivates you and consciously think about how amazing it will feel when you accomplish your goal.
Each time I passed a section of the CPA exam, I screamed and yelled at the top of my lungs. I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning that got exactly what he had wished for. I still get chills just thinking about the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment I had. That positive momentum motivated me even more for the next test and carried me through those times of discouragement.
But before you get started, let me leave you with this:
I’m a big fan of motivational quotes because they have a way of simplifying complex thoughts and were written by someone much wiser than I. One of the best quotes that describes what I’m trying to say here comes from Gandhi:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
In short: Make the CPA exam more meaningful than a test. Find out what is truly motivating you deep down and use that as your rocket fuel towards success. If you dedicate yourself 100% to reaching your goal, results will happen!

Success doesn’t come from some magical force in the universe: no big secret, no law of attraction. It comes from you.
So get out there and CRUSH the CPA exam!
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Bryce Welker is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc.com, and Business Insider. After graduating from San Diego State University he went on to earn his Certified Public Accountant license and created CrushTheCPAexam.com to share his knowledge and experience to help other accountants become CPAs too. As Seen On Forbes