how to deal with negativity

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #202736
    sunflower
    Participant

    How do you guys deal with people who bring you down? I wasn’t the type of person who let things/criticism really get to me before. I used to just shut it out and not care at all but because I haven’t been able to pass my test lately, it brings me down a lot. Today, I was a bit surprised to hear from my friend (who recently passed all her cpa test) to tell me maybe I should think of a different career path so I don’t have to take the CPA test. (I had mentioned I was unhappy at my current job since the type of work I do is unsatisfying and extremely limited. Part of the reason I’m studying for my test is so I can find a better job and not do journal entries all the time). I was asking her for studying tips btw. And to be honest, I guess I just wanted support/tips from someone who’s been through it.

    I had a break down a couple weeks ago but picked myself up and started some changes and saw some improvements. I was making progress, but I don’t want to keep falling behind when things like this get to me. Any tips?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)
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    Replies
  • #781314
    monikernc
    Participant

    You sound young so please know that the transitions that transform us into into adulthood can be difficult but we all get past them. You really have to think about why you want to do this and affirm your commitment to it. Do it for yourself. Do it because it is the right thing for you. Don't be hung up on the past. Today is a new day.
    You are going to have rethink your approach because what you are doing clearly isn't working.
    Give us a little more information. How many sections have you attempted? What materials are you using? Do you set a schedule for studying and do you stick to it? What is your accounting background? I see you have just joined the forum recently so where have you been going for help on your past attempts when you needed it on tough concepts?
    People here will help with the exams struggles. So share something we can assist you with to get you moving forward.
    What section do you want to take next and when?

    AUD - 93
    BEC - 82
    FAR - 76
    REG - 88
    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #781315
    kayfcpa16
    Participant

    everything @monikernc said!!!!!

    May the force be with you .

    BEC - 78 (2/16)

    FAR - 78 (2/16)

    AUD - 69 (8/16), 75 (10/16)

    REG - 65 (8/16), 65!! (10/16) - Just Shoot Me [Re - Retake (1/17) 75!] ..

    DONEEEEEEEE

     

    FAR - 2/16 - 78
    BEC - 2/16 - 78
    AUD - 8/16
    REG - 8/16

    #781316
    Missy
    Participant

    People who have never been through this are at a total disadvantage when it comes to trying to help. If they say “I know you can do it, you're so smart!” we say they don't understand when they say “if, you're getting upset over it walk away” we say they don't get it. Even people who have finished the exam may not understand your,struggle.

    Point is its a foreign language to them and you're too exhausted, and overwhelmed to spell it out for them. Lean on this group for support and kind of distance your friends from this part of your life for now. When you get your 4th passing score all of these feelings disappear.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #781317
    Dwill2nd
    Participant

    Hey,

    First I will say you need to work on establishing your own Self confidence. Once you have that you will not give others and their opinions the power or ability to bring you down.

    Second I will tell you if you want to pass this exam, you will pass this exam! Just look around and read some of the testimonials of those on this board. I've seen some people take the exam close to 20 times (including all sections) and finally crossed the finish line. It might not be quick, easy, and it will surely not be without sacrifice but if you give maximum effort and are accountable to yourself you will get through it!!! You need to be confident that this is what you want for yourself and no one else!!!

    Now the one thing I would ask is what kind of job opportunity are you looking to transition to in order to move away from JE's? As an accounting manager I will tell you that you will not get away from JE's if you plan on staying in Accounting. Though you might not record the entry directly it is still a fundamental building block of accounting.

    AUD - 98
    BEC - 84
    FAR - 94
    REG - 86
    No more procrastinating!

    AUD - 98 - 3.9.17
    BEC - 84 - 6.8.16
    FAR - 94 - 2.22.17
    REG - 86 - 5.23.17

    August 2017 - Official CPA?!!!!!

    Bec, 6/8/2016 - 84!
    Far, 7/12/2016
    Reg,
    Aud,

    #781318
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Well it's too late for this advice, but there's a lot of upside to telling as few people as possible what you're up to. Keeps you from fishing for sympathy and being disappointed (and humiliated) when people don't provide it.

    I'm going to echo Monik about the need for a bit more info. – hard to get a feel for where you are in the process from what you posted.

    Perhaps she was just thinking that if you don't like doing journal entries, maybe accounting isn't for you. I don't think that's true by the way, I hate doing journal entries. 🙂

    #781319
    iwana_PASS
    Participant

    hi feel ya..dont feel upset just keep trying and do your best and keep studying. I'm 23yrs old now finished school and started full time when i started working at one of the top 10 firms for 1 year now, when i started, we had 3 entry levels including myself i already passed 2 exams before i started and my 2 other coworker only passed one exam but in the end they both passed before me. i had one coworker literally said to me why am i still studying xx already passed and I'm studying. its so discouraging that the person even made the comment like that to me and the xx even said i stayed late everyday after work and how come I'm not passing. after hearing such thing i don't stay at work anymore and just came home early everyday and study and i passed. failing one exam its nothing just give back and study again. passing CPA exam is about determination, dedication and sacrifice so as long u put ur time in you can do this. I didn't pass everything at one shot. i get 50s during my first FAR attempt. since i now pass everything when my senior fails, i always share my story and encourage them and tell them to go back to study. so ignore other people opinion and just do your own thing and do whats best for you. good luck

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 79
    REG - 82

    #781320
    Credit Revenue
    Participant

    Tell them to pound sand

    A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
    B - 78
    F - 80
    R - 83!!! Can live again!

    #781321
    sunflower
    Participant

    @monikernc

    I'm 25, I graduated with a business major concentrating in accounting. I don't want to give up but I'm letting things and people get to me now. When I first started my current job, my controller announced to everyone at work that I was studying for CPA. I had no idea she would announce that and didn't think much about it then. But when people from another department keep asking me if I passed any of my test I get really pissed. I know I am taking it personally. I'll try not to let it get to me now though.

    I've taken each section about 3-4 times now. I passed audit before but lost credit. For BEC – I was in the low 70s three times. FAR and REG have been a struggle, still in the 60s. I currently use Becker, and now I'm supplementing it with Ninja MCQ since I started memorizing answers from Becker. I usually wake up around 6am and start studying from 6:15am to 7:30am monday to friday. I try to walk around with my flashcards during lunch for 30 minutes. I was studying at my apt after work, but I literally can't focus because of my roommate's cat and/or roommate has her guy over. So I go to the library after work (once in a while, Starbucks). I'll try to squeeze in MCQ during downtime but it's hard to focus at work since it's extremely noisy or distracting since people are walking by (I know, I need to not look) I listen to videos now or type up notes in an e-mail. I can't focus with music on either.

    I think some of my issues are zoning out(lack of focus), going over the details, and test anxiety. I've tried the pomodoro technique but it hasn't really helped yet but still trying it out to see if my brain needs to get used to it.

    I'm planning to take REG on 7/1. I think tax side, I need to do lots of ninja mcqs. I was doing pretty decent on Becker…I'm having trouble with business law though, I really zone out with this topic. I have to re read the question 3-4 times and sometimes I don't understand why certain laws were set up in a certain way.

    @mla11692 your words, exactly on point. Thanks for saying that

    @Dwill2nd Yes, I agree my self confidence/ self-esteem is extremely low right now. I lived in an environment where my parents would verbally bring me down if I couldn't do something right. I'm working on it right now that I moved out. Do you have any tips? I'm curious about IT/Audit or maybe tax planning, still researching and reading about it.

    #781322
    sunflower
    Participant

    @iwana_PASS I'm sorry to hear that about your co-worker saying that. It's unmotivating and a bit mean. Thank you for sharing your story with me 🙂 going to study tonight now.

    @Credit Revenue haha i'll say that in my head now !

    #781323
    monikernc
    Participant

    you sound tired. so make sure a good diet, adequate rest and exercise on your list too. drink water. think positively. all these things help. the words other people say are not as important as the ones you tell you yourself. go get a physical and make sure your blood levels are good.
    positives: you have finished college. you have a good job. you have engaged with this forum. you have moved from your parents house and have a little distance from them. all good things.
    focus is key and you have to get there somehow. going to the library sounds like your best option. if your home is quiet in the mornings try a quiet hour of mcqs in the morning before work. do what you can at night. then 6-8 hours at the library each day on weekends. if becker is not helping then lay it aside for now.
    you are doing reg. you have a date set. start a binder. from the irs site print the 1040 form with sch a, c and e. print the 1120, 1120s and 1065 and the k1's for each – having those as a reference will help.
    if you are using ninja mcq's start with doing the federal processes questions section by section with the new questions setting. then the missed questions settings make notes and write each calculation out. progress through each section until done then do a review. then you will do the individual tax section. as you go through each of the tax sections also progress through the bus law and ethics sections in the same way. if you do bus law alone it takes too long and you will forget everything else. if you do bus law and ethics before everything else it will take too long and then you will forget those. so progress in bus law as you work in other sections. also doing those sections while doing the others will give you a break from calculations as you study. do the sims from Jeff's list on this website at the end of each section.
    post to the reg study group thread when you need help with a concept after attempting it yourself. keep your notes straight. if i had to do a retake i was also going to make a note of the IRC or UCC reference that comes up with an answer with the calculation. you can read through the codes at https://law.cornell.edu and become familiar with those for sims.
    you have becker so if you need to rewatch a video do so. becker also provides some highlighted lecture notes that you can review.
    give yourself a fresh start. don't look back. look forward. always tell yourself you can do this. remind yourself you want to do this. google info when you need it to help you understand. do the flashcards at work. don't tell people who are not supportive that you are working on exams. take some vacation days to study. spend 5 minutes a day with the cat and tell her what you have learned while giving her some needed attention. relaxing with a pet can be very rejuvenating.
    cheer up!
    this forum is setup to help people study. it is the best place on the planet to get the help you need to keep yourself going and to master concepts.
    you can do this!! good luck and welcome aboard.

    AUD - 93
    BEC - 82
    FAR - 76
    REG - 88
    How have you been?
    Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
    Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
    State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
    Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
    If you want things to change you have to do something different.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #781324
    fsugirl2005
    Participant

    @ sunflower

    You sound like you may be a little depressed. I know because I have been there done that for many years. I suggest in addition to the healthy and lifestyle changes someone mentioned above, it would be good to add a social worker or mental health counselor to help you. It doesn't mean you're crazy, it just means you need a third party to help you talk your way through your journey. They will help you gain some perspective in your life and help with your self-esteem.

    I have been trying to take the CPA exam since 2010. I passed FAR on the first try with a 75 but life and money problems kept me from continuing. So just imagine my self-esteem hit on that.

    I hope things get better for you and really think about the counselor.

    REG - 78
    FAR - 79
    AUD - 76
    BEC - 75

    I have been on this journey off and on for over 10 years. I think it's about time that I wrap this up.

    AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
    FAR - 10/28/16
    BEC - 11/2016
    REG - 01/2017

    Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

    #781325
    KJ
    Participant

    @ sunflower..you have to be persistent…I cannot take failure either and I recently took my first exam FAR and I failed. I can't stop thinking that I failed but then I keep telling myself that CPA is a different animal to Tame. My wife told me other day (I myself know as well too) that failure is part of life and you just learn from it. Yes it it easy said then done and person who is going through can only tell what they are going through. But at the same I have convinced myself that I am going to do this no matter how long it takes. I work full time and my field right is not Accounting but more of Financing side. My wife is my motivation. I always tell her I don't think so I can do this but she always tell me that YES YOU CAN. My confidence level is always low but then I pick myself back up and tell myself yes I can do this so I am going to do it. While I am writing this its boosting my confidence in a way. We are on the same boat low in self confidence but WE CAN DO IT!!!!!

    I am not sure if you have a husband or boyfriend or fiance' but I am sure you know someone or have someone in your life a BFF or a good friend who understands you more, talk to them, share your feelings with them it will give you confidence. Good luck and welcome to CPA world. Lets do this!!

    And like Einstein has said “Everything should be made as simple as possible but not simpler” – Albert Einstein

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert Einstein

    FAR - August 2016
    AUD - September 2016
    REG - October 2016
    BEC - November 2016

    Remember: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

    #781326
    Credit Revenue
    Participant

    FAR is hard. If you failed and didn't do 3000 MCQ's. Bear down and go 3 times as hard. Do an insane amount of MCQ's. Then go pass and be done with it forever. In my opinion, I would rather put in the extra 100 hours on the front end and never have to look at it again. I think FAR is the best test to take first, but the only downside to that is on the first test you may not have fully developed the skill it takes to pass a CPA exam yet and FAR has the most information. I would buy NINJA MCQ's and do between 100 and 200 a day for 4 weeks and then go pass it (on a retake).

    A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
    B - 78
    F - 80
    R - 83!!! Can live again!

    #781327
    KJ
    Participant

    Thanks Credit Revenue for the strategy. I think my problem was also some of the concepts I need to get clarity mostly on Bonds, DTA/DTL, and Leases. I am leaving the hard topics to the end so it will be remain fresh, trying to clear the easy (nothing is easy) but more comparable/manageable topics that I am more familiar with first.

    I am not doing much of reading initially but doing Ninja MCQ and then read if necessary on the concepts that I am not clear on. Hopefully this strategy will work.

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert Einstein

    FAR - August 2016
    AUD - September 2016
    REG - October 2016
    BEC - November 2016

    Remember: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

    #781328
    KJ
    Participant

    Forgot to mention, I am re-writing Ninja notes too.

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert Einstein

    FAR - August 2016
    AUD - September 2016
    REG - October 2016
    BEC - November 2016

    Remember: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

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