[MintsRGood]

…is what a staff accountant at my husband’s office said to me yesterday when I stopped by his office for a quick visit.

She told me she has a masters degree in accounting but after she graduated she got married, had kids, found a decent job, and just never got back around to perusing her CPA. She continued that not making the time to get her license was something that always eats at her when she thinks about her career. She knows that in her company she will never be promoted or be paid more simply because she isn’t a CPA. She is in her mid 40’s and has apparently lived with this regret since her 20’s.

I told her that it was never too late to get her license and that with a bachelors and masters degree in accounting, she could sit for the exam immediately pending Michigan board approval. The 150 credit hour rule is a huge barrier to entry that she overcame years ago! She just needed to get a full review course to get up to speed on PCAOB rules, IFRS, and current taxation rules. I told her she could have all of my materials because I certainly won’t need them after 11/4! She just smiled and shook her head. She thinks she’s too old and rattled off a bunch of lame “I can’t” excuses. I told her that there are people her age and older sitting for these exams every day, her company would probably pay for her review materials as they want to promote her but can’t without licensing, her kids will be off to college next year, and that it’s never too late to try. Again, more excuses. It was very frustrating to see someone bright resigning themselves to mediocrity.

As sad as that conversation was…it was motivating as hell. I will make the next 15 days of my life the most study intensive days of my life. I know that with hard work and dedication, I can close out my journey and accomplish the largest and most important professional goal of my life. YOU can too!

Hit it hard today and fearlessly pursue your goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[san4596]

Mint – thanks for the story! People are the worst about getting in their own way. Step up or shut up is what I always say.

Tough – Your boss sounds like he is one of those bare minimum type of guys. He will do the bare minimum to be somewhat successful, and attempt to keep others from being more sucessfull than him. Especially those below him, since you may be a threat after receiving your CPA.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Anonymous]

This is great motivation to keep chugging along.. I constantly ask myself “Is this misery even worth it?” But I know that further down the road in my career I don't want to regret not taking it….

[Anonymous]

This is great motivation to keep chugging along.. I constantly ask myself “Is this misery even worth it?” But I know that further down the road in my career I don't want to regret not taking it….

[acamp]

If every mid level, stuck in their job accountant had the motivation to step it out, drop the excuses and nail the exam…we'd all be in a lot of trouble! haha

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

If every mid level, stuck in their job accountant had the motivation to step it out, drop the excuses and nail the exam…we'd all be in a lot of trouble! haha

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[MintsRGood]

@acamp that is a very fair point! Ha!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

@acamp that is a very fair point! Ha!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[teamorangeman]

Age… Why do people always put limitations on age??? Your too young, your too old… in 2005 at the ripe old age of 28 i started college. A lot of my co-workers told me I wouldn't finish and I would give up. I had been with my company almost 10 years at the time and was deeply stuck. (Bills, obligations, lack of work confidence) Not only did I complete college but I took it all the way to a MBA… a 6 year plan completed in 4.5 years (mid 2009). (If you are going to prove someone wrong, do it with a BOOM)

Then thru marriage, moving and finances I had to put off my CPA for a year or so. Then I started in August of 2010.. Completed it in 2011 (damn you auditing portion.. multiple failures but i pushed thru). Now that would have me at 34 (didn't get my License until I was 35 though)… Now 35 isn't old but I could have done many different things. I too took a live class and I swear there were men and women in their 60s in that room (Either that or there were a bunch of 25 year olds who have seen too much of a wicked tax season)

Age limitations are the worst excuse! I read how a 6 year old girl ran a half marathon…6 freaking years old!

To me, most people who make excuses like this are too afraid of a little hard work or failure so instead of being honest they come up with 100 excuses… Just do it!

FAR - 75 7/11/10
REG - 81 11/28/10
BEC - 77 10/30/10
AUD - 60 10/01/10, 67 02/11/11, 62 05/31/11, 71 7/15/11, 86 10/24/11

[teamorangeman]

Age… Why do people always put limitations on age??? Your too young, your too old… in 2005 at the ripe old age of 28 i started college. A lot of my co-workers told me I wouldn't finish and I would give up. I had been with my company almost 10 years at the time and was deeply stuck. (Bills, obligations, lack of work confidence) Not only did I complete college but I took it all the way to a MBA… a 6 year plan completed in 4.5 years (mid 2009). (If you are going to prove someone wrong, do it with a BOOM)

Then thru marriage, moving and finances I had to put off my CPA for a year or so. Then I started in August of 2010.. Completed it in 2011 (damn you auditing portion.. multiple failures but i pushed thru). Now that would have me at 34 (didn't get my License until I was 35 though)… Now 35 isn't old but I could have done many different things. I too took a live class and I swear there were men and women in their 60s in that room (Either that or there were a bunch of 25 year olds who have seen too much of a wicked tax season)

Age limitations are the worst excuse! I read how a 6 year old girl ran a half marathon…6 freaking years old!

To me, most people who make excuses like this are too afraid of a little hard work or failure so instead of being honest they come up with 100 excuses… Just do it!

FAR - 75 7/11/10
REG - 81 11/28/10
BEC - 77 10/30/10
AUD - 60 10/01/10, 67 02/11/11, 62 05/31/11, 71 7/15/11, 86 10/24/11

[islagirl]

Limitations and narrow mindedness!!! I'll be 50 in 3 months, and am finishing up my CPA exams. It's been very hard, but it's what has to be done for me to keep moving forward and upward. And more importantly, I want the accomplishment!!! I simply procrastinated, and next thing I know I'm middle age, LOL. I'm not in public practice…likely won't ever be. There are myriad reasons for wanting it – competiveness and marketability come to mind, but age shouldn't be a reason to not do this.

B – 83

A – 73, 74, retake Thanksgiving

R – 74, waiting on retake results

F – 77

[islagirl]

Limitations and narrow mindedness!!! I'll be 50 in 3 months, and am finishing up my CPA exams. It's been very hard, but it's what has to be done for me to keep moving forward and upward. And more importantly, I want the accomplishment!!! I simply procrastinated, and next thing I know I'm middle age, LOL. I'm not in public practice…likely won't ever be. There are myriad reasons for wanting it – competiveness and marketability come to mind, but age shouldn't be a reason to not do this.

B – 83

A – 73, 74, retake Thanksgiving

R – 74, waiting on retake results

F – 77

[thunderlips]

agreed. its never too late to take this exam and be a cpa. if it bothers you find the time and take it – the sooner the better, but never too late!

[Author]

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