Accountant's Musings: CPA Exam & Life Beyond

During my preparation for the CPA exams, there were times when I didn’t want to study, think, work, or study. I just needed a break, something that would cheer/freshen me up quickly, or just sooth my mind, heart and soul. There were times when all I wanted was to go to bed with a smile, and there was not much that could do that [to me]… During those days, I would just rush to 1000 awesome things and read a few posts, and by the end of it all, I would be happy that I was alive, and I looked forward to tomorrow. It made me realize, again and again, that there was more to life… that I could choose what to focus on… that in the world of galaxies, the micro and the nano matter. So, here is a shout out to Neil! His book has been out a couple of weeks now… so if you have a moment, go take a look at his site, and if you share my feeling, grab the book of awesome!

Here is one of the posts that I remember reading way back when and I laughed my heart out.

Here is one of the posts that made me … swallow hard.

Here is one of my many favorites.

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I was looking at some SAP career info and along the way, I found a book by an SAP mentor, Jon Reed, called Resumes From Hell. Here are sample chapters.  My favorite sample chapter was: “If you don’t ask, I will: The Self-Questionnaire”. I look forward to getting the book; it appears to be both funny and instructive. Good luck with your resume-writing and job-hunting if you are in search of one.

Enjoy!

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I just thought I would share some links where you can find some funny stories, jokes, etc on the CPA exam and accounting field. If you have other sources, please feel free to share them in the comments below or shoot me a message via the contact page, and I will add them to the list.

1. Stupid things said by coworkers, relatives or friends regarding taking this exam (at Jeff’s another71.com – a forum topic). My favorite one was, “Debits equals Credits, that’s all there is to it!“  Another “good one” (sorry!) was when a BF broke up with a GF, and his reason was:  ”All you want to do is Study!”

2. Cartoons on Accountants (at offthemark.com)

3. Cartoons on Accountants (at Charted Accountants Facebook)

Thanks for reading, I hope you found that helpful!

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I was reading some an interview that the Atlantic did with one of the participants in the “Harvard Grant Study”. The participant is Ben Bradlee, who is quoted as having said, “I haven’t been unhappy in my life“. It is amazing to read about people’s lives. Here is an except, one of the many parts of the interview that I liked:

“And I graduated so sloppily. As a matter of fact, I got out and “graduated” and then they told me that I hadn’t, which I knew, I hadn’t taken one exam that was required of people who majored in English, which was the English, Shakespeare, Greek exam, there was a special exam you had to take in all three of those subjects. So, when I was on a destroyer in the second war, and my dad was anxious that I graduate really, he arranged to have the exam sent to me on my destroyer. I got it right after the Saipan campaign was over, and we were coming back, we had been hit in Saipan and we were coming back, so I took the test and I was in the Captain’s state room all by myself, and the entire ship knew I was taking a test. At one point there was a knock on the door, and some seaman came in and said, “The officer of the deck presents his compliments and the shortest verse in the Bible is ‘Jesus wept.’” And that was the message. But, I mean it was considered a great joke. So six months later or whatever it was I got word that I had passed.And then I got my degree.”

Here is the full interview.

Here are more links about the Harvard Study.

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