Saturday, June 30, 2018

Yesterday I finished a compilation. It was a bit of a challenge. But more or less I still have some good knowledge of ASPE.

Tonight I'm going to attempt to finish as many compilations as possible.

This is all for work mind you.

I had 3 jobs previously: Superintendent (hired someone), IT guy (delegated someone and provided permanent solutions), and now bookkeeper (hiring someone).

I've hired someone who works for Deloitte to do our taxes.

The work I've done at my brother's office is nothing short of magical. My computer skills are top notch. I've automated a lot of processes that you would normally have to do by hand. My typing speed is fairly fast. But it's always been fast. Going to do a typing test now just to show you how fast i do type:



I feel like I was going slow here. lol!

SO! I need to do more compilations. The faster I do that. The faster the taxes get done, the more training I can provided for the new bookkeeper. And yeah I will start studying for the CFE. I've already registered. I need to write Day 2 and 3... I 100,000% do not underestimate the challenges that I'll face ahead of me.

So I will do my ultimate best to successfully disconnect myself from my family business, so I can start showing the CFE how much of a bad ass I am. I say successfully because I could leave in 2 seconds, but to leave things better than you found them, in the words of bruce lee, "that my friend, ugh, is very hard to do" 

Thursday, May 17, 2018

So I've been SUPER busy the last few months. At one point I had 3 jobs lol...

Anyways I'm down to 2 jobs. Well 1 job really. And I'm going to get rid of my last job by the end of this week.

Today I need to:

1) Visit my dad's office and install a printer driver for one of his employee's computers. (DONE)

2) Do bookkeeping and keep track of time and costs. (NOT DONE)

3) Return an item I purchased, today is the last day to do that (it's a router that I purchased, I'll probably do a bit of research on how to clean plastic, so far I learned water and a microfibre cloth should do the trick) (DONE!)

4) Contact a BUNCH of of people for the bookkeeping job and then create a day for interviews. And go with the most capable person or persons for the job. (DONE... sort of)

5) I think I also have to buy a garbage can for our business and a pressure washer. (NOT DONE)

So there's quite a bit of stuff to do, but it's all very achievable in my mind. Let's do this!!! it's 3:55 AM right now. I absolutely must be focused and calm and I think I can achieve anything with this mind set. *FIST PUMP* going to eat a cucumber. Good night!  

December 5th, 2017

The time is now: 4:08 PM

I'm going to try and study until 10:08 PM 

no distractions other than my girlfriend. And honestly she doesn't ask for much attention.

Day 2 and Day 3 material Yaaaas... hey It might be worthwhile to check out my past stuff... hmmm. I'll check out my posts... 

but I already remember! For day 3 i needed to practice speed. for day 2 i did pretty well although my par report said i could have done better with management accounting. Okay even though that's being done and said... 

I'm going to make a folder which shows what I've understood and what I haven't... 

I wonder... if I can make another nice website... trueeee... 

like one with YES! I think I already have it... one with security!!!! it's called my own PC lol... alrighty... so... Yes "Let's do it now!"

Time is now: 5:29 PM

I edited the Board Report to reflect only Day 2 and Day 3 material (took out all the day 1 stuff since I won't be doing that anymore).

I didn't manage to print out the PAR i ordered since my printer is out of ink and I'm out of paper! I should get a business account at staples and charge this to my company since technically I'm doing all this for my business!!!

I paid any debt I was in ... So right now 8-) I'm debt free!

But now I need to take note of the transactions that occured in quickbooks... DONE!

Okay so the time is now: 6:11 PM... I would like to take a break... I think I earned it from the little work that I did ^^;;....

Since this is literally my last chance to pass the CFE... I'm going to keep that in mind... I really want to pass this so badly. Especially if this is treated as a last attempt... I wouldn't want to have any regrets. Like I regret taking that break. So I'll try to keep my breaks short and concentrated...

Also I'd like to get rid of breaks where I watch TV or play games altogether. Breaks are fine and essential... But I just don't want any excuses you know? This is really important to me. So I'm going to try my ultimate best!

December 4, 2017

I PASSED DAY 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES >.< YES >.< YES >.< YES >.< YES >.< YES >.< YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

BOOYAKASHA!

Never again do I have to write the Day 1 CFE, because what what? I passed it!

Now to study for Day 2 & 3.

I have a girlfriend now. :) She is really beautiful. She is really smart. And she's very kind. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, She is FAITHFUL.

BUT!!!! And there is a big butt. (yes, she has one of those too)... Oddly enough: Enough about her.

I'm going to keep the next few entries very focused...

This is something I realized going into CFE Day 1.

And it's something I realize when I succeed with my breakdancing.

There is a system of best practices in every activity you do.

More often than not, your emotions like "I love my girl!" have nothing to do with whether you succeed or not. YES, They can motivate you!!!! But whether you actually KNOW your stuff or not has no dependence on feelings. So, I feel as though activities tend to largely be independent of one another.

Time is now: 2:02 AM. It is Monday, Dec. 4th, 2017

I need to come up with a plan to ace Day 2 & 3. I have the feedback guide, which I think would be very useful.

But now I'm working!!!

I have to pay the bills of my company as well...

So this may suck ... It may suck a lot....

Fortunately my job isn't too time sensitive... that's the good part. Honestly I think I can get a lot done...

I just ate a big salad.

I should also call CPA Ontario and ask them about whether my attempt was used last time even though I didn't actually write Day 2 and 3... It would be nice to know whether this is my last chance or not. And if it is, I really have to give it my all... If it's not, I can just try my best given the current circumstances. <-- My plan.


So the bold text is my key next step...

Off 2 bed! Going to try and wake up early. And talk less with internet slang like "2" for "to".

Sept.14th &15th

14th and 15th were a write off for me.... Maybe this is good luck, but I injured/fractured my foot a few weeks before the CFE... So I went to the hospital on the 14th to see a doctor while everyone was writing...

To be honest, it was another blessing...

Because I didn't plan on writing it...

I did contact CPA about not writing it,, but they never got back to me because they had this we'll respond in 5 days automated message thing....

I spoke to an CPA officer and they asked me for proof that I went to see a doctor and that I had an injured leg.

So I immediately responded, because when I was at the hospital, I asked the doctor to give me a note and he did.

I should have my money refunded to me for day 2 and 3. I'm not sure how that will work... But I was told it will work...

I will be writing Day 2 & 3 in 2018... IF!!! I'm truly blessed they won't count it as an attempt... But I dunno... We'll see...

September 13th, 2017 - CFE Day 1 (Round 2)

We WERE given a copy of the original case (FYI) lol...

So I took an uber there...

Oh man... The uber driver LOVED to talk... And I only encouraged him... ($50 ride - Jheeeeez!)

Not a big mistake....

One HUGE mistake!!!! UPDATE YOUR SECUREXAM the night before your exams!!!!!

I arrived to the exam with 20-30 minutes before it began.

We all put our coats and backpacks in a room (as usual)

Then I walked back to my desk.

And kept reviewing until a supervisor/officer came up to me and said start logging in!

So I tried logging in... but I didn't have access to the exam! *_* because I did not update my Securexam the night before.... T_T

So then a tech support guy comes to me with a USB key and he says the exams are on it. They weren't. He brings another USB key... It doesn't work...

Then the announcer says "Candidates you may start writing the exam"

Then this CPA officer comes by and tries to fix the problem. Unsuccessful. Makes me restart my laptop and what not. Then they're like "Grab a spare laptop" I'm thinking okay, awesome!

Note: Do bring a spare laptop in case this happens to you. But DO rely on your primary laptop and update it the night before because internet is generally cut off right before the exam starts.

So, they give me a spare laptop, it works and I login. By the time I start I am AT LEAST 15 minutes behind everyone else... Not to worry! BECAUSEEEE stress doesn't help at all. :)

So, I just played it cool, and approached the exam with "A CALM AND FOCUSED MIND"

Read through it with a yellow highlighter. And as I was reading, I developed my report. This goes here, that goes there.

Then I read it a second time, this time more emphasis on stuff I was looking for that makes up a report.

I had my situational assessment (crap, I may have written situational analysis... I wonder if they deduct marks for having the wrong CPA way title... possibly... but probably not)

I went through any relevant points... I found that there wasn't any information for me to do a financial ratio analysis! :o Wow. Didn't do that.

I re-wrote the updated mission and vision, talked about what they're about and then I transferred my analysis of the vision into the operating issues, because it's usually not a major issue.

Did a bit of an updated SWOT because it was possible. Focused on changes in the environment. Included a Trends part... I worked on my weaknesses from last time... talked about key success factors (both in the old and new environment)... talked about stakeholder preferences... I actually created something called decision maker preferences which was cool.

Finally, I went through the case and identified the major and other issues.

I found only 2 major issues and few other ones. Maybe I was dead wrong, but I found that only 2 changed the strategic direction of the company and had a company wide impact, these generally tend to be the main two factors of identifying major issues. The "other" issues have components of both a major and operating issue"

So I identified 'em
posed 2 alternatives (mentioned that if we accept one then the opposite is rejected) and if there was another alternative, I talked about that as well.

If their was a required and I really didn't have the information to calculate what they wanted, I mentioned that additional information is required based on the need for new orders blah blah blah

In the end, I finished the exam. I was somewhat happy with my response. I would write more, but I'm really tired at the moment.

September 12, 2017

Went to the library

And worked on my giant template related to Day 1 and inputted all the knowledge as best I possibly could on how to write a perfect Day 1 case.

So I did this. A LOT. I perfected my writing form.

I had to analyze how to identify major issues and operating issues or other issues (which contain both).

Then I came up with how to analyze alternatives...

And also learned as many analysis techniques as perfectly as I could:

e.g. NPV, valuation, profitability analysis...

///** flash back to four days ago **///

I saw this Asian guy sitting at my table reading a VPL... I asked him "Hey, what VPL is that for?" His reply was "Accounting" I asked him if he was writing the CFE too, and he said yes!

So I was like hmmm! A classmate! Cool!

After that we chatted a bit, and it seemed he was ready for all 3 days of the CFE... He was a first time writer. Me? A 2nd time writer...

I was planning on only writing the Day 1 Case...

I said goodbye and went on my way home

///** coming out of the flash back **///

So before I left the library, I saw the Asian guy (Ryan) again studying at his desk...

He kept asking me about where my writing location was, which was Odd because I thought we had time to figure that out.

Then while talking to him, I had the realization... I got the dates mixed up. The CFE Day 1 is tomorrow on the 13th! Not the 14th!

Here's the lesson from this: MAKE FRIENDS! AND EXCHANGE AS MUCH INFO AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!

Honestly, if I never met that Asian guy, I would've tried to write the CFE day 1 on day 2.... hahaaaa XD T_T

So... Yeah, meeting him was a blessing!

Then I went home and studied all the way into the night, again perfecting my analysis techniques and other random stuff I needed to remember.