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.

July 13, 2017

Oi... Not going so well. I had a really good run the other day.. But right now. I feel like I've hit a low...

:(...

I wish...

I had a friend... I dunno... I feel like...

a nobody. But it's so weird cuz physically I'm a monster! And not only physically but mentally it takes a lot to do the stuff that I do. Reading is easy... Isn't it? Yeah... I suppose... I keep thinking food is the answer... but it's not... Not even prayer...

so what is the problem...

The problem is...

I won't do my homework. I have work I can do. But I will not do it. Why?

I don't feel compelled to do it. What do you mean? I mean what's the point of doing it?

Carrying out best practices. Have a goal. Let's see how it turns out!

July 9, 2017

So I've had a rough week. It's soooo hard to get into study mode. But I think I am finally getting into it.

Here's my thoughts and also some rough work...

I want my study pattern to be in the following way

MY FORMULA
3 hours of studying NUMBER
30 minutes of eating ABOVE NUMBER / 6
15 minutes of cleaning ABOVE NUMBER / 12
2 hours and 15 minutes of rest ABOVE NUMBER / 1.333333333333

so in 24 hours

I'll have the above x 4

That's ideal. But until I can reach 3 hours of studying because honestly I can't at the moment. I will at least try and keep the proportions the same.

so right now I studied for 25 minutes which means.
eat for 25/6 = 4.167 minutes
2 minutes for cleaning.
and 19 minutes....

okay so let's clean quickly and rest for 20 minutes and start back up again... I'll try to beat 25 minutes.

also I need to do my tax return assuming CRA accepts it. lol reading about tax returns... oh but i have no tax owing ... yaaaay... damnit wish i made money and had some tax owing -_-

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! I CAN FEEL THE RHYTHM FINALLY!!!!!!
Today I did work for more than an hour!!! yes >_< lol I know it's not that interesting... But watch, I'm going to continue this pattern..

So now: I did
Studying: 60 minutes
which means
Eating: 10 minutes
Cleaning: 5 minutes
Rest: 45 minutes

"Rhythm is a dancer
It's a soul companion
You can feel it everywhere
Lift your hands and voices
Free your mind and join us
You can feel it in the air"

July 2, 2017

It's a new day!

Commitment, I will crush my past study record.

I'm a BPU (Best Practices User).