Hey there fellow CPA hopefuls. I am writing my
post this week from the rather cramped confines of a United Airlines flight.
I’m on my way home from my second and last work trip for a while. I’ve been to
the San Francisco financial district, Sacramento, Pleasanton and Oakland, in an
effort to meet people and resolve issues that are more easily handled face to
face. I expect the trip to pay future dividends too given that it’s MUCH
harder, in general, to ignore someone via email or phone once you’ve met in
person. At least.... that’s what I’m hoping for anyway.
I’ve found during my
career that some Operations folks, who generate the revenue that hopefully adds
to the bottom line, don’t always view accounting and the associated revenue
recognition requirements, in the most positive light. I’ve talked until I am
blue in the face about the difference between cash and accrual accounting on
many occasions. Since accountants don’t typically add to project profitability,
project managers often discount the importance of the CPA and internal
controls. Hopefully I’ve made some inroads. If not, I had some really amazing
food this week anyway…. Ha ha.
I went down to the Wharf
for seafood, to China Town for Mushroom Chicken, to North Beach for Italian and
to a place that claimed to be the oldest restaurant in San Francisco. I walked
or took rapid transit almost everywhere I went. I was amazed at the number of
people out on the rainy streets of the financial district. It rained almost the
entire week! In Texas, where everyone drives at least one vehicle, you rarely
see people walking in the rain for any distance longer than it takes to run to
a car from an office building. In San Fran, there are hundreds of people out
walking to work, shopping and even getting a daily dose of exercise, by running
in torrential downpours.
As for me, I’m a bit of
a priss and tend to pack for business trips accordingly. My four inch heels and
pencil skirts were quickly replaced with black rubber-soled granny shoes and a
series of bad hair days. I’ve discovered that it is truly a fete of physical
endurance to hold an umbrella, carry an oversized purse and lug around a
computer bag, while running ten blocks to catch mass transit in the rain,
without showing up to a business meeting looking like a drowned, wet poodle.
I’ve got the apparel drill down now though if I ever return to San Francisco.
Maybe next year!
One of the highlights of
my trip was getting to meet Alicia and Sara and some of the other dedicated
team members at Roger CPA Review on my last day in the city. As you can see, I even
got to meet Roger himself! He is as energetic and insightful in person as he is
in his videos. (Thanks so much guys for
the warm welcome, gift bag and the chocolate! I’m eating my fifth piece as I
write this! :) )
This weekend will be my
last weekend of freedom for a while. I’m holding myself accountable to get my
study plan set by next week. Soon, I’ll actually start blogging about my CPA studies, my thoughts on the Roger CPA Review course and, of course, a few study tips
and tricks that work for me along the way. I’m approaching this last test with
optimism and cautious confidence that I will be celebrating a passing grade and
an end to this long journey, in a few short months. I’ve got the support of
family and friends, the resource of Roger's exceptional CPA study materials and
the determination to overcome the less than 50% odds of passing the REG exam.
Guess what AICPA? I like
MY odds better.
Study hard everyone.
Develop a plan and work to stick to it. Find ways to keep yourself accountable.
See you next week!
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