Written by Guest Blogger Melissa L.
The CMA designation is a worthwhile pursuit with many benefits, and you are more likely to stay on task when you are doing it for YOU. Maybe this blog, a friend, a manager, or a colleague has encouraged you to pursue the CMA designation. Or maybe you found your own personal reasons and motivation.
For me, it was my manager who encouraged me to take the CMA exam for a position I wanted, but I had to find my own personal motivation to put aside leisurely activities and stay focused. For me, it came down to two things. The first was a desire to learn more about accounting and the skills required to prepare for the CMA exam. The second was the sense of personal achievement that comes from passing the CMA exam. While this can sometimes be the most underrated benefit of passing the exam, it was a huge motivator for me.
Perhaps your accounting professor told you of the benefits to your career and that is what got you thinking about the exam initially, but it was your immediate desire to be more valuable in the job market that actually motivated you to take the CMA exam. Maybe you are a seasoned professional and, while your colleagues may have encouraged you to pursue the certification, your motivation to pass the exam stems from having your eyes on that big promotion at work. It is great to have influences on your goals, but your own personal motivating factors are what will help you stay focused throughout your exam preparations.
When stress from your personal or professional life gets in the way, it can be easy to slip into habits that are not productive. That’s when you have to remind yourself why you started preparing for the exam in the first place. I definitely had to do this when studying for Part 1. Now that I have moved on to Part 2, I find that I have to remind myself at least once a week of my reasons for taking this exam.
Small adjustments to your schedule will feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity to succeed when you have your own personal motivation. Find your motivation for passing the CMA exam and DO IT FOR YOURSELF!
