31. CPA Exam Study Audit: Why Studying Feels So Hard (And What to Do Instead)

37. From Putting Others First to Prioritizing Yourself Also

🎙 BECOMING THE PERSON WHO PASSES THE CPA EXAM (PART 2 OF 3) From Putting Others First to Prioritizing Yourself Also Why Your Study Plan Isn't the Problem — and What Actually Is EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Dawn continues her 3-part series on becoming the person who passes the CPA Exam with a shift that many candidates never see coming — the pattern of putting others first and leaving yourself out of the equation entirely. Most CPA Exam candidates already know what they need to do. They have a study plan. They're capable. They're responsible. But following through consistently? That's where things fall apart. In this episode, Dawn reveals why — and it has nothing to do with your study plan. The real challenge is that for many candidates, everything external comes first. Work. Other people. Other responsibilities. And by the time all of that is handled, there's nothing left for the CPA Exam. Not because you don't care — but because you were never on your own priority list to begin with. This episode walks you through three patterns that make following through harder than it needs to be, and introduces one simple but powerful shift: putting yourself also. This episode is for CPA Exam candidates who are responsible, dependable, and great at showing up for everyone else — but struggle to show up consistently for themselves. 🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 1. Why Knowing What to Do Isn't Enough Most candidates don't have a knowledge problem — they have a follow-through problem. Dawn explains why mindset, not strategy, is what gets in the way of consistent studying. 2. The First Pattern: You're Used to Putting Others First If you're highly responsible and dependable for everyone around you, you already have the skill of consistency. You're just applying it everywhere except your CPA Exam prep. 3. The Second Pattern: External Responsibilities Always Come First Work, people, obligations — these take priority. And studying for the CPA Exam gets whatever time is left. Dawn explains why this structure makes consistent studying nearly impossible. 4. The Third Pattern: You're Not Including Yourself If your priorities are all external, you are not part of your own priority list. Your goals come last. Your study time gets pushed aside. And even the best study plan can't survive that. 5. How to Tell What Your Real Priorities Are Your priorities aren't what you think they are — they're what you actually show up for. Dawn walks you through a simple honest look at where you really are on your own list. 6. The Shift: Put Yourself Also This isn't about putting yourself first or doing less for others. It's about including yourself. Dawn introduces the idea of "put yourself also" — and why that one small shift changes everything about how you show up to study. 7. What Changes When You're Part of the Plan When your study time actually has a place in your day, following through becomes possible. Dawn shows you what that looks like in real life and why your plan finally gets a chance to work. KEY TAKEAWAY Studying for the CPA Exam is a personal commitment — and personal commitments are the easiest ones to push aside. This isn't about doing more. It's about including yourself. When you become one of your own top priorities, your study plan stops competing with everything else and starts becoming part of your day. That's when consistency becomes possible. And that's when passing becomes possible. 🎙️REFERENCED EPISODES 🎧 Episode 36: Becoming the Person Who Passes the CPA Exam (Part 1 of 3) YOUR NEXT STEPS: 👉 Click HERE [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/ultimate] to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT. 👉 Click HERE [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] to join my next Masterclass Thanks for listening to today's episode of the CPA Exam Success Podcast. You are already a priority. It's time to start acting like it. And that's what gets you all the way to the CPA Exam finish line 🏁 👉 Get Coached [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/yescpa] if you're ready to be supported, study with confidence, and pass with ease. 💬 Let's Chat [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] if you're stuck or overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. ($27 one-time offer) 🗓️ Join 30-Day Study Challenge [https://buy.stripe.com/dRm9AUfxe35v7a1cvBew80M] if you are in the start-stop study cycle and want to finally make studying a consistent habit. ($67) 📲 Join Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] and get real time support in my Monthly Masterclasses. (Free) 📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message [https://www.instagram.com/cpaexamsuccess/]—I’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Follow & Leave a Review if you found this episode helpful. Your support helps other CPA Exam candidates find this podcast! ©MIAMI COACH CONNECTION, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Miami Coach Connection, Inc. accepts no liability for the content of this podcast, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Individual Results Vary.

36. From Feeling Like a Failure to Recognizing Your Success

🎙 BECOMING THE PERSON WHO PASSES THE CPA EXAM (PART 1 OF 3) From Feeling Like a Failure to Recognizing Your Success You Haven't Failed — You Just Haven't Passed Yet EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Dawn kicks off a 3-part series on becoming the person who passes the CPA Exam — because passing isn't just about what you study. It's about how you show up to the process. Many CPA Exam candidates arrive at this exam having succeeded in nearly everything before it — school, their careers, life. But after one non-passing score, something shifts. The identity of "someone who succeeds" can quietly become "someone who fails." And that shift, more than anything else, is what keeps candidates stuck. This episode is about catching that shift before it takes hold — and returning to the truth of who you already are. Dawn walks you through why your score is not a reflection of your ability, how a negative identity gets built over time (and why it isn't true), and what it actually means to become the person who passes the CPA Exam — before you actually pass it. This episode is for CPA Exam candidates who have started to question themselves, feel discouraged by non-passing scores, or wonder if they have what it takes — and need a reminder of who they already are. 🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 1. Why You Were Already a Success Before This Exam To be eligible to sit for the CPA Exam, you've already done something remarkable. Dawn reminds you of the evidence of your success that's already there — and why none of it disappeared after a non-passing score. 2. How a Non-Passing Score Can Shift Your Identity A score below 75 is just a score. But for many candidates, it becomes something more — a story about who they are. Dawn explains how this shift happens and why it doesn't reflect your actual ability. 3. The Danger of Persistence Without Change Showing up again and again matters — but only when it's paired with a study approach that works for you. Dawn breaks down why simply doing more of the same, with more stress, rarely changes the result. 4. How to Separate Your Identity from Your Score Your score tells you what hasn't worked yet. It doesn't tell you anything about your ability or your potential. Dawn shows you how to stop making a non-passing score mean something bad about you — and how to get curious about what to do differently instead. 5. Why Becoming the Person Who Passes Is Built Over Time Identity isn't created in a single moment. It's built through consistent action — showing up, honoring your commitments, and learning to trust yourself. Dawn shows you how this process works and why it matters more than any single result. 6. What to Do When Persistence Isn't Producing Results If you're studying hard but not seeing progress, the issue may not be effort — it may be approach. Dawn helps you get curious about what to change, rather than continuing to do the same thing with more stress and struggle. 7. Why Becoming Is Also Returning Becoming the person who passes the CPA Exam doesn't mean starting from zero. It means reconnecting with how you already show up when you succeed — and applying that here, in a new way. KEY TAKEAWAY You are not a failure. You just haven't passed the CPA Exam yet. The biggest shift isn't about your score. It's about the identity you attach to it. When you return to who you already are — someone who succeeds — and pair that with a study approach that actually works for you, the experience gets better, progress becomes visible, and passing becomes possible. 🎙️REFERENCED EPISODES 🎧 Episode 32: From Stress to Action 🎧 Episode 34: Protecting Your Focus During CPA Exam Prep YOUR NEXT STEPS: 👉 Click HERE [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/ultimate] to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT. 👉 Click HERE [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] to join my next Masterclass Thanks for listening to today's episode of the CPA Exam Success Podcast. You are already a success! Knowing that is what gets you all the way to the CPA Exam finish line 🏁 👉 Get Coached [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/yescpa] if you're ready to be supported, study with confidence, and pass with ease. 💬 Let's Chat [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] if you're stuck or overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. ($27 one-time offer) 🗓️ Join 30-Day Study Challenge [https://buy.stripe.com/dRm9AUfxe35v7a1cvBew80M] if you are in the start-stop study cycle and want to finally make studying a consistent habit. ($67) 📲 Join Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] and get real time support in my Monthly Masterclasses. (Free) 📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message [https://www.instagram.com/cpaexamsuccess/]—I’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Follow & Leave a Review if you found this episode helpful. Your support helps other CPA Exam candidates find this podcast! ©MIAMI COACH CONNECTION, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Miami Coach Connection, Inc. accepts no liability for the content of this podcast, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Individual Results Vary.

35. The 5 Phases of CPA Exam Success

🎙 The 5 Phases of CPA Exam Success How to Keep Going Until You Pass Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn breaks down the five phases of CPA Exam Success and explains why passing the CPA Exam is far simpler than most candidates make it — even though it often doesn’t feel simple while you’re in it. Many CPA Exam candidates stay stuck in the cycle of thinking about studying, starting and stopping, or believing they need to completely put their lives on hold in order to pass. This episode reframes that experience and shows you a different way forward. Dawn walks through the basic levels of CPA Exam Success and explains how candidates move from simply thinking about studying to consistently showing up, passing sections, and ultimately becoming a CPA. Dawn also introduces the concept of the Study Success Sweet Spot — the intersection between your study session length, focus capacity, break structure, time of day, and weekly study schedule — so you can create a study system that actually fits your life instead of fighting against it. This episode is for CPA Exam candidates who feel stuck in the start-stop cycle, discouraged after failed attempts, or unsure how to make CPA Exam prep sustainable long enough to finally reach the finish line. 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode The 5 Basic Levels of CPA Exam Success Dawn simplifies the CPA Exam process into five clear levels: 1️⃣ Start studying. 2️⃣ Keep studying. 3️⃣ Pass your first section. 4️⃣ Pass the remaining sections. 5️⃣ Become a CPA. The process is much simpler than most candidates think — but consistency is what moves you through each stage. The 5 Phases of CPA Exam Success Dawn explains the five phases that help candidates continue moving forward: ⓵ Commitment ⓶ Clarity ⓷ Consistency ⓸ Confidence ⓹ Completion She also explains how confidence builds as candidates start seeing evidence that their studying is working. Why CPA Exam Success Is Not About Intelligence Dawn shares Roger Philipp’s message that the CPA Exam is “a test of endurance, not an IQ test.” If you are eligible to sit for the CPA Exam, you are capable of passing it. The Difference Between Studying and Learning How You Study Passing the CPA Exam is not just about covering material. It’s about learning: • how you focus • how long you can effectively study • what time of day works best for you • how to structure study sessions in a sustainable way Once you learn how you study and how this fits into your life, you can repeat that process section after section. The Study Success Sweet Spot Dawn introduces her Study Success Sweet Spot concept: • number of study sessions per week • study session length • focus time • break time • best time of day to study Why Shorter Focused Sessions Often Work Better Dawn shares her own study structure: • 2-hour study sessions • 40 minutes focused study • 20 minute break • repeated twice • 6 days per week She explains why pushing past your focus capacity often creates diminishing returns. Why You Don’t Need to Put Your Life on Hold to Pass Many candidates feel like they need to put their lives on hold in order to pass the CPA Exam. Dawn explains why creating a study system that fits into your real life creates a far better experience — and often leads to faster progress. How Failure Becomes Information A failed score is information. Dawn explains how to separate your identity from your scores and use each result to decide: What worked? What didn’t work? What will I do differently next? Why Invisible Progress Still Counts Dawn compares CPA Exam prep to learning French — showing up consistently even when it feels like nothing is happening, until one day you realize progress has been building all along. Key Takeaway The CPA Exam process becomes much simpler when you stop trying to force yourself through it and instead learn how to study in a way that works for you. You do not need to study perfectly. You do not need to sacrifice your life. You need: commitment, clarity, consistency, and a study system you can realistically continue long enough to complete the process. Because the way you get to the CPA Exam finish line is often how you’ll continue showing up in the rest of your life. 👉 Click HERE [https://cpaexamsuccess.kit.com/sweetspot] to find your Study Success Sweet Spot Thanks for listening to today’s episode of the CPA Exam Success Podcast. You do not have to put your life on hold to pass the CPA Exam. You can build a study system that works with your life and gets you all the way to the CPA Exam finish line. Other episodes referenced in this episode: Episode 23: The 15-Minute Study Session Episode 25: Cultivating Space for CPA Exam Prep References mentioned in this episode: Roger Philipp — “The CPA Exam is a test of endurance, not an IQ test.” Brooke Castillo — Believing ahead of time Stacey Boehman — “Failure Gold” “How you get there is how you’ll be there.” I'm not sure who said this originally 👉 Get Coached [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/yescpa] if you're ready to be supported, study with confidence, and pass with ease. 💬 Let's Chat [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] if you're stuck or overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. ($27 one-time offer) 🗓️ Join 30-Day Study Challenge [https://buy.stripe.com/dRm9AUfxe35v7a1cvBew80M] if you are in the start-stop study cycle and want to finally make studying a consistent habit. ($67) 📲 Join Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] and get real time support in my Monthly Masterclasses. (Free) 📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message [https://www.instagram.com/cpaexamsuccess/]—I’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Follow & Leave a Review if you found this episode helpful. Your support helps other CPA Exam candidates find this podcast! ©MIAMI COACH CONNECTION, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Miami Coach Connection, Inc. accepts no liability for the content of this podcast, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Individual Results Vary.

34. Protecting Your Focus During CPA Exam Prep

🎙 Protecting Your Focus During CPA Exam Prep Why Staying on Track — Not Studying Longer — Is What Creates Real Progress Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn walks you through the critical shift from getting into action to staying on track — because starting your CPA Exam prep is only the beginning. Many CPA Exam candidates begin studying with strong intentions, but struggle to stay focused, consistent, and engaged during their study sessions. When that happens, it’s easy to assume the problem is not having enough time. So they try to add more hours — but still don’t see the progress they expected. This episode reframes that entire experience. The issue is not how much time you have — it’s how well you protect your focus during the time you already committed to studying. Dawn breaks down why focus is the real driver of progress and how learning to return to your work, again and again, is the skill that leads to CPA Exam Success. You’ll learn why distractions are normal, how to stop making them mean something has gone wrong, and how to build the ability to come back to your study session quickly and effectively. This episode is for CPA Exam candidates who are showing up to study but feel distracted, inconsistent, or frustrated — and want a simpler, more effective way to stay on track and move forward. 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode 1. Why More Study Time Doesn’t Lead to Better Results Dawn explains why adding more hours doesn’t solve the problem if you’re not focused during the time you already have. Progress comes from how you use your time — not how much of it you schedule. 2. The Real Challenge: Staying on Track Starting is only the first step. The real work is staying engaged long enough to understand the material and follow through on your study sessions. 3. Why Getting Distracted Is Completely Normal Your mind will wander. That’s part of the process. Dawn shows you how to stop resisting distractions and instead practice returning to your focus. 4. The Skill That Changes Everything: Coming Back Each time you return to your work, you strengthen your ability to focus. This is the skill that creates consistency and long-term progress. 5. The Two Decisions That Simplify Every Study Session Before you begin, decide: Where are you starting? How long will you study? This removes overwhelm and makes it easier to follow through. 6. The STAR Framework for Consistent Progress Schedule your study sessions Track your actual time Assess how each session went Reward yourself for showing up This structure helps you build consistency and improve over time. 7. Why One Clear Task Improves Focus Trying to do too much creates distraction. Focusing on one concept or one set of questions helps you stay on track and engaged. 8. The Better Question to Ask While Studying Instead of asking how to study longer or better, ask: How can I stay focused and return to my work when I get distracted? 9. How Short, Focused Sessions Create Real Progress Even 15 minutes of focused study can move you forward. Consistency and focus matter more than long, unfocused sessions. Key Takeaway Studying is not about being perfectly focused the entire time. It’s about noticing when you get off track and coming back — again and again. When you protect your focus and return to the task at hand, your study sessions become more effective, your consistency improves, and your progress builds over time. CPA Exam candidates make the most progress when they stay on track and keep coming back to their work. 👉 Click HERE [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] to join my next Masterclass 👉 Click HERE [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] to schedule a CPA Exam Success Strategy Chat 👉 Click HERE [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/ultimate] to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT. Thanks for listening to today’s episode of the CPA Exam Success Podcast. You don’t need more time. You need protected focus. And that’s what gets you all the way to CPA Exam finish line 🏁. Other episodes referenced in this episode: Episode 7 [https://podcasts.helloaudio.fm/player?episodeId=18d79831-7225-45d8-b9ca-420427394ed3&code=7KFRjk9qXx¢ered=true]: Margaryta’s CPA Exam Success Journey- You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Your Life to Pass the CPA Exam Episode 23 [https://podcasts.helloaudio.fm/player?episodeId=57bfb547-b63f-41ae-9cd5-2bebc0c8853a&code=7KFRjk9qXx¢ered=true]: The 15-Minute Study Session 👉 Get Coached [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/yescpa] if you're ready to be supported, study with confidence, and pass with ease. 💬 Let's Chat [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] if you're stuck or overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. ($27 one-time offer) 🗓️ Join 30-Day Study Challenge [https://buy.stripe.com/dRm9AUfxe35v7a1cvBew80M] if you are in the start-stop study cycle and want to finally make studying a consistent habit. ($67) 📲 Join Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] and get real time support in my Monthly Masterclasses. (Free) 📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message [https://www.instagram.com/cpaexamsuccess/]—I’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Follow & Leave a Review if you found this episode helpful. Your support helps other CPA Exam candidates find this podcast! ©MIAMI COACH CONNECTION, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Miami Coach Connection, Inc. accepts no liability for the content of this podcast, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Individual Results Vary.

33. The Study Shift That Turns Study Time Into a Passing Score

🎙 The Study Shift That Turns Study Time Into a Passing Score Why Studying More Isn’t the Answer — and What Actually Moves You Forward Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn introduces a simple but powerful way to evaluate your study time so you can focus only on what actually produces progress. Many CPA Exam candidates believe they need to study longer to see results. So when progress feels slow, they add more time. But even with longer study sessions, they still feel unsure, stuck, or like nothing is improving. This episode reframes that entire approach. 👉 Click HERE [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1no3F5BEa06E2N5hIJNUKqUUAtCyxcRKs/view?usp=sharing] to to download the workbook and follow along with this episode. The issue is not how many hours you study — it’s how those hours are being used. Dawn walks you through how to shift from asking “How long should I study?” to a much more useful question: Which study activities actually move me closer to passing? You’ll learn how different study activities produce different levels of progress, why some common habits create the illusion of learning, and how to start identifying the activities that give you the highest return on your study time. This episode is for CPA Exam candidates who are putting in the time but not seeing the results — and want a clearer, more effective way to study that actually works.  🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode 1. Why Studying More Hours Doesn’t Solve the Problem Dawn explains why adding more study time often leads to more overwhelm — and sometimes even less follow-through. The challenge isn’t time. It’s how that time is being used. 2. The Real Study Question You Should Be Asking Instead of asking how many hours to study, you’ll learn to ask: Which study activities actually produce progress? This question changes how you approach every study session. 3. Why Some Study Activities Feel Productive — But Aren’t You’ll see how certain habits, like passive review or repeating familiar material, can feel useful while creating little real progress. 4. The Return on Study Time Investment (ROSTI) Matrix Dawn introduces a clear framework with four categories of study activities based on time invested and progress gained — helping you evaluate what’s actually worth your time. 5. How to Identify High-Return Study Activities You’ll learn how to recognize the activities that build understanding quickly and efficiently — and why these should become your priority. 6. What to Minimize (or Eliminate) From Your Study Plan Dawn breaks down the types of activities that consume time without producing results, so you can start reducing or removing them from your routine. 7. The One Question to Ask Before Every Study Session A simple, practical question you can use immediately: What study activity right now will produce the most progress? Key Takeaway Not all study time produces the same results. You don’t need more hours. You need better use of the time you already have. When you focus on study activities that actually produce progress, your sessions become more effective, your confidence starts to build, and your path to passing becomes much clearer. 👉 Click HERE [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/ultimate] to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT. 👉 Click HERE [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] to join my next Masterclass Thanks for listening to today’s episode of the CPA Exam Success Podcast. You’re not behind. You’re refining how you study. And that’s what gets you all the way to the CPA Exam finish line 🏁 👉 Get Coached [https://cpaexamsuccess.my.canva.site/yescpa] if you're ready to be supported, study with confidence, and pass with ease. 💬 Let's Chat [https://miamicoachconnection.as.me/cpaexamsuccess] if you're stuck or overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. ($27 one-time offer) 🗓️ Join 30-Day Study Challenge [https://buy.stripe.com/dRm9AUfxe35v7a1cvBew80M] if you are in the start-stop study cycle and want to finally make studying a consistent habit. ($67) 📲 Join Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/cpaexamsuccess] and get real time support in my Monthly Masterclasses. (Free) 📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message [https://www.instagram.com/cpaexamsuccess/]—I’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Follow & Leave a Review if you found this episode helpful. Your support helps other CPA Exam candidates find this podcast! ©MIAMI COACH CONNECTION, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Miami Coach Connection, Inc. accepts no liability for the content of this podcast, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Individual Results Vary.