Author’s Testimonial

Everyone started as a student of Accounting and maintained the 2’s policy,

received the Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy diploma, passed the CPA licensure
exams and worked in BIG 4. After the audit experienced got hired abroad in a
multinational company.

I have a different story and a challenging one. Year 2002, I got this opportunity to
go abroad in Rome, Italy (Origin of Father of Accounting, Luca Pacioli) , to have a
reunion with my Mother which I did n’t know that she already suffering from
sickness. At a young age of 17, I started to worked as a Dishwasher, then my
journey as an OFW or Overseas Filipino Workers started.

My first job as a dishwasher opened my eyes to reality of working as an OFW, its

not easy and those beautiful facebook/instagram photos are not the reality. I was
the target of bullying. I was physically and mentally maltreated by my first chef , it
was an eye opening experience that I need to build my confidence and resume to
climb up the corporate ladder.

Two years after working as a Dishwasher, my Mother died and I went back to the
Philippines to finished my Accountancy degree in Lyceum of the Philippines
University, Intramuros, Manila. After I graduated in 2007, I was unstoppable, I did
not finished the last semester final exam (hanggang mid term lang ako, at yun na
rin ang nagging Final grades ko, 1.5 ang lowest grade ko ah, lucky to have very
supportive Professors).

I went back to Rome (set aside my unfinished CPA Dreams) still unarmed with
skills, but this time I started learning the language and took vocational culinary
courses and later became a Chef.

I forgot my CPA Dreams, but it hunted me every night. When I moved in Al Ain,
Abu Dhabi, UAE , the spirit of taking the next steps pushed me to take the CPA
SPLE 2016 (equivalent of CPALE) and I passed it in one “GO”.
The moment I received the CPA Title, gives me a broader view of a brighter future
from OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) to OFA (Overseas Filipino Accountant). I
and my classmates during the review decided to put up a CPA Review Center in
the Middle East.

The experiences of the past gave me lessons of a lifetime. I really believed that
being an Accountant is not only crunching numbers and preparation of Financial
Statements. As a Filipino CPA working abroad, we are setting an example to our
beloved “Kababayans” to stand out in the very competitive job market and also
continue the unfinish CPA Dreams.

Be reminded of the Dishwasher that became a Certified Public Accountant, not

only an Overseas Filipino Worker but an Overseas Filipino Accountant (Be proud
because you can be called an IMPORTED ACCOUNTANT). Only few are given this
opportunity to worked abroad, I did not waste it.

Success is a choice, and every successful person has different ways to define it.
Successful person can have a million pesos in the bank but with a broken family.
Successful person achieved fame but lost all his friends and family. A successful
Accountant is the one whom able to inspire others the way he lives, and his able
to manifest that God is with him all the time and nothing is impossible in this
complex world.

Currently, I’m holding a position as Review Director of CPARME , Center for

Professional Advancement Middle East, and also vlogging in my Youtube,
Facebook Page and blogsite www.cpadreams.com .

Enjoy your CPA Dreams journey !

Introduction

Time is the greatest resource on earth. This is also a limited resources for every
individual and the limit is only 24 hours a day. All of us are given the same
amount of time. It’s up to us on how we are going to allocate the time properly
and spend it wisely (parang pera lang din, nauubos ito).

From the time you wake up, you should think of how the whole day will looks like.
I have this practice every morning to visualize how my day will start and end, it’s
like driving a car. You will be the driver of your own car (Ikaw ang may hawak ng
oras mo).

During my CPA review, I used to sleep only for 6 hours, from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am
in the morning. As they said, the body needs 8 hours of sleep, this is not 100%
true, what the body needs is a quality sleep. You need to have the correct setting
of your body’s biological clock.

The CPA review is very challenging because I personally need to juggle from my
full time work, as a father to my little daughter and a husband to my wife. In
addition, it was after 9 years from my graduation (daming updates and changes,
obsolete na rin ang napag-aralan ko at maraming standards na binago na).

I enrolled on review classes for Friday sessions for almost 10 months, 40 days
lecture sessions compared to those full time reviewees with 120 days lecture
sessions. Take note, I’m travelling from Al Ain to Dubai (3 hours from my place to
review center, parang Batangas to Manila).
I really need to manage my time everyday and free time are spent for studying
and practice tests (MCQs). Time is one of my obstacle and its also the time of my
life when my Father was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. (Hindi ako sumuko at
wala akong sinayang na oras para sa Ekonomiya este para sa pangarap na CPA
title).

For the following pages, I will share with you my own strategy and the habits that
I developed during the CPA review and this habits stay and remain with me even
until today. (Hindi lang pangreview, ito ay magagamit din ng mga undergraduate,
ngayun pa lang follow the guidelines and create the habits)

Habits can be formed by doing it on the upcoming 21 days, this is the time that it
will become an automatic trigger in your life. Did you notice how do you brush
your teeth? You do it everyday with same brand of toothpaste – Colgate, at the
same time, at the same place. This is also applies in forming the right habits.

You study on the same place (Library), you sit on the same chair (malayo sa mga
classmates, para hindi mapagalitan ng librarian), you study at the same time
during the break in between classes. “Kaya ngayun pa lang kailangan na natin
gawin ang SP , SC , ST , Same Place, Same Chair, Same Time for studying).

Habits defined you. If there is 7 habits of highly effective people, there is also
habits of highly effective students:

Let’s get started and grind the 7 habits of highly effective students.
First Habit - Goal Setting

A dream without a deadline will always be a dream. We need to have a set

deadline for every dreams. I know you heard already about the SMART goals,
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound.

S for Specific

What is your specific goal?

I want to become a CPA, Certified Public Accountant by October 2020.

Another question, Why this goal is very important for you?

There should be a deeper WHY? You should start with your WHY?

Probably, brighter future, self fulfillment, realization of families dreams and

aspirations, to help my siblings and parents, etc. etc.

M for Measurable

You should measure your progress on this CPA journey, if you are a student then
this can be easily measured thru the quizzes and exams given by your Professors.
If you are a CPA reviewees, then the Pre-board exams or even the drills will be
your gauge. (minsan ang sukatan din ay gaano kadami na ang na practice mo
problems & mcqs).

You need to reflect with your progress. No one can measure it except you.

A for Achievable

I will be short for the explanation of Achievable.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13
R for Relevant

You are the one responsible in achieving your CPA dreams. No doubt, you need to
have a support system that could be from your family, friends and classmates.
This goal of becoming a CPA gives lot of promises, if you will ask me if the title is
relevant today? Yes, yesterday, today and tomorrow , even if the technology
becomes very modern and robots replaced the bookkeeping tasks, they need a
CPA to sign the FS and who can make an interpretation and issue
recommendations for sound decisions.

T for Time Bound

Every dreams should have a deadline and a set target date. You need to focus on
the set target date, you cannot take a subject and keep failing and failing (drop
muna lang ). Also remember once you set a target date, put on your head that
there will be no other dates. Second chance is only applicable to movies, you only
have one chance because after the second chance you need to have a refresher
certificates (hahaba ang agony ng parents mo ksi dagdag gastos na naman yan).

Action steps, write your goal on a piece of paper and post it on your bathroom,
dorm room, or anywhere where you can see it everyday.
Second Habit – Focus

Let’s face it, everyone can easily be distracted especially with social media that
you always want to connect and the “FOMO” culture, Fear Of Missing Out. We
want always to belong and updated with the latest.

I have another acronym “FOFC”, Fear Of Failing Cpale, you should have this fear
because this will push you to study hard. Suffer the pain of studying or suffer the
pain of regrets.

Once you become a CPA, believed me there will be more time to post on FB
especially when your name appears on the list of CPALE passers (lalo na mababa
ang passing percentage ngayon, mas masaya magselfie kung hawak muna a ID
card with CPA title).

Another possible distractions during the CPA journey is the unexpected things or
situations that could happened. Those are the uncontrollable circumstances like a
sudden death of loved ones (my mother passed away during the time I’m working
as a dishwasher in Rome that also lead me to finish the CPA journey), sickness ,
lack of financial support, etc. etc.

You need to prepare yourself to be physically, mentally, emotionally and

spiritually tough. You will always be distracted but always remember to focus on
your CPA dreams.

Action steps, when the situation is getting harder and tougher, take a moment
to pray and unplugged yourself from the books and review materials.
Before we jump on the third and fourth habits, we need to understand how to
learn faster but the key for third and fourth habits is to be patient and enjoy the
learning journey.

You need to understand your ability to learn, there are three different modalities

visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Visual learners should focus on reading and watching.

Auditory learners focuses on listening.

Kinesthetic is on practice. The kinesthetic is not part of the 7 habits because as a

student, we need to answer assignments and quizzes which already the practice
part.

Another fastest way of learning is to actually find a mentor that could guide you in
this CPA journey. Mentor could be your friend, classmates, co-reviewees ,
professors, and yours truly. You can join my mentorship program on Taxation, just
go to my FB page and you will be updated on the opening of registration

https://www.facebook.com/CPADREAMS/

Now, let’s continue building the next habits.

Third Habit – Reading

If you are on freshman year and you don’t like reading, I have one advise for you :

“maraming ibang courses na hindi kailangan magbasa ng magbasa, shift ka na lang

habang maaga pa” .

When I said reading, it means comprehensive reading. You need not only to read
for the purpose of finishing the chapter assignment, it involves comprehension.
Comprehensive reading meaning understanding the concepts.

When I attend testimonial nights, a common advise from the passers is to get the
concepts not memorize the company or problems. (kasi nga pagbaliktarin at
baliktarin man ang problems, you can solve it pa rin).

What is the right approach in studying?

Read the theory first and interpret it on your own words. After that take a sample
problems, then solve it. Again, if you could not answer the problems, you can ask
your Professor for help, or even your seatmate (kung hindi pa rin nya maexplain
message mo lang ang Accounting Coach Survival Tips Mentor mo, “ako yun”).

Action step, read one chapter a day of your accounting book.

Fourth Habit – Writing

When Professor discuss and share important concepts, it’s like an automatic
response for every students to write. There is a problem, if you just write without
understanding the discussions, it will be useless.

You only write what you understood during the discussions not every words
coming out from his saliva.

Let’s face it, very few students are gifted with photographic memory. This is why
we need to take down notes.

You can have a bunch of flashcards/indexcards and summarized every

discussions. You can easily go back at the end of the day.

Some people wants a small notebook of every subject, this is good because you
can give it to the next batch after you become a CPA. Same applies to your
accounting books. Highlights and write on your books, the value of the second
hand book will depreciate even if it looks new one because the edition keeps
changing yearly. Edition 2018, 2019, 2020(kung walang updates ang standard
same lang ang laman nyan)

Action steps, buy an index cards or notebook and start taking down notes.
Fifth Habit – Scheduling

This is one big mistakes of students. They will always say “And Daming Hindi Ko Pa
Naaaral tapos Quiz Na”. The issue here is because you did not make a schedule of
your waterloo topics (yung mahirap na topic pinabayaan mo at pinili mo lang
pagaralan ang madaling aralin).

During my CPA review, I used a Microsoft excel sheet where I monitored the
topics that I needed to study with the date and time. I will have my schedule set
because I don’t want to missed any topics and waste my valuable time.

Action steps, start to make a calendar and a to do list.

Sixth Habit – Join a Study Group

Sharing is caring. You should join a study group, don’t pretend that you already
know everything. We are living in a modern world, you can join a chat group,
telegram, whatsapp, forums, etc.etc. Connect with other CPA aspirants.

Surround yourself with positive and honour students, Why? Because you will
become one of them.

During my undergrad, I was part of mythical 5, those students that represent the
school for quizbee competition. Guess what! I keep losing till one day I became
the champion of Business Law & Taxation Quizbee and also our team won in
PRTC Regional competition.

There is a quote “You will become the average of 5 people that you spend your
most time with” . “kung addict ang mga kabarkada mo, believed me you will end
up drug addict as well”

Action steps, look for study group within your circles and join them.

Now, for the Seventh Habit.

Seventh Habit – Pray everyday

I don’t know what is your religious beliefs but there is one common denominator
for every denominations and religions that is PRAYER. Did you notice in every
program or ceremony, the starting point is Opening prayer and National Anthem?

They are the starting point because they will pray for the program to be
successful. Prayer is one of the most powerful tool to achieve your CPA dreams.

If you want to be successful, please do start praying everyday.

It does n’t mean you achieved your CPA Title, then you stop praying. We pray for
every victories and failures, winnings and losses, sickness and in health, better
and worse.

Action step, start a daily prayer before going to sleep.

Congratulations!

I hope you learned the 7 habits of highly effective students and do the action
steps to form the habits in your life.

I’m wishing you all the blessings and that one day your dreams will become a
reality.

Jonathan Ruiz, CPA

Accounting Coach Survival Tips

P.S. Please share this link:

https://mailchi.mp/510bf1daf0a8/timemanagementguide

to your friends or colleagues to download the guide.

Also if you like the guide, please give some feedbacks and review on my fb page:
https://www.facebook.com/CPADREAMS/