Test. I don’t know about you, but the mere thought of that word causes me sheer anxiety and trepidation. Throughout my life, taking tests has always given rise to my blood pressure and often brought me to a full-on panic. Yes, I studied. I prepared. I knew the subject matter cold. Didn’t matter. Panic lived inside of me like a famished shark, waiting to eat me alive.
Countless quizzes and tests in elementary, middle and high school, each more important than the last. ACTs. College. Midterms. Finals. Then, credentials.
I graduated (somehow in spite of all those tests) with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. After which you sit for the CPA exam…aka a hellish torture. I studied…a lot. I didn’t pass. It was hard. I tried again. Nope. A third time. No charm. After the 4th try and failure, I started to question the whole thing. Maybe I just wasn’t supposed to be a CPA.
Around that time (2002 to be exact), I had co-founded our wealth management firm and had started to become more interested and engaged with investments and financial planning. Fortunately, I studied for and passed the Series 65 licensing exam which gave me the ability to give financial advice. Then, I passed the Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) designation, a very unknown credential in our field, but it gave me a few letters behind my name. But, shortly after came Kid #1 aka Eliana (2006). Then ‘08 Global Financial Crisis in which the year also included Kid #2 aka Kya. Then Kid #3 aka Everett (2011). All the while growing and caring for our firm, my family and my health / sanity.
There was one designation I was particularly interested in for the education and the ultimate credibility it would provide. The Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation. Three levels of testing over a vast and broad amount of academic and technical investment curriculum that would serve as a foundation for application of astutely managing client portfolios at my firm.
So, I buckled down. Studied. Learned. Took Level 1…and failed.
Tests. Even typing the word makes my stomach ache.
I took a deep breath, reassessed and pressed on. I’d go on to fail each of the 3 levels of the CIMA test the first time, only to pass each of them the 2nd time I sat for them.
Tests. While not academic, each day brings its own tests, yes? Perhaps for you it’s trying to answer questions like:
How do I keep my marriage together?
How do I connect with my adrift teenager?
How do I stay healthy?
What can I do to make a difference?
Does my life really matter?
These ‘tests’ can certainly cause anxiety and panic. So, what shall we do? Well, you can use past life experiences to draw upon. Even failures along the way weren’t all that bad. You recovered and moved on, didn’t you? Well, the same can be said of this test too. Take a deep breath, step into the question, study, learn, and apply the answer.
Sure, it’s a daily battle. But, with a little work and determination, you can pass with flying colors.
And, maybe sprinkle in a little secret sauce…gratitude. Being grateful for this day and the unforeseen challenges that will certainly come with it can change a hard test into a rewarding one.
So, how are you doing on this test? If you’re alive, you’re surely going through one.
Head up, shoulders back. You’ve prepared well. Step forward with boldness. Pass this test.
And live with purpose today.
