🎙 The Simple Study System – Part 2: Track to Stay on Track\

The 5 Essential Steps to Track Your CPA Exam Study Time and Build Real Consistency

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dawn continues Part 2 of her Simple Study System with a focused look at tracking — and why tracking your actual study time is one of the most powerful tools for building consistency, confidence, and momentum on the CPA Exam.

Instead of relying on guesses or judging yourself based on how long you planned to study, this lesson shows you how to track what actually happens when you sit down to study. Dawn explains why tracking creates awareness first, and how that awareness leads to better decisions, less frustration, and more effective study sessions.

This episode is designed for CPA candidates who want to study consistently but keep feeling distracted, discouraged, or unsure if what they’re doing is actually working. Tracking gives you the clarity to stop fighting yourself and start working with how your brain really functions.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why Tracking Matters for CPA Exam Success

Dawn explains why accountants don’t guess — and why your study time shouldn’t be any different. Tracking shows you what’s actually happening, not what you think is happening, so you can make decisions based on facts instead of frustration.

2. How to Track Your Actual Study Time

You’ll learn how to use a simple timer to track only focused study time, when to start and stop the clock, and why distractions don’t count — without turning tracking into a source of pressure or judgment.

3. What Study Stamina Is and How to Work With It

Dawn introduces the concept of study stamina and explains how long your brain can realistically focus before needing a break. You’ll learn why starting with what’s real, not ideal, leads to more consistency and better results.

4. How to Track Without Judgment or Self-Criticism

This section focuses on using tracking as neutral information. Dawn explains how curiosity replaces criticism, why trial and error is part of the process, and how awareness always comes before improvement.

5. How to Use Tracking Data to Make Better Study Decisions

You’ll learn how to adjust your study plan based on real data — not guilt or “shoulds.” Dawn explains how working with your natural focus patterns helps prevent burnout, reduce overwhelm, and build a study system that actually works for you.

Key Takeaway

Tracking isn’t about perfection or discipline — it’s about awareness. When you track your study time without judgment, you stop wasting energy fighting yourself and start building a study system that supports consistent progress all the way to the CPA Exam finish line.

👉 Click HERE to access the lesson slide deck.

👉 Click HERE for the link to purchase the Activity Tracker Dawn uses and recommends. (This is NOT an affiliate link. Any timer/activity tracker will work.)

👉 Click HERE to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT.

Thanks for listening to Part 2 of The Simple Study System. This is the same system you’ll repeat for every section of the CPA Exam as you continue building confidence, consistency, and momentum toward your final passing score.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success! (This 🔗 takes you to all currently available free and paid resources.)

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Episode 19: Plan Your 2026 CPA Exam Success

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dawn walks you through how to plan your 2026 CPA Exam Success by learning directly from your 2025 experience.

Instead of starting over with another “perfect” plan, this episode shows you how to keep what helped, change what didn’t, and build a study plan that actually fits real life. You’ll learn how to break the start–stop cycle by planning with clarity instead of pressure.

This lesson is especially for candidates who have high goals but keep getting pulled off track by work, family, fatigue, or unexpected disruptions.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clear process for turning what happened in 2025 into a realistic, sustainable plan for 2026.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why planning for the result without planning for real life leads to repeated setbacks

• How to review your 2025 CPA Exam experience without judgment

• What to keep and what to release from last year

• How to define success for 2026 in a way that feels realistic and motivating

• How to build a study plan that works during normal weeks and fluctuating weeks

• How to create a continuation strategy so life interruptions don’t cause you to stop

• Why smaller, sustainable plans lead to more consistent follow-through

The 5-Step Planning Process Covered

1. Review what actually happened in 2025
2. Identify what helped and what got in the way
3. Set a clear and realistic 2026 goal
4. Build a study plan that matches real life
5. Create a strategy for life’s fluctuations and distractions

Action Step

Set aside one hour this week to work through the five steps covered in this episode. You can do them all at once or break them into smaller sessions. The goal is not speed — the goal is clarity.

Click HERE to download the Workbook.

Click HERE to download the Lesson Slides

Recommended Episodes

For additional support with planning and follow-through, listen to:

• Episode 2 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast: Planning

• Episode 12 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast: Your CPA Exam Passing System – A Real Plan for Real Life

These episodes will help reinforce how to build a plan that fits your life and how to stay engaged when distractions show up.

Click HERE to join my CPA Exam Confident! 30 in 30 Challenge.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success! (This 🔗 takes you to all currently available free and paid resources.)

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙 The Simple Study System – Part 1: Schedule to Make It Real

The 5 Essential Steps to Create a Weekly CPA Exam Study Schedule That Actually Works

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dawn kicks off Part 1 of her Simple Study System with a deep dive into scheduling. Instead of vague advice or overly complicated plans, she walks you step by step through a simple, repeatable process you can complete in just 15 minutes each week.

This episode is designed to help you create a study schedule that fits into your real life. Dawn explains how CPA exam preparation doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and why looking at your entire week is the key to staying consistent without burnout.

You’ll learn how to decide on your weekly study sessions, account for work, family, and personal responsibilities, and intentionally schedule your time so studying stops feeling overwhelming and starts feeling doable.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. How to Plan Your Weekly Study Schedule in 15 Minutes

Dawn explains how to set aside just 15 minutes each week to plan your study sessions, then rinse and repeat. This approach removes daily decision fatigue and gives you clarity for the entire week.

2. How to Decide on Study Sessions Before Scheduling Them

You’ll learn how to choose the number of study hours for the week, break them into realistic study sessions, and list them before placing anything on your calendar.

3. How to Account for Your Whole Life (Not Just Studying)

Dawn walks you through listing all weekly tasks and activities including work, family responsibilities, self-care, meals, and sleep, then prioritizing them so studying fits into your actual schedule.

4. The Difference Between Fixed, Flexible, and Free Time

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify fixed time that must happen at specific times

• Schedule flexible time for priorities that need consistency but not rigidity

• Protect free time so your schedule doesn’t get overtaken by other people’s urgencies

5. How to Create a Trial Schedule and Adjust It Over Time

Dawn explains why scheduling is a process of trial and error and how, after a few weeks of testing and adjusting, you’ll land on a schedule that supports consistent studying and long-term CPA Exam Success.

Key Takeaway

You are the guardian of your time. When you intentionally schedule fixed time, flexible time, and free time, you stop reacting to your week and start leading it. This process helps you build consistency without sacrificing the rest of your life.

👉 Click HERE to access the lesson slide deck.

👉 Click HERE for your FREE 🎁: Custom GPT Scheduler that walks you through this entire process step-by-step.

👉 Click HERE to get your FREE Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist download and custom GPT.

Thanks for listening to Part 1 of The Simple Study System. In upcoming episodes, Dawn will continue breaking down her Simple Study System so you know exactly how to Track, Assess, and Reward your progress all the way to the CPA Exam finish line 🏁.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success! (This 🔗 takes you to all currently available free and paid resources.)

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Episode 17 — Finding Time You Didn’t Know You Had

So many CPA candidates tell me they “just can’t find the time,” and I hear this more often than any other challenge. The truth is: it’s rarely about discipline. It’s usually about having a plan that matches your real life — and most people don’t.

In this episode, we explore a simple, compassionate approach to understanding where your time is actually going. Not with restriction or pressure, but with curiosity. Once you become aware of how your day is truly unfolding, pockets of time begin to reveal themselves — often without changing anything in your life.

We also talk about the different ways people relate to time: the time optimist, the time pessimist, and the time realist. Seeing yourself in one of these patterns can help you create a schedule that supports you instead of stressing you.

If you’ve been feeling behind, overwhelmed, or unsure how to fit studying into an already full schedule, this episode will help you see your time in a new, more empowering way. A few small adjustments can make consistency so much easier.

Quick reflection: What’s one small window of time you’re ready to reclaim for something that truly matters to you?

Tune in to Episode 17 to learn how to uncover the time you already have — and use it with more clarity, confidence, and ease.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success! (This 🔗 takes you to all currently available free and paid resources.)

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙️ 5 Simple Ways to Study Without Stress and Enjoy the Holidays

The holiday season can leave many CPA Exam candidates feeling stretched thin. End-of-year deadlines, family commitments, travel, and social plans all collide with your study goals—and it’s easy to feel like you have to choose one or the other.

But you don’t have to. You can enjoy the holidays and make meaningful progress toward your CPA Exam Success with clarity, intention, and ease.

In this episode, I walk you through five simple ways to study without stress and still enjoy the season—so you can stop second-guessing yourself and start following through in a way that supports your life and your goals.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

🎯 How to define a realistic year-end goal using duration—not completion

📅 How to schedule your study time so it supports both progress and celebration

🪷 How to set up a study space that feels calm, clear, and easy to return to

🎁 Why mini rewards help you stay consistent without added pressure

🛡️ How boundaries protect your energy, your time, and your commitments

You’ll also hear real stories from candidates navigating this season—like the client who found a test date that gave her both the review time she wanted and the family time she valued simply by looking at her calendar with intention.

And we finish with three gentle reminders:

⚖️ Support your energy in ways that keep you steady

✨ Let small, consistent steps work in your favor

🏁 Stay connected to the bigger goal you’re moving toward

If you want extra support, CLICK HERE to download the holiday planning worksheet that helps you map out your year-end study plan and keep your next steps visible.

If you’re listening during Consult Week, CLICK HERE to book your free 15-minute strategy call. If you’re listening later, use the same link to check availability.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to move through this season with clarity, consistency, and confidence—so you can enjoy what matters most to you and stay connected to your CPA Exam Success.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙️ All In or All Out? The Moment You Stop Debating and Start Deciding

There comes a point in every CPA Exam candidate’s journey when you realize you can’t stay halfway in anymore.

You want to pass—but part of you still doubts it’s possible. That quiet tug-of-war drains your focus, your energy, and your motivation.

Half commitment creates full exhaustion.

It’s not that you can’t pass the CPA Exam—it’s that you haven’t decided how you’ll show up yet.

When you commit fully, everything gets simpler:

✅ Your plan gets clearer

✅ Your schedule feels lighter

✅ Your belief grows stronger

Indecision burns more energy than action ever will.

In this episode, I share the simple but powerful decision that brings relief and clarity: choosing to be all in or all out—with intention. No more back-and-forth. Just one clear answer for today.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✨ How to reclaim your time and energy with one clean daily decision

✨ What “all in” really looks like—steady, not extreme

✨ How willingness—not perfect belief—keeps you moving forward

✨ How to use my CPA Exam Success Formula to create structure you can trust

✨ How the STAR Framework (Schedule, Track, Assess, Reward) becomes your built-in feedback loop for progress

I also share real client stories that show how clarity changes everything—how one decision to stop debating and start deciding became the turning point in their CPA Exam preparation.

Whether your answer today is all in or all out, my hope is that you walk away with permission to choose clearly, rest fully, and come back focused.

🎧 Listen now to discover how clarity—not pressure—moves you toward your CPA Exam Success, one intentional decision at a time.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎧 Episode 14 — Inside CPA Exam Success Mastery Group Coaching Program (Live Replay)

This episode is a replay from our free Facebook community where I walk you through CPA Exam Success Mastery—what it is, who it’s for, and how you can finally pass the CPA Exam with confidence and ease (without putting your life on hold).

💡 At-a-Glance

• 👥 Who it’s for: Busy CPA Exam candidates ready to reclaim their life and their time—and finally PASS the CPA Exam with Confidence and Ease

• ⏰ Deadline: Join by October 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET to unlock limited-time bonuses

• 🚀 Join CPA Exam Success Mastery →

📘 What’s Included

• Core Course via Private Podcast — short, clear lessons that turn overwhelm into direction

• Simple Companion Workbook — reflection prompts and quick wins

• Live Group Coaching (2–4 calls/month) — mindset + strategy coaching (live or replays)

• Private Community — accountability, encouragement, and support

💬 You don’t need to overhaul your life—just a few focused shifts make all the difference.

💵 Pricing Options

• $97/month (cancel anytime)

• $997 pay-in-full (access up to 30 months—ideal if you want support through all sections)

🎁 Bonuses — Over $1,200 in Added Value!

Join by October 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET and get all of this at no additional cost

Included Limited-Time Bonuses:

• One Month Free — $97 value

• 1:1 Strategy Session (60 min) — $250 value (use by year-end)

• 90-Day Plan Workshop + Workbook — $97 value

• 30-Day Challenge + Workbook — $30 value

• Advanced Time Management Series — $297 value

• Ask Dawn AI Coaching Tool — $197 value

• AI Study Tools Suite (Coming Soon) — $250 value (Blueprint Builder, Pre-Exam Strategy GPT, Post-Exam Debrief AI)

Total Bonus Value: $1,218 — all included when you join during this offer window.

👉 Ready to simplify your study process and make real progress?

Join CPA Exam Success Mastery now →

✅ Satisfaction Guarantee

Try the program for two full months (if you join by October 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET).

If you show up (listen to lessons, use the workbook, attend or watch replays, and document takeaways) and it’s not helping, cancel by December 25, 2025, to receive a full $97 refund.

Clear, simple, and completely risk-free.

💭 Mindset Shifts You’ll Experience

💡 “I’m behind” → “I’m building a system that works.”

💡 “I need more time” → “I need a plan that fits my real life.”

💡 “Work harder” → “Let it be easier—and more effective.”

💡 “Maybe later” → “All-in or all-out (for now), on purpose.”

🕒 The End of the Year Is Coming Fast…

🌟 All-out option: Pause studying, close the CPA Exam tab, enjoy this season fully, and return in January refreshed, recharged, and ready—intentionally. (Benefit: reduced mental load and a clean restart.)

🌟 All-in option: Commit to small, consistent action—10 minutes/day of lessons + minimum of 15 minutes/day of study + 2 hours/month of coaching. Stack small wins and head into January already in stride. (Benefit: protected energy and steady momentum.)

🔗 Next Step:

• 🎯 Join CPA Exam Success Mastery

• 🔗 Check out details of the program

🌟You can PASS the CPA Exam—and feel good doing it. When you fully commit, plan intentionally for your real life, and take aligned, confident action, progress becomes not only predictable but inevitable.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

💬 Join the Free Facebook Group

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Episode 13: How to Pass the CPA Exam with Confidence and Ease — Without Stress, Struggle, or Sacrifice

Do you ever feel like you’re “behind” in your CPA Exam prep?

That thought alone can keep you stuck in frustration instead of moving forward with clarity.

In this episode, I’ll show you how to let go of the urgency, simplify your approach, and study in a way that’s both effective and sustainable. You’ll discover how to move forward as your Future-CPA-Self—without adding unnecessary stress, struggle, or sacrifice.

Here’s what you’ll learn in Episode 13:

✨ Why consistency always beats rushing (think tortoise > hare)

✨ How to use duration goals to gather honest study data

✨ The power of recalibrating—what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next

✨ Why simplifying to one or two resources saves time and accelerates progress

✨ How to apply the scientific method to your CPA Exam prep: hypothesize → test → analyze → adjust

You’ll also get practical strategies you can use today—like the “first five minutes” approach and designing a realistic study plan that fits your life.

The big shift? Passing the CPA Exam doesn’t require rushing, piling on resources, or sacrificing your life. You can choose clarity, confidence, and ease—and let your system unfold one informed study block at a time.

🎧 Tune in now to reframe how you study and move forward toward your CPA Exam Success with confidence and ease.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙️ Episode 12: Your CPA Exam Passing System — A Real Plan for Real Life

Do you ever feel like your study effort isn’t matching your results?

You’ve committed. You’ve planned. You’ve even taken action.

But somehow, the progress just doesn’t add up.

You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re simply ready for something more refined:

👉 Not just a schedule.

👉 Not just another plan.

👉 But a system that works with your life.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to use your time, energy, and focus as part of a true CPA Exam Passing System—one that’s realistic, repeatable, and built for real life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✨ Why starting with your real time and energy (not the “ideal” version) is the key to lasting consistency

✨ How to see your time as an account, not just a schedule—and use it wisely

✨ Why building a study rhythm matters more than chasing perfect conditions

✨ How the 🌟 STAR Framework (Schedule, Track, Assess, Reward) turns effort into steady progress

✨ The Track → Train → Compound loop that transforms study sessions into sustainable momentum

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

🔗 The Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist

🔗 The 30 in 30 Challenge

🔗 Chat with me to see if 1:1 coaching is the right fit for you

🔗 ATimeLogger app for tracking study sessions (not an affiliate link)

This system isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about studying smarter, building trust in yourself, and creating steady momentum toward your CPA Exam Success.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how to stop starting over and start moving forward with a real plan that fits your life.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎧 Episode 11 – Self-Trust: The Hidden Ingredient to Reaching the CPA Exam Finish Line

⛓️‍💥 Broken Promises = 💔Broken Progress on the CPA Exam

Episode Summary:

If you’ve ever said “I’ll study tonight” and then didn’t—this episode is for you. Most CPA Exam candidates assume the struggle is about time, material, or motivation. But what quietly stalls progress is the erosion of self-trust—the subtle doubt that builds each time you don’t follow through on a promise to yourself.

In this episode, Dawn explains why self-trust—not pressure or guilt—is the steady force that turns intentions into action. You’ll learn how small, repeatable commitments compound into confidence, shift your identity into someone who follows through, and carry you to the CPA Exam finish line.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ Why lack of self-trust—not lack of time—keeps candidates stuck

✅ How small, consistent promises build your “self-trust muscle”

✅ What happens when studying stops being a negotiation and becomes a promise you honor

✅ How identity shifts (from “I procrastinate” to “I follow through”) create lasting momentum

✅ Why self-trust spills over into work, relationships, and well-being

✅ How the STAR Study Framework supports reliable follow-through (Schedule, Track, Assess, Reward)

What Self-Trust Looks Like in Practice:

• Decide on one doable commitment—and keep it (e.g., a short set of MCQs or a focused 30 minutes).
• Align your actions with your word—especially on ordinary days.
• Expect discomfort at first; honor the block you planned anyway.
• Let repeated follow-through build evidence-based confidence.
• Watch the identity shift: from doubt to dependable.

Truth Check + Reflection Prompt:

• What is one small promise you’ll keep with yourself this week?
• Where do you most feel the urge to bargain (“I’ll catch up tomorrow”)?
• How will you apply Schedule, Track, Assess, Reward to reinforce your follow-through?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• 🌟 STAR Study Framework — Schedule study blocks that match your real energy, Track what actually happens (without judgment), Assess what’s working/what needs to shift, Reward yourself for showing up.
• ✅ The Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist (Free) — Use it (and Dawn’s custom GPT (Free) that walks you through it) to design your Ideal and Unique Study System with ease.
• 🎯 CPA Exam Confident! 30 in 30 Study Challenge — $30 for 30 days of supported, consistent study—one study hour at a time—to build self-trust and momentum you can sustain.
• 🤝 15-Minute CPA Exam Success Chat (Free)— Explore next steps and learn about a special 4-week 1:1 coaching option available to challenge participants.

Final Takeaway:

You don’t need more pressure to move forward—you need self-trust. Keep one small promise today. Repeat it tomorrow. That steady follow-through is what carries you all the way to your CPA Exam Success.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎧 Episode 10 – Five Signs You’re Truly Ready to Study for the CPA Exam

CPA Exam Success Podcast with Dawn Edelstein CPA

Episode Summary:

If studying for the CPA Exam feels like pushing a boulder uphill—you're not alone. And you're not broken. More often than not, the frustration and lack of progress aren’t about intelligence, effort, or even your study plan.

In this episode, Dawn unpacks five clear signs that you’re truly ready to study—not just on paper, but in real life. When these signs are missing, study sessions become inconsistent, overwhelming, and draining. But when they’re present? You gain clarity, momentum, and a calm, repeatable rhythm that actually works.

Whether you're just starting, restarting, or wondering why progress still feels hard—this episode gives you the insight and tools to move forward with confidence.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ Why readiness is an internal shift—not a perfect schedule

✅ What quiet willingness looks like (and why motivation isn’t required)

✅ How to create space for study inside your actual life

✅ Why failure isn’t a setback, but a sign of engagement

✅ How to stop rushing and start building a system that lasts

✅ What to do when your resistance is louder than your reason

The Five Signs You’re Ready to Study for the CPA Exam:

1. You’re willing to put in the time and focus.
2. You’ve considered how studying will—and won’t—impact your life.
3. You’re prepared to fail—if that’s what it takes to figure it out.
4. You’re in it for the long haul—no shortcuts, no panic.
5. Your reason for wanting this is stronger than your resistance.

Truth Check + Reflection Prompt:

At the end of the episode, Dawn invites you to reflect on each readiness sign and check in with honesty.

Which ones earned a yes?

Which ones need strengthening?

👉 Download the free Episode 10 Worksheet to go deeper with personalized prompts and micro-actions for each sign of readiness.

Mentioned in This Episode:

🎯 The 30-Day CPA Exam Confident Challenge

✨ Join Anytime ✨

You’ll get:

– 30 days of focused study support

– A guided email sequence with all of the lesson replays

– Access to the private Facebook group

📚 Margaryta’s CPA Exam Success Story

From three FAR failures to passing the entire CPA Exam—proving that resilience, not perfection, is what carries you to the finish line.

Listen to Episode 7 for her full journey.

Final Takeaway:

Readiness isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build.

You don’t need perfect conditions to begin.

You need clarity, intention, and one step forward.

This episode helps you find that step—and take it.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙️ Episode 9: Trying to Finish Everything Is Exactly Why You’re Not Finishing the CPA Exam—Here’s What to Do Instead

Are you stuck chasing a never-ending to-do list—and still not making real progress on the CPA Exam?

In this episode, we unpack the hidden trap of completion goals and why they’re keeping you from the finish line.

If you’re constantly telling yourself, “I just need to get through this…” — this mindset shift is going to change everything.

You’ll learn how to shift your focus to duration-based goals that actually help you stay consistent, reduce burnout, and build the momentum you need to pass with confidence and ease.

💡 In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The #1 mindset keeping smart, capable candidates stuck in the spin cycle
• Why completion goals are sabotaging your study process—even when they feel productive
• The power of duration goals (and how to set them the right way)
• A new approach to progress that builds belief, consistency, and results

Want to start making real progress toward your CPA Exam Success? Download the Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist—your go-to guide for setting up a study plan that actually works for you. The Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist is a step-by-step guide to structuring your study plan so you can make real progress without unnecessary stress.

Download the Checklist & More Here

Join the Conversation:

I’d love to hear about your study plan! Send me a message and let me know what timeline you’re choosing and how you’re structuring your study sessions. Remember, you’re not in this alone!

Thank you for tuning in! Until next time, keep believing in yourself and in your CPA Exam Success!

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

From ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I Can’: The Identity Shift Every CPA Exam Candidate Needs

You’re not just stuck in your study plan.

You might be stuck in an identity that’s quietly keeping you from making real progress.

In this episode, we go deeper than strategies and schedules to uncover the mindset patterns that shape how you study, how you recover from setbacks—and whether you keep going at all.

This is about more than passing. It’s about who you believe you are in the process.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

✅ The subtle ways your “I can’t” identity shows up in your study habits

✅ Why feeling stuck doesn’t always mean doing nothing

✅ The truth about failure—and why it’s not a verdict

✅ How to close the mental CPA Exam tab that’s draining your energy

✅ The Reset Rhythm: Awareness, Boundaries, Reset

✅ How to shift into the “I can” identity—with grounded confidence, not pressure

🎧 Whether you're starting over or starting fresh, this episode will help you reset with clarity, confidence, and a mindset that moves you forward.

🔗 Ready to stop second-guessing and start making real progress?

Join the workshop: How to Pass the CPA Exam One Section at a Time

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Episode 7 – You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Your Life to Pass the CPA Exam: Margaryta’s CPA Exam Success Journey

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Margaryta, who shares how she went from self-doubt and burnout to passing all four CPA exam sections—without putting her life on hold.

She failed FAR multiple times and believed she wasn’t smart enough to pass. But instead of giving up, she learned to study in a way that supported her—not drained her.

We talk about the exact shifts that made all the difference, including how she tracked her time, protected her energy, set real boundaries, and totally reframed her mindset on exam day.

You’ll hear how she went from:

• Studying in her car at lunch and feeling like a failure

• To taking walks, going on vacation, and showing up calm and confident on exam day

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to track your time and study more efficiently

✨ Why rest and boundaries are not a luxury—they’re a strategy

✨ What mindset Margaryta used to walk into the exam to yield an 81 score

✨ How to rinse and repeat your ideal and unique study system

If you’ve ever felt like this exam demands your entire life, Margaryta’s story is the proof you need:

You can pass—and feel good doing it!

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

🎙️ Episode 6: The 5 Mistakes That Make the CPA Exam Harder Than It Has to Be

If you’ve ever wondered why the CPA Exam feels so overwhelming—even when you’re “doing all the right things”—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing the five mistakes I see CPA Exam candidates make again and again (because I made them too). These aren’t just study missteps—they’re mindset and strategy errors that can quietly stall your progress and drain your motivation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why thinking too big can keep you stuck—and what to do instead

✅ How independence can backfire when it turns into isolation

✅ The subtle (but dangerous) mistake of sacrificing your well-being

✅ How comparison chips away at your confidence—and how to rebuild it

✅ The truth about failure (and how to stop fearing it before it happens)

Whether you’re just starting or stuck in the messy middle, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and reset—so you can move forward with clarity, calm, and confidence.

🔗 Ready to stop second-guessing and start making real progress?

Join the workshop: How to Pass the CPA Exam One Section at a Time

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Break Through Self-Doubt and Build Belief in Your CPA Exam Success

Episode Summary:

Welcome to Episode 5 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast!

Today, we’re talking about something every Future CPA experiences at some point: Self-Doubt. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if you’re really cut out for this, or felt the weight of past failures creeping into your thoughts, this episode is for you.

You’ll learn why self-doubt isn’t a stop sign — and why it’s actually a normal part of your CPA Exam Success journey. Most importantly, you’ll discover practical strategies to build belief step-by-step, even when your confidence feels shaky.

Remember: You don’t need 100% belief today. You just need enough to take your next step.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why self-doubt shows up when you're doing something important—and why that’s actually a good sign.

✅ How to reframe self-doubt so it stops holding you back.

✅ Why belief is like a muscle — and how to strengthen it over time.

✅ The role of small wins in building lasting confidence.

✅ How accountability and support can accelerate your CPA Exam Success.

✅ A simple, actionable exercise to start redirecting your self-doubt today.

Ask Yourself:

✨ What thoughts have been quietly holding you back from moving forward?

✨ If you believed you were capable of passing, how would you study differently?

✨ Who could you invite into your support system to make this process easier and lighter?

Your Next Step:

🔥 Choose one self-doubt thought you’ve been carrying.

Write it down — and then choose a new thought that feels just a little bit stronger.

Small shifts create big momentum toward your CPA Exam Success.

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Welcome to Episode #4 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast!

Today, we’re diving into one of the biggest challenges CPA candidates face: staying productive without burning out. If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling work, family, life, and CPA Exam prep—and you’re constantly running on empty—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing the exact strategies that helped me and my coaching clients stay grounded, focused, and consistent… even during the busiest seasons of life. And trust me, burnout doesn’t have to be part of the CPA Exam journey.

Most importantly, I walk you through my STAR Framework—a simple system to help you study with intention, track your progress, and make space for rest and reward.

And today, we’re breaking down all five burnout-proof strategies.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why being busy doesn’t have to mean being burned out

✅ The STAR Framework for sustainable studying:

• Schedule: Plan study time based on your energy, not just your availability
• Track: Get honest about how much time you're actually studying
• Assess: Reflect on what’s working and adjust as needed
• Reward: Celebrate your effort so studying becomes sustainable

✅ How to protect your non-negotiables so you don’t lose yourself in the process

✅ How your thoughts might be fueling burnout more than your schedule

✅ The 5 burnout traps and how to avoid them: victim thinking, physical neglect, perfectionism, isolation, and reactive living

Ask Yourself:

✨ What are my true non-negotiables—and am I protecting them?

✨ Where can I build in flexibility and support, instead of pressure and perfection?

✨ What thoughts are fueling my stress—and what new thoughts could ground me instead?

Your Next Step:

🔥 Download the Busy Without Burnout Checklist and pick one small step from each strategy to implement this week. Consistency—not perfection—is what moves you forward.

Remember:

You can stay busy, pursue your goals, and still feel good. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. You deserve a CPA Exam journey that’s sustainable, empowering, and aligned with a life you love.

Until next time, keep believing in yourself and your CPA Exam Success! 💪✨

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Welcome to Episode #3 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast!

Today, we’re diving into the third pillar of the CPA Exam Success Formula: Action—the piece that transforms your plan into real, measurable progress. If you’ve ever felt stuck in planning mode, overwhelmed by where to start, or frustrated that you’re not making the progress you want, this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down why taking consistent, imperfect action is the key to momentum, confidence, and ultimately, CPA Exam Success. You’ll learn how to overcome resistance and how to move forward—even when you don’t feel ready.

Most importantly, I’ll show you how to get into the feedback loop that helps you refine your study system and keep improving week after week. This is where the magic happens.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why resistance is normal—and what to do when it shows up.

✅ How to stop overthinking and start building real momentum.

✅ The value of imperfect action—and how showing up today creates confidence tomorrow.

✅ How to develop your unique study system by doing, not just planning.

✅ The 4-part STAR Framework and how it helps you study intentionally and effectively.

✅ Find Your Study Success Sweet Spot- Identify your IDEAL STUDY SYSTEM

Ask Yourself:

✨ What’s one small action I can take today to move toward my CPA Exam Success?

✨ Am I waiting to feel ready—or am I willing to act now and figure it out as I go?

✨ If I knew my efforts were adding up—even when I can’t see it—how would I show up differently?

Your Next Step:

🔥 Take 5 minutes to schedule one study session this week. That’s it. One session. One block of time you will actually show up to. Action creates clarity. Action creates confidence.

Remember:

Even if it doesn’t look like it’s working right away, something is happening every time you show up. Stay consistent. Keep taking action. Because success doesn’t come from perfect plans—it comes from persistence.

You can pass the CPA Exam. And I’m here to help you do it—step by step, study session by study session.

Until next time, keep believing in yourself and your CPA Exam Success!

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Episode 2: How Smart Planning Leads to CPA Exam Success

Welcome back to the CPA Exam Success Podcast! In today's episode, we’re diving into why planning—not motivation, not luck, and not endless hours of study—is the real key to CPA Exam success.

Many CPA candidates believe they need to work harder, push through exhaustion, and sacrifice everything to pass the exam. But success doesn’t require burnout—it requires strategy and a plan that actually works. But without a solid plan, even the most determined effort can feel frustrating and ineffective.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to choose a study timeline that works for YOU—whether you’re on a 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, or 12-month track.

• Why a weekly study plan is the key to making consistent progress without burnout.

• How to find your Study Success Sweet Spot—so that studying fits into your life, rather than taking over your life.

A study plan isn’t just about scheduling—it’s about making every study session count. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life to pass the CPA Exam; you just need a realistic and sustainable plan. Planning is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process of reflection and refinement. Your plan should work for you, not the other way around.

Want to start making real progress toward your CPA Exam Success? Download the Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist—your go-to guide for setting up a study plan that actually works for you. The Ultimate CPA Exam Success Checklist is a step-by-step guide to structuring your study plan so you can make real progress without unnecessary stress.

Download the Checklist & More Here

Join the Conversation:

I’d love to hear about your study plan! Send me a message and let me know what timeline you’re choosing and how you’re structuring your study sessions. Remember, you’re not in this alone!

Thank you for tuning in! Until next time, keep believing in yourself and in your CPA Exam Success!

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!

Welcome to Episode #1 of the CPA Exam Success Podcast! Today, I’m sharing my personal CPA Exam journey—the struggles, the mindset shifts, and the formula that changed everything. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, doubted your ability to pass, or struggled to commit, this episode is for you.

I’ll walk you through how I went from an overwhelmed high school French teacher with no accounting background to earning my CPA. You’ll learn how one conversation changed my mindset, reignited my belief, and helped me fully commit to passing the CPA Exam—without stress, struggle, or sacrifice.

Most importantly, I introduce the CPA Exam Success Formula:  

Commitment + Planning + Action = CPA Exam Success.

And today, we’re breaking down the first pillar: Commitment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why mindset—not intelligence or study habits—is the real key to passing the CPA Exam.  

✅ The three parts of Commitment:  

   - Desire: Connecting with your “why” and understanding what the CPA means for your life and career.  

   - Belief: Building confidence in yourself and shifting your inner dialogue from "I can't" to "I can."  

   - Willingness: Taking consistent, strategic action without burnout.  

✅ How failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of the process.  

✅ The exact steps I took to go from multiple failed attempts to passing all four sections.  

✅ How to start building your Ideal and Unique Study System—a plan that actually fits your life.

Ask Yourself:

✨ If success was guaranteed, how would you approach your CPA Exam studies differently?  

✨ Are you holding yourself back with doubt and fear?  

✨ What small step can you take today to shift your mindset and move forward?  

Your Next Step:

🔥 Take action today! Whether it’s reflecting on your why, creating a plan, or simply telling yourself, “I can.” Small steps lead to big results.

Remember:  

You don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to pass the CPA Exam. You can do this—and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

Until next time, keep believing in yourself and your CPA Exam Success! 💪✨

Ready to Stop Struggling and Start Passing?

Join my CPA Exam Success Mastery Coaching Program and get the strategy, mindset, and support you need to pass your first CPA Exam section—and then the rest—with confidence and ease.

👉 Click HERE to take your first step toward CPA Exam success!

Let’s Connect!

📩 Have a question or want to share your breakthrough? Send me a message—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!