Josh Waitzkin is a chess champion that was subject for the movie, “Searching For Bobby Fishcer.” Waitzkin is also a black belt in BJJ and a surf master. He wrote a book about learning where he shared some tips on how he was able to attain mastery in a far shorter time period than most.
So is there anything valuable in “The Art of Learning” that can help you pass the CPA exam?
Here are three tips that Waitzkin shares that are applicable to studying for the CPA exam or any high level professional exam for that matter.
- Waitzkin is big on activating the subconscious mind. He shares a technique where he ends each day with a complex problem. The idea is that his subconscious mind will work on this problem while he sleeps. “Create rhythms in their life that, really, are based on feeding the unconscious mind, which is the wellspring of creativity information and then tapping it. “
For the CPA exam, you might have a particularly difficult concept that you cannot seem to learn. You want to ask yourself questions about this topic before you go to sleep. Engage the power of the subconscious mind.
Work on this problem first thing in the morning.
2. Figure out how you navigate the world. Everyone has a slightly different perception and our learning styles stem from how we “navigate the world.” For example, some navigate the world mathematically, others kinesthethically , others are musical.
Ask your self how tend to solve problems. Do you need to map things out visually? Do you talk out your problems? Once you realize your problem solving method you can apply it to learning the CPA material.
There is more to it than simply text vs. visual learning styles. You want to dig into to how you perceive the world. You then format the CPA material in the style that suits you. For example, if you are an audio person, you could record the CPA study notes into MP3 format and then you listen to it in the car.
3. Focus on internal motivations vs. external motivations.
Most of the time, we study for the CPA exam with a singular focus. How can I pass the exam with the least amount of effort. This is the default thought process for 95% of CPA candidates. Waitzkin advises that we do not focus on this external motivation. Focus on your process. Focus on the moment.