Professor Elam

Tom Sowell reviews the new book Outliers, calling it one of the best of 2008. That alone qualifies it for our consideration.  The book examines how individuals achieve outstanding success. Some are the result of a particular selection process. But others are a result of commitment.

I have watched students, both when I was there as a student, across years of CPA practice, and now that I am on the other side of the desk so to speak. I recall one of my friends who 'said' he wanted to become a CPA, I replied he needed to study the Gleim review book and pointed to mine. He grabbed it assuming I would loan it to him. No way I replied, it was too important to me even after I had passed the exam. I noted that it only cost $15 and if he was not even $15 interested, he would not pass anyway. I doubt he bought the book and I know he never passed. He did have a littany of excuses after taking the Becker review course as to why he did not pass.

My point here is that you are at a crossroads in your academic career. To succeed, attain a professional designation, you will need to commit to a goal. Commitment means that you must align your life to a pattern for success. This means your whole family has to commit. You will need much more time to study than anyone in your family realizes. You will need a quiet organized place to do so. You will need multiple hours per day of study. In short you need to make a short term sacrifice to reach a long term goal.

Michael Phelps practiced swimming every day for years and years.  He won a race at the Olympics because he did not look up at the end, his opponent did.  such is the difference betweeen number one and number two.

You will only be with us for four semesters and that is what I mean by making a short term sacrifice to achieve a long term goal. For example, I am not sure how the Dallas Cowboys managed to play so badly against the Philly Eagles this past sunday, losing 44-6. The actual game was worse than the score suggests. Half of the Eagles scores were due to Dallas fumbles errors and turnovers. My point being Philly did not make those kinds of mistakes when it mattered.

Plan on making a short term commitment to attain a long term goal, now.