Every day we face stressful moments whether it’s working a difficult job, worrying about a family emergency, or facing an unexpected financial crisis. No matter who we are or what we do, we all have our fair share of stressful moments. When your stressor is the rigorous CFA exam, you will want to make sure you have a strong support system. A stable support system can make all the difference when you're facing a difficult challenge. This article will help you identify your current support system, and it will show you how you can use your support system to help you pass the CFA exam.
So how do you develop a dependable team of supporters? You receive more when you give more, so it’s much easier to find support when you first support others. The best place to start might be with your family. Your parents, a sibling, a cousin, aunts, and uncles are all good sources of inspiration.
Be genuinely interested in their lives; ask them a couple of open-ended questions about something they are pursuing or a subject you know they care deeply about. Ask them about their latest accomplishment, whether it is a big goal they want to achieve or an accomplishment that means something to them. Be excited, encouraging, and celebrate with them. If they're courageous enough to share their 'failures' with you, be empathetic and understanding, too.
In order to build a genuine network of supporters, you’ll need to learn how to support others genuinely. And as you do, people who matter in your life will reciprocate and gravitate to you. In that spirit, when you need help, step out of your comfort zone and ask your partner, friends, co-workers, or online networks. Be vulnerable - we know, it's a lot easier said than done but once you’ve developed a reliable and trusted support network, you'll have found yourself a safe space where you can share your CFA journey and all the things that make you anxious.
When you ask for help, you’ll be surprised by the kind of support your network will offer you. Friends may absolutely detest the topic of finance and not understand it whatsoever, but they might still reach out just to ask how your CFA studies are going. Being supported by your spouse, family, friends, or coworkers is priceless. When you need extra support, sometimes it helps to know that someone cares about you and your situation.
Your support system can’t read your mind, but they can be the cheerleaders in your corner during those times when your enthusiasm and passion are waning. You need to be clear about what you want, and if they ask how they can help you, give specific answers. Maybe they can help you review flashcards or let you teach them a difficult CFA concept you’re still trying to figure out. These situations will only help you in your exam journey!
If you have a strong support system in place, you'll have access to emotional support from someone who will encourage you as you pursue your goals. Most people experience failure at least once in their lives, and many have felt it many more times than that. If you feel down, lean on your support system because they can help you get through any blues. A reliable support team could be the difference between you earning the CFA charter or not and we definitely want you to secure that bag!
We wish you the best of luck in your endeavour.
