Living in reality & Going beyond expectation

In our childhood we have learned the proverb that ‘Time and Tide wait for none’. This had been part of our study text in order to teach us that time is limited and immeasurably valuable. From this childhood education, I’ve learned that time is short and time management is very much important. Until now, I have not been realized how important time management is. I had busy schedule before but not to the extent I had been till yesterday. I was so much stressed and I had slept less that 5 hour per day. Several times I’ve wished that there were 48 hours in a day instead of 24 hours.

Since yesterday I had been busy with my MBA semester finals, projects and hand written assignments. I had to do all these after my office hours. It was so tiring. The whole semester was like this. Although Friday is my weekly holiday but I had MBA classes on Fridays. That means I practically didn’t have weekend for the semester which is equal to almost 4 months. In this semester I had two teachers who loves taking extra long classes and makeup classes without missing a single class. Sometimes it was so boring and tiring that I felt dizzy and sleepy in the class. I already developed habit of sleeping in the bus but in this semester I have developed the ability to sleep in anywhere. I have slept several time in rickshaw. I think you might get the idea how tiresome this semester was. But gladly the tiring semester have come to the end. My semester final exam are now over.

I am hoping to attend the upcoming August 2015 exam of ICMAB. From April 2015, I was planning to take full preparation for my ‘Advanced Financial Accounting – I (AFA-I)‘ course at ICMAB. However, I couldn’t.  I was busy with my Advanced Stage exam conducted by ICAB. Later I got busy with MBA exams, projects, presentations and term papers. I couldn’t’ manage time to take preparation for ICMAB exams. This is when I realized that time management are very much necessary. I have tried my level best to manage proper time for each and every necessary activities which left me tired and stressed.

However, sun shines after the rain. While I was passing my toughest time during the year, I received a good news. Last week ICAB have published its May-June 2015 exam result. The result showed me that I have passed the CA advanced stage. Advanced Stage is the final level of CA exams. There are four subjects of this exams. Passing the advance stage means qualifying as a Chartered Accountants and becoming eligible for the membership of The Institution of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). As I have passed the advanced stage, now I have become a Chartered Accountant and eligible to be a member of ICAB.

This was my first attempt in advanced stage exams. I didn’t really expect to pass all four subjects in on attempt.  I required two attempts for both the Knowledge level and the Application level. So I was sure that I will take at least two attempts to pass the advanced stage. Moreover, I knew that passing the final level is very hard and there are many brilliant students who are struggling to pass this level. Compared to them I’m nothing and my exams were not that good to pass all four. So when the result came out, I was shocked and surprised. At first I thought there might be en error or I have seen wrong. But later I was made sure that I have really passed the CA final stage. It was way beyond my expectations and seemed like a dream.

When I started CA, my aim was to pass at least two level of ICAB exams and appear at least once for the final level of exam before I complete my CA articleship (CACC). Alhamdulillah I was able to achieve this target. When I achieved this target, I felt aimless and felt there is nothing left to do. I was getting demotivated. So I had set a new aim to pass the CA advanced stage at the first attempt. I also had the target to pass without paying any annual fee which was applicable for CA students who have completed their articleship. With the blessings of Allah, the most merciful and gracious, I have achieved that target .

Moments after passing CA seemed different than ever. I was unsure with my result while others were congratulating me. I was not sure what to say or how to act. But I was appropriated by my family, relatives, friends, colleagues, partners and senior partners of the A. Qasem & Co. After passing my CA exams, I have been promoted to Manager of Audit & Assurance service from the position of Assistant Manager. I have also been  assigned with a new room at A. Qasem & Co. I’ve received many advises from my senior colleagues. This sort of experiences are new to me. I’m really enjoying these experiences. However, there is nothing that can change who I am. I will remain the same old me.

Life is weird!

Life is weird! You don’t know what fate have for you. One moment you are all set and ready to go and next moment you are totally unprepared. On day you are controlling your life and next day life is controlling you. You make plan for your life and life has another plan for you. Life happens everyday. What I am saying is life is total uncertain and full of unexpected elements. This is what the beauty or the horror of the life. What life decided you, you should follow it unless you can create your own path.

You might wonder why I am being philosophical. The reasons behind these are the turn of events happened, happening and going to happen in my life. If you read my earlier blog post, you will see that I attended a app developing training at Microsoft Bangladesh. I planned to continue to develop my app making skill and participate in their app building tournament. However, that remains a plan and never tried for.

You may know that I am a training chartered accountant undergoing my training at a prominent Chartered Accountant firm named A. Qasem & Co which have became a member firm of Ernst & Young, one of the big four firm in the world, in January 2015. My training period will end at June 2015. I was planning to get a job after the training period. But I didn’t start searching for job because my CA exam result was pending. I was thinking of applying for jobs right after the result. When result was published, I found out that I have passed the 2nd out of 3 level of CA under ICAB. That means I have passed total of 14 subjects out of 18 subjects. Which means I am 4 subject away to achieve my first professional degree and become a chartered accountant. So I decided not to look for jobs but to concentrate on my study till the training period ends. By that time I will attend the CA final level exam.

Right after passing the CA Application level, I got admitted for the final level which in known as Advanced Stage. My classes begun on the 01 March and continuing everyday. It became a problem for me as it was overlapping with my MBA class schedule. Now I am trying to balance both sides and making a clear way out of the situation. In my current situation, I have to attend classes 7 days a week which will be 26 hours in a week. This making my life bitter day by day. I don’t have time to rest enough or to plan and self-study. However, it will end soon and I hope to finish my study and take adequate preparation before the exam. When I started my CA articleship, my target was to pass at least 2 level and appear one exam of final level before I finish my articleship. I have achieved my target and now made a new target to achieve. Now I want to complete the final level in one sitting. I know it will be hard but I will do it, In Sha Allah.

On the other note, my CMA result was published few days ago. It showed me that I have completed my level-1 exam and fit for admission in the level-3. I was 1 subject away from completing level 1. It took me 8 attempts to pass that subject. I wasn’t sure that I will pass the subject in this attempt. But life loves to make surprise. I passed and moved to the 3rd level. Right now I am 1 subject away from completing my level-2. I am hoping to finish it by April and start the 4th and the final level in this year.

In the vary beginning of this post, I wrote that life is full of unexpected events. You see, I was so tensed with result and getting a decent job with decent salary. Just with the result, life created a new turn of event and made me decide to study more. I was confused and it have shown me a way out. I was enjoying the life and now it have put me under pressure. I don’t mind the pressure as long as it helps me to achieve my goal.

Glimpse of 2013 and new year resolution

Another year have passed making me and my blog 1 year older. I started this year with lots of hope and excitement. I even made 10 new year resolution (See post new year resolution! ). Before going to compare the end result with expected result, lets me tell you some major events that happened to me in 2013.

First I mourn for those whom we lost during this year. I specially mourn for my friend Asif’s sister, My friend Sifat’s and Murad’s father. I also mourn for father of my colleague Hasnain Suny, my uncle and my other relatives who have passed away in this year. Inna Lillahe wa inna Ilaihi Rajiun ( To Allah we belong and to Him is our return). May Allah bless your soul to Jannah and give us strength to bear and overcome this loss. I also welcome those little angels who made us feel blessed.

Now it’s something to tell about my blogging. I rarely posted blog in this year. I only posted 12 blogs in this year. it seems i almost gave up the blogging habit. But i always wanted to write blog. Now I can hardly manage time for blogging. But I promise i will write lots of blog in this year. I have so many things to write about.

Now Let me give you a glimpse of how 2013 was for me:

• I visited Chittagong and Cox’s Bazaar with my friends and family.
• I went to Mymensingh for the first time for audit purpose during March.
• I sat for ICMAB exam 3rd time in April
• I have completed 1 of 3 years of articleship of CA in June.
• I got an increment in my monthly allowance from my firm for completing 1 year of articleship.
• I attended my Convocation of Bachelor Degree from North South University.
• I sat for ICAB exam for the first time after lots of suspense with the exam.
• I visited Dinajpur for the first time for audit purpose during August.
• I was selected for EMBA admission at AIS department of Dhaka University.
• I turned 24 on August and mourned for growing older.
• Result of ICAB published on August where I passed 5 subjects out of 7 subjects.
• I sat for ICMAB exam for 4th time.
• I got admitted in EMBA of Dhaka University and started first semester.
• I bought a new mobile phone on September
• I celebrated Eid-ul-Ajha at my native village with my friends and family.
• I visited Mymensing again on October.
• My father retired on October  and reappointed on November for 1 year.
• My relationship was almost broken in November.
• I sat for ICAB exam for second time in December but all exam was not finished during that month.
• I lost my new mobile phone after 4 month of use.

Looks like lots of exciting and tragic things happened to me during this year. Now let me compare my resolution for 2013 with actual result.

1. It was my plan to be more religious during this year. I don’t know how to measure this but I don’t think I have achieved the level I wanted to reach.

2. I wished to strengthen my bond with family, friends and loved one. I am sure i certainly did, at least compared to last year. My relationship is now almost 3 year. We had faced couple of odd times and overcame those odds.

3. My 3rd resolution was to enhance time management skill. I don’t think I fulfilled this resolution but I am sure I was almost there.

4. My estimate was to complete 400 marks of ICMAB during this year. But I have completed 300 marks. Now I have completed total of 900 marks to be an ACMA. In my defence, I have not sat for December eaxm of ICMAB. I am sure, I will cross my target in this attempt.

5. My utmost wish was to complete PS(K) level, which is the 1st level of ICAB. In this year i have sat for only once and another exam is ongoing. In my first attempt I have completed 5 out of 7 subjects. In Sha Allah, I will complete rest 2 subjects in on going attempt.

6. I had a dream of having lots of money. So I wanted to grow saving habits. But i don’t think I grew this habit at all.

7. About the weight…..I didn’t lose any weight, rather i gained some. 😦

8. I missed this resolution last year. So I fully achieved it. 😀

9. To be good and expert in my task was my resolution. I tried my best to work on that. Alhamdulillah, I have some improvements in this side. But I’m not that much good or expert on anything yet.

10. I don’t think I have any improvement on “keeping the good habits and giving up bad habits”.

If I critically analysis my performance, I think I will score very poorly. But I sure will continue working on those resolution. Now it’s time for new resolution for new year.

1. I will write blogs and poems more often.

2. I will visit some new places.

3. I will visit my relatives, friends and loved one.

4. I will complete Professional Stage (Application) level of ICAB.

5. I will complete Level 1 & 2 of ICMAB and complete more than total of 1200 marks out of 2100 marks.

6. I will do or learn or own something new in 2014.

7. I will be more disciplined and well planned in financial matters.

8. I will finish at least 5 courses of EMBA in 2014.

9.  I will try to be a better person.

10. I will continue working on my 2013 resolution.

I don’t know how much of it I will meet but I sure will try my best. That’s it for this blog. I don’t have anything else to write about this topic. Wishing you all a very happy and wonderful year. Please pray for me. Happy New Year!!!

Things happened and still happening

So I’m writing blog once again! hurry!! It’s been a while but I have very valid reason which is “I’m super lazy”.  Apart from that, I was busy with CA exam and auditing. My last post was about postponed CA exam. It was supposed to start on 7th June and finish on 15th June. However due to legal matter exam was postponed. Exam was rescheduled on June 22 which is nearly 2 weeks later. Exam ended on July 5th. It was delayed again for 3 days for strike.

This was my first attempt in CA Exams. I appeared on all 7 subjects on CA Knowledge Level exams. My preparation was above average. So I was little nervous about exams. But Exam questions was comparatively easier than other session of exams. Therefore my performance in exam was better than I expected. Although I made some silly mistakes but I’m hopeful with my performance. I know I will not pass all the subjects but I’m hoping to pass most of them.

I had to join for auditing very next day when exam ended. I went to audit at Hop Lun for second time. This time I was not the junior team member. We had time pressure in that client but we managed to pull that off. As soon as we finished auditing, Saad and me have been shifted to new assignment. Till now I’m working on that assignment.

Before the CA exam started, I attended my long waited convocation. Though it was organized poorly, but still we enjoyed our day. Now we are officially graduate.

When I was auditing Hop Lun, I got my April 2013 exam result of ICMAB. I appeared on 2 subjects IFA (Intermediate Financial Accounting) and COA (Cost Accounting). I appeared for IFA for the third time and for COA second time. This time I manged to pass COA but failed again in IFA. In the meantime I got admitted for level 2 in ICMAB. Now I’m planning to sit for 3 exams of level 2 and IFA of level 1. I’ve already done will exam form fill up and payment.

Now some other news. some of my colleagues were planning to sit for MBA admission test of Dhaka University. When I heard their planning, I joined in. I applied in last admission test but skipped exam at the end. This time I was determined to sit for exam but my exam preparation was nill. But yet I attended the exam. I did excellent in exam considering exam without preparation. But I was not hopeful. But  I found my name on the list of candidates selected for next phrase when result came out. Second phrase was interview. I attended on the interview but it was the worst considering all the interviews I faced. This time I was sure that I will not be selected.  My colleagues were selected too for the interview. Their interview went well. But at the end I was selected where none of my colleagues except Hasan vai were selected. Hasan vai stood 23rd of all candidates. My position was 397. Oh, my fried Shuvo was also selected. His position was 249. All 3 of us got chance in Accounting Information System department.  Now I am planning to get admitted and continue me my MBA along with CA and CMA. Though it will be very much tough but I think I will be able to handle it. Let’s see what happens next.

For a better emplyment

When I got admitted in North South University, BBA degree used to rule the job market. Almost all companies looked for the candidates with BBA degree. But Before I could complete my BBA, job market started to shift toward MBA degree. By the time I completed my graduation, job market totally moved to MBA holders. Now companies look for candidates with MBA holders. They want MBA holders even in the lower posts where graduation is not required.

In other countries MBA is treated as a professional degree like Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Management Accountants (CMA) or other degrees. In those countries, number of MBA holders are very few. But in Bangladesh MBA is not a professional degree anymore. It have become an academic course as there are plenty of people with MBA degree.  Because there are lots of MBA holder in the market, BBA holders are falling behind in the job market. Therefore almost all graduates thinks of getting a MBA degree.

Till yesterday, I used to think what new qualification companies might want in their job candidates as there are lots of MBA holders. Today morning I got my answer when I saw a circular. It’s for DBA from IBA. IBA is the first institution in Bangladesh to introduce DBA. DBA means Doctor of Business Administration. It is treated as Ph.D in business sector or business study. I know soon other top universities and then other universities will start offering DBA. And lots of people will run after DBA degree in order to differentiate in job market.

Then I started to think, how long people will study to get a good job? People in our country kept studying and getting new degrees with a dream to get a good job which will give them attractive salary and attractive position. But as this type people increase every day, options increases for the employers too. They want highly qualified candidates for low positions which might not need any qualification at all. As DBA have been introduced in Bangladesh, people will start running after this degree and soon companies will make it a requirement for entry-level jobs.

I was thinking how to avoid dependence on degrees to make a livelihood. The answer I came up with was to avoid the tendency of getting a job. There will always be some new degrees. And people will run after those degrees to differentiate in the job market and get a good job. But if we don’t have any tendency to run after job, we wouldn’t have to take the hassle to achieve those higher degrees. Instead of running after jobs, people should start small businesses. They should become a small entrepreneur. If people don’t want to lead posh lifestyle, small business might be enough to make livelihood and maintain an average lifestyle. The amount of time and money people spends for getting degrees, a person might had a successful business  if those are spent for small business. If people trend to start small business, this country will have lots of small entrepreneurs and who knows, they might become giant entrepreneurs someday.