One Bite at a Time

Life can be overwhelming at times. Take learning a new subject. Depending on the topic, it can be simply too much to handle.

Prior to 2013, I had a background in Information Technology, Logistics, and Project Management. Needless to say, I was well out of my element when I joined the financial services industry. The closest experience or training I had to anything financial was some accounting courses I took in high school and college.

When I was hired, I was informed that I’d have to get my series 7 and 63 licenses. Because it’s a regulated industry, that was one requirement of the job. These licenses are required for certain positions. To help me pass, they put me through a training class with thirty other new hires.

The Series 7 licensing exam is no walk in the park.

The series 7 was the first of the two exams. Probably because it traditionally has the higher failure rate of the two. They told us, if we wanted to pass, we had to memorize a good majority of the material.

In order to study for the exam, they provided us three-inch binders. Each page in the binder was double-sided. The amount of information seemed overwhelming. And to be honest, it was.

Before I predetermined failure in my mind, I made the decision that it’d be best to ingest it all in small increments. The trainers agreed, because that’s how the training was set up.

On top of the near ream of paper (500 pages), in each binder, the company provided us access to an online learning course. We would use the printed materials and online course in tandem.

Since we only had 30-days to prepare for the exam, they allowed us to study for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Unfortunately, they also informed us, if we hoped to pass, that amount of studying would not be sufficient. They were right.

Drinking from a fire hose.

The information was being thrown at us in rapid succession. It was like drinking from a fire hose.

After each section, we had gained a little more knowledge. They were ordered in a way that would build upon the previous. Along the way, it was suggested that we create some 3”x5” flash cards. Since we couldn’t take anything in with us, it was also suggested that we began creating a “brain dump” sheet. This was a full-size notebook page worth of information. We would write down this information over and over and over again until we had it memorized. It would contain things like formulas, diagrams, and other important information. We were given suggestions, but it would be our own creation.

We were taking bites of that elephant. There were times it felt like I just wasn’t getting it. And my practice exam results confirmed it. Over and again, I would have to clear my metaphorical plate and go through the entire section again. I was feeling “full.” I didn’t want to eat anymore, but I knew I had to. Especially knowing my new job was reliant upon me passing that exam. No pass = no job.

We come out stronger, when we persevere.

I kept on keeping on. Even so, there were still many times I thought that I just couldn’t get through it. That no matter how hard I tried, I just wasn’t grasping it. And then a breakthrough happened.

It occurred at about two-thirds of the way through the training. A lightbulb had gone on. I was starting to get it. The flashcards were becoming easier to remember. And I was passing the practice exams with higher scores.

By that time, I had my brain dump sheet established. Before sitting for each practice exam, I’d write the entire thing out by memory. I turned the corner. When the day finally arrived, I passed with flying colors.

Sometimes we may feel that a new subject is just too much to comprehend. Perhaps it’s a new job. When those times come, remember to take it one step or bite at a time. Continue to persevere, until you break through that mental barrier.

Breakthroughs often come right after the desire to give up.

Once you have a breakthrough, you’ll be glad you persevered. That you kept on keeping on. We all go through various challenges in life. Often times, we must fail in order to succeed. It’s through those failures that we’re able to grow. When we don’t give up, we come out stronger and more self-assured than before.

We’ll be faced with metaphorical obstacles at different times in our lives. And when we are, remember that it’s just like eating an elephant; one bite at a time.