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Earning my CPSM was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of 2019. I underestimated the level of effort it takes to carve out time to study and retain the information. I like to consider myself a lifelong learner, so I thought all would go well even though college ended about 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
I thought that things like not having any children or pets and having a husband who cooks dinner would really give me an edge and allow me more time to focus. However, I quickly learned the greatest obstacle to my success was myself. I had to repeatedly, deliberately choose myself and my own goals over the \u201ccrises\u201d (real and perceived) that life constantly threw at me\u2014and make good on a goal I set in writing for myself years ago.<\/p>\n
So why did I do it? <\/strong>Originally, my goal was about making more money. I wasn\u2019t too far out of college and new to the A\/E\/C industries when I came across the infamous SMPS infographic about the benefits of earning the CPSM. I needed to make more money without creating more student loan debt, so earning eligibility to sit for the exam seemed like an obvious choice.<\/p>\n As I progressed in my career, the exam became less about money and more about credibility. Earning this designation represents having a particular level of A\/E\/C marketing acumen. It places me in league of people I highly respect as professionals. Many of them are my mentors. Now, I get the chance to mentor others and give back at a different level as a CPSM. It\u2019s a great feeling to help others navigate the careers that will help them reach important milestones personally and professionally.<\/p>\n What was the CPSM journey like? <\/strong>It was a bumpy ride. I initially joined the CPSM study group hosted by SMPS Maryland. At the first study session, I told the group I couldn\u2019t continue. My husband I were moving to North Carolina in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n I moved to North Carolina, started a new job, and got involved with SMPS Research Triangle immediately. I put my CPSM aspirations on the back burner for a few months. Then the chapter opened their study group this past spring. We had a lot of interest but, by the time we got to the second study session, we were down to two people\u2014me and the person I still affectionately call my \u201cstudy buddy.\u201d She and I met each week on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. before work for months.<\/p>\n My study tools included the Markendium<\/em> books, A\/E\/C Marketing Fundamentals<\/em>, the old CPSM study guide and the new CPSM study guide. I used the old one mostly as a source of additional questions for practice. I reached out to co-workers who passed the exam recently. They offered practice questions from their former study groups. I used those to help me understand the concepts needed to pass the exam. It\u2019s more than memorization.<\/p>\n I also reached out to Deb Osuch, CPSM, after reading about her CPSM journey<\/a>. She told me that reading the Markendium<\/em> books the second time really helped her. I took her advice and began reading them twice. Realizing how much confirmation bias happens in your first read was eye-opening.<\/p>\n With all these materials and support you would think I walked into the exam feeling super confident. Not the case! I was so intimidated I rescheduled my test a few times. Finally, the tips in the study guide about attitude and passing a few practice exams got me off the fence and into the exam room in November. I set this goal for completion in 2019, and I owed it to myself to at least try. I took the test on a Saturday morning. To maximize my odds, I took the day before my exam off from work.<\/p>\n I sat in that chair, frazzled with my heart racing, for the first few minutes. Then an hour and a half passed, and I\u2019d gotten through all the questions. I circled back one last time through my answers and hit submit. The wait was on.<\/p>\n Days later, I got an envelope in the mail. I wasn\u2019t expecting it for at least another week. The size of the envelope should have been my first cue but, I still didn\u2019t know until I ripped the edge of the envelope and my CPSM pin fell out into my hand. I instantly burst into tears, shouted \u201cI passed\u201d and hugged my husband. He stopped cooking dinner and insisted we go out to celebrate.<\/p>\n If one of your goals is to obtain your CPSM designation<\/a>, make it a goal for 2020. It\u2019s the new year and a time to put yourself first.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n