Before I get started, I wanted to mention the CPE course I’m offering this month, “5 Mistakes To Avoid If You Want An Easier Accounting Career.”  

As we all know, accounting can be rewarding, but it’s also filled with challenges that can wear you down if you’re not careful. Stress, endless to-do lists, poor prioritization, lack of confidence, and weak boundaries — these mistakes might feel normal in the profession, but they’re not inevitable.

In this month’s course, you’ll learn the 5 most common mistakes accountants make that make their careers harder than they need to be — and how to avoid them so you can enjoy an easier, more fulfilling career.

It’s only being offered one last time on Friday, October 31st at 12 pm EST, so make sure sign up at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe before I switch to next month’s topic – The Smarter Accountant Guide To Handling Interruptions.

Speaking of CPE, have you ever signed up for a webinar just because it was free and counted toward your CPE? Maybe you’ve taken courses that had nothing to do with your work but felt like something you “should” do anyway. You’re not alone.

In the world of accounting, continuing education is just part of the job. We need the credits, and there are a million ways to get them. But let’s be honest—sometimes it feels like we’re doing it just to check a box.

It can be easy to fall into the habit of always learning something new. Another course, another certificate, another acronym after your name. It makes you feel productive—even if you’re already drowning in other responsibilities.

We’ve been taught that more learning is always better. That if we just knew more, we’d finally feel ready, confident, or in control. But the truth is, sometimes we’re using education as a way to hide.

I know that might sound strange. But think about it—have you ever signed up for a course when you were actually avoiding something else? Like a hard conversation, a big project, or even your own self-doubt?

It’s not that education is bad. It’s important to stay up to date and grow in your career. But sometimes we overdo it, not because we need it, but because we’re trying to feel better about ourselves.

We all want to feel capable and confident. And learning something new can feel like the fast track to that feeling. But real confidence doesn’t come from piling on more knowledge.

It comes from how we think about ourselves and what we choose to do with what we already know. Taking one more course won’t fix the feeling that you’re not good enough. That’s something you have to work on from the inside.

I get it. It feels safer to keep learning than to take the next scary step. It’s easier to stay in the comfort zone of a Zoom webinar than to do the harder thing in real life.

But what if your CPE habit is actually keeping you stuck? What if all those certificates aren’t giving you what you’re really looking for?

I know this might sound strange coming from someone who offers NASBA approved CPE courses, but I think this is an important topic to discuss because I’ve seen way too many smart accountants burn themselves out chasing more education—when what they really need is something totally different.

What Accountants Get Wrong About Continuing Education

On the surface, continuing education looks like a smart move. You get credits, stay current, and maybe even feel like you’re getting ahead. But underneath that, many accountants are using CPE in ways that don’t actually help them grow.

One of the biggest problems is using CPE to feel productive without actually making progress. It’s easy to sit through a webinar or log into an online course and feel like you’ve accomplished something. But when you’re constantly doing that without applying anything or creating results, it just becomes another form of busy work.

Some accountants also use continuing education to avoid taking action. Instead of having a tough client conversation or making an important decision, it’s easier to watch another replay or sign up for another training. It feels safer and more comfortable, but it keeps you stuck in place.

Another common issue is using credentials or certifications to try to prove your value. You might think that if you just earn one more title or add a few more letters after your name, you’ll finally feel good enough. But confidence doesn’t come from your resume—it comes from what you believe about yourself.

Many accountants fall into the trap of thinking that more education will automatically lead to more confidence. But what often happens is the opposite. 

It delays the moment you have to trust yourself. It postpones the uncomfortable work of showing up with the skills you already have and figuring things out as you go.

The truth is, continuing education can be helpful—but only when it’s used with intention. When it’s used as a way to avoid discomfort or as a substitute for action, it becomes a problem.

If you’ve ever felt stuck even though you’ve taken all the courses, earned all the credits, and filled your calendar with learning—you’re not alone.

But there’s a reason this keeps happening. Let’s talk next about why misusing continuing education keeps you stuck..

Why Misusing Continuing Education Keeps You Stuck

When continuing education is used the wrong way, it might look like growth on the outside—but inside, it’s a different story. What feels like being responsible or professional is often just a dressed-up version of avoidance.

Instead of moving forward, many accountants stay busy learning without actually doing. I refer to it as taking passive action versus massive action.  

Accountants who take passive action collect more knowledge, more notes, more certificates—but don’t take the actions that would create real change or progress. And that can be exhausting.

Your time and energy are limited. When they’re spent chasing more education instead of applying what you already know, it’s like running in place. You feel busy, but you’re not actually going anywhere.

The bigger issue is what’s underneath the habit. For a lot of accountants, courses become a safe way to avoid discomfort. Instead of having the courage to speak up, ask questions, or try something new, it feels easier to prepare more—just in case.

But preparation has its limits. There’s a point where it stops being helpful and starts being a way to hide. And that’s where many of us get stuck.

Confidence isn’t something you can download or earn with a certificate. It doesn’t come from reading more or sitting through another training. It comes from showing up and using what you already know, even when it’s uncomfortable.

So if you’ve ever wondered why all that learning hasn’t made you feel more capable, this is why. It’s not about how much you’ve learned—it’s about what you’ve done with it.

And believe it or not, your brain plays a big part in all of this. That’s where we’re headed next.

The Brain Science Behind Why We Keep Signing Up for More

Your brain isn’t trying to hold you back on purpose—it’s actually doing what it was designed to do. It wants to keep you safe. And learning, especially when there’s no risk involved, feels very safe.

That’s why signing up for another course or checking off a CPE box can feel so good. Each certificate gives your brain a little hit of dopamine—the feel-good chemical that says, “Nice job!” Even if you didn’t apply anything new, your brain still thinks it made progress.

The tricky part is that your brain can’t always tell the difference between being busy and being effective. And in a profession like accounting, where being busy is often rewarded, your brain starts to believe that more activity equals more value.

So instead of doing something hard, like asking for help or making a bold decision, your lower Toddler brain votes for something that feels easier—like clicking “register” on another webinar. It keeps you in motion, but not in growth.

But here’s what’s also true: your higher Supervising Parent brain, the prefrontal cortex, is built for real growth. It’s the part of your brain that makes thoughtful plans, takes healthy risks, and follows through even when things feel uncomfortable.

The only problem is, you can’t activate your higher brain when you’re stuck in the loop of overlearning. You have to interrupt the pattern and choose action—even small action—if you want to move forward.

Once you understand how your brain is wired, it gets easier to spot the difference between useful learning and just staying busy. And that’s exactly what smarter accountants learn how to do.

Next, let’s look at what that actually means in practice.

What Smarter Accountants Do Differently

Smarter accountants don’t sign up for courses just because they’re available. They pause and ask themselves why they’re taking the course in the first place. Is it truly useful—or just a way to feel busy?

Instead of trying to learn everything, they focus on what matters most right now. If a course isn’t directly helping them solve a current problem or improve something they’re already working on, they skip it. Their goal isn’t to collect credits—it’s to grow on purpose.

They also understand something really important: confidence doesn’t come from knowing more. It comes from doing more. Smarter accountants build confidence by following through, not by endlessly preparing.

They choose to spend their time in a way that actually moves the needle. They learn, then they apply. They don’t try to be perfect—they focus on progress. And as a result, they create outcomes, not just accomplishments.

It’s not about having the longest list of courses. It’s about using what you’ve already learned to make a real impact in your work and in your life.

Let me share a story that shows how powerful this shift can be.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Handling Continuing Education In a Smarter Way

I worked with a coaching client who was the queen of continuing education. If there was a free webinar, she was on it. Her certificate tracker was spotless. On paper, she looked like the picture of professional development.

But here’s what she told me during our first session:  “I’ve taken so many courses, but I still don’t feel confident. I don’t speak up in meetings. I still second-guess myself. I thought maybe if I just learned more, I’d finally feel ready.”

What she didn’t realize at first was that she wasn’t learning—she was avoiding. Every time she felt unsure or overwhelmed, she’d look for a new course to take. It felt productive, but it was just another way to delay taking action.

I suggested she try one of the CPE courses I created, where we focus less on collecting information and more on applying what you already know. She picked a course that lined up with a real issue she was struggling with at work.

And for the first time, she approached continuing education with intention.

She didn’t just take notes—she made changes. She practiced what we talked about in the course. She stopped hiding behind the excuse of “I need to learn more” and started using what she already knew.

Within a few weeks, her emails were more direct. Her calendar was more focused. And her confidence didn’t come from a certificate—it came from seeing herself follow through.

She realized she didn’t need another badge of honor. She needed to trust herself. And once she did, everything started to shift.

That’s the difference between more learning and smarter learning. And it’s what I try to teach every accountant I work with.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—signing up for courses, earning certificates, filling your calendar with webinars—but still feel stuck, you’re not alone.

Many accountants fall into the trap of overlearning. Not because they’re not smart, but because their brain is trying to stay safe. Learning feels comfortable. Taking action feels risky.

But progress doesn’t come from staying comfortable. It comes from deciding what matters, learning what’s relevant, and doing something with it.

Smarter accountants don’t chase more education. They choose the right education and apply it in meaningful ways. That’s how they grow their confidence and their careers.

If you want to start using continuing education in a smarter way, try asking yourself this:

“Am I taking this course to grow—or to avoid something I don’t want to face?”

That one question can shift everything.

And when it comes to continuing education, not all courses are created equal. The ones I offer aren’t about adding to your resume—they’re about helping you become the kind of accountant who gets real results.

Okay, as I finish up, let me pull back the curtain and share a personal story of how I had to learn this the hard way too.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Now let me pull back the curtain…

Years ago, I was the same way. I would sign up for every CPE class I could find, especially the free ones. I had folders full of certificates and felt like I was doing what a “good” accountant should do.

But no matter how many credits I earned, I still had moments where I doubted myself. I still held back in meetings. I still avoided the big decisions. And I couldn’t figure out why more education wasn’t helping me feel more confident.

It wasn’t until I started paying attention to my mind, not just my knowledge, that things changed. I stopped hiding behind over-preparation and started trusting myself more. I didn’t need more facts—I needed more belief.

That’s why I created The Smarter Accountant CPE courses to be different. They’re not just another checkbox. They’re designed to help you think, apply, and grow.

If you’re interested in learning more about The Smarter Accountant CPE course of the month, head on over to www.thesmarteraccountant.com/cpe.

If this episode hit home, take the first step toward becoming a Smarter Accountant.  Take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. Then schedule your free 30-minute call with me at www.thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar.

And if you know another accountant who’s drowning in continuing ed but still stuck in self-doubt, share this episode with them. It might be the nudge they need.

The truth is, you’re already smart. But this podcast will show you how to be smarter.