Four months ago, the universe handed me the ultimate gift: a call to adventure disguised as a severance. Not just free time, but freedom time—the kind that forces you to confront what really matters.
As I wrote in “The Art of Wasting a Fresh Start”, I spent my first months doing what most of us do when scared of growth: avoiding the call. I devoured self-help books, trying to become the ‘you’ you’ve always wanted to be (try saying that ten times fast!).
But now, the stakes are clear. My goal? Pass all three parts of the IRS Special Enrollment Exam (SEE) by December 22nd—despite zero finance background. This is my “dragon” to slay? that primal fear Joseph Campbell says all heroes must confront. The lie that ‘people like me’ (a kid who always needed extra help in school, now an adult tackling tax code) aren’t built for complex systems.
Why Taxes? The Fork in the Road
For years, I studied wealth-building like a scholar—devouring books on investing, savings hacks, and side hustles. But I missed the key lessons:
- The Safe Path: Keep obsessing over making money while outsourcing how to keep it
- The Awakening: Realize every dollar earned is just potential until you master the tax code’s alchemy
The wealthiest aren’t just better earners—they’re tax illusionists. They understand what my library never taught: “A 10% return means nothing if you lose 30% to taxes you didn’t have to pay.”
This exam isn’t about memorizing forms. It’s about rewiring my relationship with money itself, from passive earner to strategic keeper.
This post is my battle plan. For anyone who’s ever felt:
✓ “Ill-suited” (thanks, past doubts)
✓ “Too late” (26 years in the corporate world)
✓ “Not a numbers person” (yet built a solid portfolio)
The Plan: “By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail”
Benjamin Franklin’s words haunt me—because I’ve lived them. For years, I’d dive into goals armed with nothing but enthusiasm, only to burn out when the complexity hit. This time, I’m weaponizing preparation.
1. Building My Arsenal (Resources)
I read reviews on several SEE study resource, rejecting “quick passes” for proven tools:
- Passkey Study Guides (The gold standard—detailed but digestible)
- IRS Publication 17 (Straight from the source, like reading the dragon’s own playbook)
- Anki Flashcards (My memory forge for 500+ tax terms)*
Why this matters: Most exam fails trace back to mismatched resources. I needed materials that respected my learning style, not just my timeline.
2. Ruthless Time Protection
My calendar now has:
- Morning (20 min) → Flashcard drills (prime recall when my brain is fresh)
- Evening (90 min) → Active learning sessions (post-dinner focus peaks)
- 5-min breaks every 40 mins → Science-backed focus preservation
Scheduling isn’t about discipline—it’s about designing around human nature.
3. Study Method: Layered Learning
Adapted from Tony Buzan’s Mind Mapping and The Evelyn Wood Speed Reading Program:
- Overview (5-10 min): Skim for structure
- Preview: Draft a mind map skeleton
- Read: Deep dive + annotate with key images
- Post-View: Clarify notes immediately
- Review: Create Anki cards for spaced repetition
Preparation means systemizing learning, not just clocking hours.
4. Milestones: Measurable Progress
- Aug 15: Score 80%+ on Part 1 practice exam
- Aug 30: Take Part 1 exam
- Oct 30: Conquer Part 2 (Business Returns)
- Dec 20: Master Part 3 (Procedures)
Join the Journey
Follow along as I turn “ill-suited” into “enrolled agent.