After passing my first CPA exam section early in 2020, COVID-19 derailed my momentum when testing centers closed and my study routine fell apart. Desperate to get back on track, I made an unconventional commitment: no shaving until I pass all four sections of the CPA exam. Since I genuinely hate how I look with a beard, every morning when I see my increasingly scruffy reflection, I'm reminded of what I need to accomplish. This daily discomfort has become my most effective accountability partner, pushing me to study harder and schedule exams faster. Sometimes the best motivation comes from creating consequences you can't escape - and this itchy, uncomfortable beard is proving to be exactly the push I needed to finally conquer this professional milestone.