Bettye Wpsd

As a learning specialist, let me give you the evidence-based first step for difficult subjects:

The research-backed first step is: CONDUCT A KNOWLEDGE AUDIT

What is a knowledge audit? It's systematically identifying exactly what you do and don't understand about the subject.

How to conduct a knowledge audit:

1. List all major topics in the difficult subject
2. For each topic, rate your understanding on a scale of 1-5:
3. 1: Never heard of this
4. 2: Heard of it but don't understand
5. 3: Basic understanding with major gaps
6. 4: Good understanding with minor gaps

7. 5: Complete mastery

8. Identify specific pain points - not just "I don't get calculus" but "I struggle with the chain rule in differentiation"

9. Look for foundational gaps - often difficulty with advanced topics stems from missing basics

Why this works better than jumping straight in: - Prevents wasted time on things you already know - Identifies the actual starting point for your learning journey - Reduces overwhelm by breaking the subject into manageable pieces - Creates a roadmap for your study plan

Example from my work: A student struggling with organic chemistry discovered through her knowledge audit that the real problem was she never properly learned molecular geometry from general chemistry. Once we fixed that foundation, organic chemistry became much more manageable.

The neuroscience behind this: When you identify specific knowledge gaps, your brain knows exactly what to focus on, making learning more efficient and less stressful.

My professional recommendation: Spend 30-60 minutes on a thorough knowledge audit before you open a single textbook or watch any tutorial videos. This initial investment pays massive dividends in learning efficiency.

The learning scientists at Carnegie Mellon have great resources on effective learning strategies that support this approach.

I've completed both CFI and other finance certifications, so let me compare them for you:

CFI vs Other Popular Finance Certifications:

CFI (Corporate Finance Institute) - Focus: Practical skills, financial modeling, Excel - Cost: $497-$847 - Time: 3-6 months part-time - Best for: Breaking into finance, career changers, practical skills

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) - Focus: Investment analysis, portfolio management, theory - Cost: $2,000-$3,000+ (all three levels) - Time: 2-4 years - Best for: Investment management, research, advanced careers

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) - Focus: Accounting, auditing, taxation - Cost: $1,500-$3,000 - Time: 1-2 years - Best for: Accounting careers, public accounting

My experience with CFI's FMVA program:

What I liked: - Immediately applicable skills at work - Self-paced learning fitting my schedule - Good community support and forums - Regular content updates keeping it current

What could be better: - Less recognized than established certifications - Some content repetitive if you already have experience - Template-heavy approach in some courses

Who I'd recommend CFI for: - Recent graduates without finance backgrounds - Career changers moving into finance roles - Professionals in related fields (engineering, marketing) needing finance skills - Small business owners wanting to understand financial analysis

The verdict: At its price point, CFI offers excellent value for practical skills development. It's not as prestigious as CFA, but it's much more accessible and immediately useful for many corporate finance roles.

The key is being strategic about which certification aligns with your specific career goals rather than assuming one is universally "better" than others.

As a history professor specializing in Renaissance studies, let me add some deeper analysis:

The Renaissance didn't "begin" suddenly in Italy - it emerged from specific historical conditions that were unique to the Italian peninsula:

The Black Death paradox: - The plague of 1348 killed 30-60% of Europe's population - This created labor shortages that increased wages for survivors - Inherited wealth concentrated in fewer hands - Psychological impact - survivors questioned medieval certainties and focused more on earthly life

The humanist intellectual movement: - Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) pioneered humanism - studying classical texts to understand human potential - Rediscovery of Cicero and other Roman writers emphasized civic virtue and individual achievement - Educational reform focused on liberal arts rather than just theology

Technical innovations: - Oil painting techniques from Northern Europe reached Italy - Linear perspective developed by Brunelleschi and Alberti - Printing press arrival in Italy (1465) accelerated spread of ideas

The Church's complex role: - Papal states were Italian territories, creating close Church-state relationships - Corruption and wealth led to criticism but also funded magnificent art - Return of papacy from Avignon to Rome (1377) brought resources and attention

Why Florence specifically? - Wool and banking industries created enormous wealth - Medici family patronage was both generous and intelligent - Civic humanism tradition valued public service and urban beauty - Political stability (relative to other city-states)

What's often overlooked: The Renaissance was initially quite localized - Florence, then Rome, Venice, Milan - each with distinct characteristics. It took decades for it to become a pan-Italian movement and centuries to spread throughout Europe.

The combination of these factors created an environment where questioning medieval orthodoxy, rediscovering classical knowledge, and celebrating human achievement became not just possible but celebrated.

Yale's Open Courses on Renaissance history provide excellent free resources for deeper exploration of this transformative period.