Over the past 20 years in Corporate Finance, FP&A, and running my own businesses, one lesson keeps repeating itself:
You have to invest in yourself.
The days of companies investing in training for employees are largely over.
I wish that weren’t true, but it’s the reality we live in today.
That said, this isn’t meant to sound negative.
It’s an opportunity.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to learn, but were never given the chance to, doesn’t need permission.
Don’t wait for someone else to open the door.
Just do it now.
I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over a decade and recently earned my black belt.
One thing they don’t teach you early on is that there’s no exact framework or step‑by‑step process from white belt to black belt.
Progress only comes when you invest in yourself.
You spend time learning.
You struggle.
You keep showing up.
Your career works the same way.
Dedicate time every week/every month to learning something new.
It doesn’t need to be a huge commitment.
It can be as simple as spending five minutes a day learning a new Excel trick or deepening your understanding of the business.
Today, we have more tools available than ever: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools.
Use them.
Leverage them.
And here’s an important mindset shift:
Not knowing something is actually a skill.
When you use tools like ChatGPT, ask this question:
“What is something I don’t know that I should?”
It’s a powerful question.
When I became a founder and started running my own companies, this one fundamental question made a meaningful difference.
I strongly recommend adopting it yourself.
So remember this:
Time waits for no one.
Your career is not in the hands of your employer, your manager, or anyone else.
It’s in your hands.
Make the decision today.
Invest in yourself.
Spend the time.
Spend the money if you have to.
You’ll be far happier when you take ownership of your growth and your future.














