This week, I want to share that answer with you, because I believe it holds something valuable for your own journey. The mindset we discuss today might shift how you think about growth.
Let's dive in.
There's a moment that stays with me from November 2012.
I was just one year into my job, having already completed CA, CS, CFA, and FRM. I was teaching on the weekends at my dining table. By conventional measures, I was "done." I had the credentials to teach, consult, and build a career.
Yet I found myself enrolling in the CAIA program.
Friends questioned it. The family found it a little excessive. I persisted.
Why CAIA? I was working in the oil and gas sector - a part of commodities, which is exactly what the CAIA curriculum covers. I wanted to specialize in the alternative investments subject that I was teaching my students.
Here's what I've learned over the years: the mindset that got you your first qualification is not the same mindset that will sustain your career for the next three decades.
The Mindset Shift
When I started teaching at my dining table in 2012, I had simple motivations: I liked teaching, I needed some pocket money, and I wanted to strengthen my own concepts.
But I soon realized that strong foundations weren't enough. I wanted to specialize in every subject I taught.
- CFA has a few chapters on alternative investments. I did the full CAIA.
- A couple of chapters on performance attribution, I did CIPM.
- Some chapters on risk, I did FRM. Wealth management in CFA Level 3, I completed CFP.
I could have stayed in my comfort zone and taught only what I already knew. Instead, I chose ongoing learning, not as a burden but as a mindset.
I didn't want to become stagnant or outdated. That's boring.
And the learning changed me.
Studying portfolio management and FSA after CA helped me apply accounting, not just prepare accounts. Risk management showed me how quant, economics, and finance connect.
Reading Shane Parrish's or Jeff Bezos' thoughts on evolution expanded how I see interdisciplinary links. Psychology and Robert Greene's work helped me teach behavioural finance better.
The degrees were byproducts, important ones that build credibility.
But the real benefit was developing a mind that can integrate ideas across disciplines and see patterns others miss.
Why I Continue to Learn
People assume that once you've "made it" - built a business, earned recognition, established yourself - the studying stops. That you coast on what you know.
That's precisely when stagnation begins.
I dedicate significant time daily to learning because:
What This Means for You
You might think, "Makes sense for someone in education, but I just want to pass my exams and get a good job."
I understand. But after teaching thousands of students across 100+ countries, here's what I believe:
Passing exams is one thing. Being able to apply the knowledge and keep learning after the exam is what actually matters.
Students who study only to clear CFA Level 1 usually find Level 2 far tougher because it demands real understanding, not memorization. Same with FRM: pass rates for both levels may look similar, but Level 2/Part 2 always requires deeper application, and those without genuine foundations struggle.
Students who read beyond the curriculum, connect topics, and stay curious find that each level builds naturally on the last.
Teaching as the Best Learning Tool
Early in my career, someone asked, "Aswini bhaiya, with so many degrees, why not join a corporate or investment bank?"
What they missed is that teaching is the best learning tool. Explaining concepts sharpens clarity, student questions expose gaps, and seeing thousands of learners approach the same topic teaches you how understanding develops.
Each qualification made me a better teacher; every hour of teaching made me a better learner. Your journey may look different, but the commitment to keep learning is what matters.
That's why I still study daily, even after 13 qualifications, not for certificates, but for the structure and discipline that keep me evolving. It's not a burden. It's a privilege. And it's a journey I hope you choose too.
Winner's Game vs. Loser's Game
There's a powerful concept in tennis: amateur tennis is a "Loser's Game" where you win by avoiding mistakes, while professional tennis is a "Winner's Game" won through brilliant shots.
Most of life is a Loser's Game - you succeed through consistency and avoiding unforced errors, not dramatic performances.
Consistency beats intensity.
Your career follows the same pattern: avoiding major mistakes (poor ethics, burning bridges, stopping learning) matters more than occasional brilliance.
Consistency beats intensity; not just for passing exams, but also for building the depth of understanding that accelerates your career for decades.
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Until next week,
Aswini