Where did you learn to do what you do?

Years ago, a lawyer I worked with told me that his six years at university could have been distilled down to about a year and a half. Many of his courses, he said, were “fluff,” and he used very little of what he learned once he was actually practicing.

Statistics back this up. Most people become proficient through on-the-job training because that’s where resources, mentoring, repetition, and real-world experience live.

My bookkeeper is so committed to precision and ongoing learning that I don’t require an accountant.
An entrepreneurial friend—creative, resilient, and solutions-oriented—is building an entirely new platform for me, even though she’s a pilot by trade.
My income tax advisor has no formal credentials, yet brings twelve years of research, application, and a loyal, profitable client base to the table.

My largest and most successful investment opportunity came from a couple who are not advisors, planners or economists. They had simply found the right platform before I did.

And for context, I’ve won multiple awards, made millions of dollars helping corporations generate many millions more, and have been inducted into the Hall of Fame for my expertise in marketing. None of that came from a degree. It came from books, courses, mentors, study, experimentation, and—most importantly—application.

Here’s the point.

We’ve been programmed to place complete trust in people with credentials, white coats, or suits. I take nothing away from seasoned professionals—many combine formal education and lived experience, and they’ve earned their respect.

But when did respect quietly turn into surrender?

Aha ! ~ You need to know enough about the profession you’re hiring to ask the right questions.

Hiring a professional doesn’t absolve you of responsibility—it invites you into a more informed partnership.

It’s the difference between signing a tax return you don’t quite understand or taking a moment to ask what the numbers mean and why they matter. The same applies in health, finance, and business.

Seasoned entrepreneurs understand this instinctively. They don’t assemble leadership teams to think for them; they assemble them to challenge assumptions, ask better questions, and gather diverse input before making decisions on the direction.

I’m currently taking a Heart Protection course with a chiropractor in North Carolina who openly resists being positioned as an authority. His stance is simple: science is always evolving and learning never stops. His tutorial videos are intense yet his live calls have no agenda—only engagement, inquiry and participation. And in that space, questions surface, insights emerge, and empowerment unfolds in a way I’ve never seen in traditional settings.

Wisdom doesn’t belong to institutions. It lives in those who have invested themselves in learning, practicing, questioning, and refining over time.

Stay open—because some of your most meaningful breakthroughs may come from people who never claim expertise yet invite you into experiences that redefine what’s possible in your life.

Did you catch that there are actually TWO Aha!s here?  One is about learning for yourself first and the other is not judging who is informed enough to take you where you want to go.  I look SO forward to our call in Human U, this Wednesday at 4:30 eastern.  Join us!!