Why "Simple" Skills Always Turn Out Harder Than They Look: Lessons from Corporate Training

This week was supposed to be blissfully simple. Two whole days blocked out for “self-paced training” on the cloud-based planning platform our company uses. The idea was noble. Give everyone uninterrupted time to explore how the system works behind the scenes so we can better improve our own processes.

Well… you can probably guess how that went.

As with most things labelled “self-paced”, the pace ended up being determined entirely by whatever urgent fires popped up in our inboxes. Which meant actual training progress was, shall we say, modest.

But on the second training day, we had a little check-in. And that’s when I found out something interesting. One of my colleagues – the one who manages the platform internally – has not only completed all the courses available, she is also one of the few fully certified “Masters” in the entire country. I genuinely wondered how much value that certification added to her career. It sounds impressive, but also a bit niche… kind of like being one of the nation’s top experts in assembling IKEA wardrobes without yelling.

Naturally, my curiosity was piqued, so I went to look up the training itself. That’s when the real plot twist arrived. The Level 1 Course – the one we were encouraged to finish this week – is recommended to take 25 hours. Twenty-five. And we had been gently led to believe we could breeze through it in two days between meetings and the usual interruptions. On top of that, there is an entire “pathway” that leads all the way to Master status, requiring nearly 130 hours plus paid exams.

And suddenly it reminded me of investing and trading.

On YouTube, everything looks easy. Clean charts, simple strategies, confident gurus who promise anyone can learn to earn thousands a month. The good ones make it look effortless. The bad ones make it look even easier.

But once you start down the path, you realise the truth. Just like that platform training, it goes deeper than you think. The more you learn, the more you see how much there is to learn. Mastery is never a weekend project. Not with cloud systems, not with trading and certainly not with retirement planning.

There is always another layer. Another skill. Another insight that only comes with time, patience and repetition. And maybe that is the real lesson of the week. Anything worth doing – anything worth understanding – takes more than two days of blocked-out time. It takes curiosity, commitment and a willingness to be humbled by what you don’t know yet.

Which, if you think about it, is a very L-Plate way to live.

Your Turn:
What is something you once thought would be quick or simple, only to discover it was far deeper than expected?
Where in your life do you sense an invitation to move from beginner to steady learner?
If you gave yourself permission to learn at your own pace – truly your own pace – what might open up for you?

👉 Hit reply and share your thoughts – I’d love to hear what’s resonating with you.

☕ If you enjoyed today’s reminder that nothing worthwhile is as quick as the brochure claims, you can shout me a coffee on Ko-fi. It keeps me energised for the next lesson life throws at us.

The New Kids on the Block – Digital & Alternative Investments

Alright, L-Plate Retirees, hold onto your hats! We've journeyed through the traditional lands of stocks, bonds, real estate, and even the modern marvels of ETFs and mutual funds. We even took a cautious peek at derivatives. Now, we're venturing into the final frontier of investment vehicles: Digital and Alternative Investments. This is where things get really interesting, and often, a little bit more complex and risky. Remember our discussions on Risk and Return Fundamentals? That topic is going to be your best friend here.

First up, the one you've all heard about: Digital Assets and Cryptocurrencies. Yes, we're talking about Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the thousands of other digital tokens out there. These are decentralized digital currencies that operate on something called a blockchain. The appeal? They're not controlled by any government or bank, and they have the potential for massive growth. The downside? They can be incredibly volatile (their prices can swing wildly), and the regulatory landscape is still a bit like the Wild West. This extreme volatility means they sit at the very high end of the risk spectrum, and a thorough Personal Financial Assessment is crucial before even considering them. For most L-Plate Retirees, these are speculative investments, not foundational ones.

Then we have Crowdfunding and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending. Crowdfunding platforms let you invest directly in startups and small businesses, giving you a chance to get in on the ground floor of the next big thing. P2P lending platforms, on the other hand, let you lend money directly to individuals or businesses, cutting out the bank and potentially earning you a higher interest rate. Both can be rewarding, but they also come with the risk that the business or individual you're backing might not succeed. This highlights the importance of due diligence and understanding the specific risks involved, a core principle from Foundations of Investing and your risk tolerance.

Finally, there are Liquid Alternatives. These are mutual funds and ETFs that use more complex strategies, like those used by hedge funds, to try and generate returns that aren't correlated with the broader stock and bond markets. They can be a good way to add diversification to your portfolio, but they can also be more complex and expensive than traditional funds. While they aim to reduce overall portfolio risk, their underlying strategies can be opaque, requiring a deeper understanding of investment fundamentals and careful consideration of their risk-adjusted returns.

These new investment vehicles offer exciting opportunities, but they also come with their own unique set of risks. As with anything new and shiny, it's important to do your homework and understand what you're getting into before you dive in. Always remember your personal financial goals and risk capacity before venturing into these less traditional areas.

L-Plate Takeaways

• Cryptocurrencies are the Wild West: They offer the potential for high returns, but also come with extreme volatility and regulatory uncertainty. They are high-risk and speculative, not for beginners.

• Crowdfunding & P2P Lending let you be the bank: You can invest directly in businesses or lend to individuals, but you're taking on the risk that they might not be able to pay you back. Due diligence is key.

• Liquid Alternatives offer diversification: These funds use more complex strategies to try and generate returns that are different from the rest of the market, but understand their complexity and costs.

• New doesn't always mean better: These alternative investments can be a great addition to a portfolio for some, but they shouldn't replace a solid foundation of traditional assets.

• Do your own research: The world of alternative investments is constantly evolving. Make sure you understand the risks and how they fit your personal financial situation before you invest.