3 Levels of Growth, based on the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition

During one of my training sessions, a participant asked me:

"How can someone improve and stay successful in the financial planning industry?"
It’s a great question. Many people join this industry full of energy, but not everyone lasts. The secret? Continuous learning and personal growth. I shared a simple model that explains this journey.

3 Levels of Growth, based on the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition.
Level 1: Novice
At this stage, you learn the basics. You read books, take courses, and follow guidelines. But here’s the problem, if you don’t take action, all that knowledge stays in your head and doesn’t help you grow. Many people stop here, thinking learning alone is enough.

Level 2: Competent
Now, you start applying what you’ve learned. You meet real clients, handle challenges, and improve through experience. But this stage is tough. Many get comfortable here and stop pushing themselves. They keep using the same methods instead of learning new skills.

Level 3: Expert
At this level, growth becomes a habit. You don’t just react to problems, you see them coming and know how to handle them. You keep learning, adapting, and improving without being told. You become confident, flexible, and always ready for new challenges.

Are You Growing or Stuck?
Success in financial planning, or any career, is not about reaching the top and stopping. It’s about always learning and improving. The ones who keep growing are the ones who stay in the game and succeed. So, where are you now? And where do you want to be? Let me know in the comment.