That’s a great motto for food, travel, and experiences in general—but also for your career.
After more than 20 years working in big financial institutions in Germany and the UK, I’ve taken the plunge and started my own business. It’s already been quite an adventure—and I haven’t even launched yet.
Back in my old life, day one of a new job meant remembering people’s names and where to find the tea bags and kettle. This time, there hasn’t really been a specific “first day.” It’s been more of a gradual build—testing ideas, refining what my research products could look like, and working out what to charge for them.
Instead of firing up a company laptop and tapping into all of the internal systems, I’ve had to do it all myself: setting up a limited company, finding an accountant, getting my head around accounting software, opening a business bank account, registering an internet domain, choosing and configuring the right software packages, building a website, designing business cards… the list goes on. And that’s before I even get to the research side of things.
It’s been a bit overwhelming at times, but at the same time it has been exciting. When you’ve spent decades doing variations of the same role, you get efficient, yes—but truly new challenges become rare. Even in a job as varied as equity strategy, there’s a rhythm. You lose count of the earnings seasons you have covered and corrections you have reassured investors through. Starting something from scratch is a whole different kind of challenge—and a great reminder of how energising learning can be.
There’s still a little more to do before launch, but I’m excited about what’s ahead. New chapter. New skills. Let’s see where it leads. Watch this space…