​Last week I came across a new post on LinkedIn that was starting to divide opinion, so I’m keen to share it with you along with some suggestions from Protagion and hear your thoughts. 

The author is an ambitious South African, who studied Actuarial Science and Financial Mathematics at the University of Pretoria, and is still new to the world of work. His short post was about on-the job experience:

Original post, including others' comments :
​https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6448825498461052928

While mathematically true, Tristan’s post spurred a strong reaction from some of his connections, with some arguing:

• How sustainable are 60 hour weeks i.e. the risk of burnout
• Missing out on life outside work
• Efficiency at work i.e. how much of the time spent at work is actually spent on working effectively? Productivity is more important than hours
• Actuarial students should focus instead on completing their exams as soon as possible i.e. use the extra time to study

​In this post, we share a TEDx talk by a man who describes himself as “a guy who possesses no special gift of talent or skill”, yet he has successfully applied a system of decision-making to achieving amazing things in his life, across very different areas. In the video, Stephen Duneier covers an eclectic mix of his achievements, including: career success (in the investment management field), learning a new language, completing a half-marathon (the Pier to Peak), flying a helicopter, yarnbombing, and becoming a Guinness World Record holder. The video is roughly 18 minutes long.

His approach can be paraphrased as follows:

• break down a goal into its smallest elements
• make little changes to your routine to move towards your goal (in small steps)
• remove distractions, and repeat the small steps, making good tiny decisions via marginal adjustments
• via repetition, habits develop that are aligned with your goal
• upon reaching your goal, keep going with “bigger, more ambitious projects that require more… skills” 

This article was published in the September 2018 edition of "The Actuary":
http://www.theactuary.com/features/2018/09/september-routes-to-the-top/

​This month, we conclude our set of ten vignettes with insights from some general insurance, insurtech and startup actuarial leaders, building on our August article which showcased the experiences of three life and health leaders across insurance and reinsurance. May their pioneering stories inspire you to consider what you want from your own career in future, including reflecting on your personal strengths and achievements, and defining areas where ongoing learning could help you to develop further.