Career Development & Advice - The speaker, a banker, shares his career journey, emphasizing that it's not a race and it's okay to pivot [13][14][15] - Self-sacrifice is needed when pivoting, including self-study of new topics [15][16] - Grit, defined as perseverance and persistence, is a major predictor of success [17][18] - Humility is crucial; avoid being overly calculative and focus on building value [24][25] - Be ready to take one step back to move two steps forward when pivoting [26] - Embrace opportunities and avoid overthinking, even with pressure from parents and peers [30][31] - Parents primarily want their children to be happy and secure, which can be achieved by demonstrating effort and progress [32] Personal Journey & Background - The speaker grew up in a middle-class family; his father was a lecturer for 40 years [3] - He initially pursued chemical engineering due to parental influence and perceived job opportunities in the oil and gas industry [4] - He realized his interest lay in finance and investments during his third year of engineering studies [5] - He self-studied financial markets, attending courses in London while studying in Nottingham [6] - He faced challenges finding a job in the financial sector in London during the global financial crisis [9] - He applied for 40 jobs before starting his career in investment banking in Malaysia [10][11] - He has been in the banking industry for over 15 years and has no regrets [11][12]