The Struggle
Worked in corporate finance for six years without really understanding why certain models produced wildly different results. Kept asking senior analysts but got vague answers about "market conditions" and "industry standards."
The Breakthrough
Took a weekend to rebuild a company valuation from scratch. No templates. Just basic principles and actual financial statements. Suddenly everything clicked when he stopped copying formulas and started thinking through the logic.
Where He Is Now
Teaches valuation methods three evenings a week. Focuses on helping students understand the thinking behind the spreadsheet rather than memorizing which cell references go where. Still learns something new every quarter when students ask questions he hadn't considered.