Education Can Change Your Destiny, But Only If You're Willing to Change

Last week, I received an email from a student, Sarah. She said, “Jenna, I finished your course and learned a lot, but I'm still too afraid to invest. I am terrified of failure.”

This reminded me of my own story, and it also made me think about the true power of education—and its limitations.

Education Isn't a Magic Wand

Many people expect education to act like a magic wand; they learn the knowledge, and suddenly, their world will change. But the reality is, education just gives you the map. You still need the courage to walk the path.

I have seen many brilliant people who learned all the investment theories but never take action. I have also seen people who may not fully understand the market, but they believe in themselves, start investing, and eventually succeed.

What's the difference? Action and confidence.

Why Do Some Change, and Others Don't?

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this. Why is it that with the exact same course, some people’s lives are transformed, while for others, nothing changes?

I’ve found that the key factor isn't the quality of the course, but the student's internal readiness.

There are three types of people:

Type 1: The Unready They may have taken many courses on investing, but they have not yet truly accepted the need for change. They are held back by fear, self-doubt, or a simple comfort with the status quo. For this group, even the best course won't help. They need a catalyst—a crisis, a moment of inspiration, or a role model.

Type 2: The Ready, Needing Support They recognize the need to change and are willing to learn, but they need a support system. They need to know they aren't alone. They need someone to encourage them when they make mistakes and celebrate with them when they succeed. This is why our community is so important.

Type 3: The Primed, Needing Tools They already have the internal motivation; they just need the right knowledge and tools. For this group, a good course simply accelerates their success.

My New Understanding of Education

After all these years of teaching, I’ve realized that the true power of education lies not in transferring information, but in unlocking potential.

My courses aren't designed to make you an investment expert (though you might become one). They are designed to make you believe in your own ability to create change. They are designed to show you that your life is not fixed—that you have the power of choice.

This is why I include so much content about values and mission. Because if you don't know why you are investing, knowing how to invest is meaningless.

A Message for Sarah and Anyone Else Who is Afraid

Fear is normal. I was terrified when I made my first investment. My hands were shaking, and my heart was pounding. But I did it.

Failure is also normal. My first investment lost 20%. But I learned from it.

Change is scary, but the cost of not changing is far greater.

If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you will keep getting what you’ve always gotten.

So, my advice is simple: Start.

Don't wait until you're perfectly ready. Don't wait until you've finished every course. Don't wait for the market to be "perfect." Start by investing an amount you can afford to lose.

Make mistakes. Learn. Adjust. Repeat.

That is the process of change.