The quote stopped me in my tracks.

“What is very easy? To advise another…
What is very hard? To know thyself.”

That’s Thales. One of the seven sages of ancient Greece.

A philosopher. A thinker. A truth teller.

And what he said over 2,500 years ago is still so relevant today.

Especially for financial professionals.

Especially for Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs).

Because in our profession, we are constantly in the business of telling others what to do.

What to do with their money.
What not to do with their money.
When to stay calm.
When not to panic.
Why to avoid chasing returns.
How to stay on course.

We are constantly in a state of guiding.

Teaching.
Calming.
Encouraging.
Planning.
Reviewing.

It is our job.

And we take pride in it.

But in all of this, we often forget to do the one thing that is the hardest of all.

To know ourselves.

To pause.
To reflect.
To examine the self behind the guidance.
To ask: Who am I becoming in the process of helping others?

Let me explain.

You have built a successful practice.

You are managing 100 Crore. Or 500. Maybe even 1,000.

You are attending industry events.

You are on stage.
You are being recognized.

People look up to you.

You’re invited to speak.
To write.
To lead.

And suddenly, you feel a shift.

A voice inside begins to whisper: “I have arrived.”
Another says, “I must protect this image.”
A third insists, “I cannot be seen as vulnerable.”

And that’s when it starts.

The slow slide away from reflection.
The withdrawal from self-awareness.
The fear of being wrong.

We start to perform.

We stop learning.

We avoid difficult conversations.

We surround ourselves with people who nod to everything we say.

We don’t ask for feedback.
We don’t want a mirror.

Because it’s easier to advise others.

It’s harder to look within.

But that’s where growth truly lies.

It’s not in the awards.
Or the rankings.
Or the stage time.
Or even the AUM.

It’s in the quiet questions we ask ourselves when no one is watching.

Am I really listening to my clients?
Am I giving them what they need or what I want them to need?
Am I learning enough to remain relevant?
Am I just repeating what worked 10 years ago?
Am I building something meaningful or simply maintaining status?

These are hard questions.

But they are the right ones.

Let me offer a metaphor.

Imagine a lighthouse.

Strong. Tall. Reliable.
It helps ships navigate in the dark.
It shines when storms rage.
It stands when everything else is uncertain.

That’s what many of us aspire to be.

But what happens when the lighthouse forgets to check its own foundation?
When it never inspects the light source?
When the mirror behind the bulb gets dusty and cracked?

It may still look majestic.

But its light weakens.
Its effectiveness fades.

It becomes a symbol, not a solution.

That’s what happens when we stop knowing ourselves.

We become symbols.
Not solutions.

We speak from memory.
Not from mastery.

We default to old advice.
Instead of evolving to meet new realities.

We stop growing.
Even as our practices grow.

The sad part is… no one may notice.

Clients will still thank you.
AMCs will still reward you.
Your peers will still praise you.

But deep inside, you will know.

You will feel it.

The loss of curiosity.
The absence of reflection.
The fear of questioning your own ways.

And if you don’t correct it, you’ll stagnate.

The business might continue.
But your purpose won’t.

You’ll work harder.
But feel emptier.

You’ll get results.
But not fulfilment.

And here’s the tragedy.

This profession gives us a lifetime of opportunities to grow as human beings.

Not just as financial professionals.
Not just as salespeople.

We get to witness the deepest fears people have about money.
We get to hear stories of hope, of loss, of joy, of regret.
We sit with clients during market crashes and life crises.
We are there when children are born and when parents pass away.

We are not just witnesses to wealth.
We are witnesses to life.

But to make meaning of all this, we must know ourselves.

Because only then can we hold space for others.

So how do we start?

By asking questions.

Not to our clients.
But to ourselves.

What do I fear?

Where am I stuck?
What part of my work feels heavy?
What part excites me?
When did I last learn something new?
When did I last feel deeply moved by a client conversation?
Am I still doing this for the same reason I started?

And once you ask these, don’t rush to answer.

Sit with them.
Live with them.
Let them work on you.

Because the better you know yourself, the better your advice becomes.

Not louder.
But deeper.

Not sharper.
But kinder.

Not reactive.
But wise.

Clients will feel it.

Your team will feel it.

You will feel it.

Because you will not just be someone who gives advice.

You will become someone worth listening to.

Not because you speak louder.

But because you speak from within.

That’s the power of knowing yourself.

And that’s the true mark of a great professional.

Not just an MFD.

But a person who leads with clarity, awareness, and humility.

So let me leave you with this:

Yes, guide others.
Yes, share what you know.
Yes, do so with conviction.

But never forget to pause and ask:

Am I living this advice?
Am I growing too?
Am I becoming the person I want to be?

Because that’s the real journey.

And it’s the one that never ends.