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Are You a Stock or a Bond? Invest in Yourself
In our most recent podcast, we released Cameron-Brooks JMO Transition Rule #2: Develop an Investment Mindset. It poses the question: Are you a stock or a bond? Invest in yourself — a powerful mindset shift that’s essential to a successful business transition.
We talked about why developing an investment mindset is essential for preparing to transition into business.
We challenge transitioning JMOs to think long-term, which may result in delaying gratification and choosing a path that prioritizes growth over comfort.
Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in history and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is renowned not just for building massive wealth (he’s consistently ranked among the richest people in the world) but for the way he’s built it.
He’s done it through simple, disciplined, long-term investing principles. The transition can be viewed similarly.
The Stock vs. Bond Analogy
In the investment world, bonds are steady. They offer predictable returns, and they don’t fluctuate much. There’s safety in bonds — but also limits.
Stocks, on the other hand, have upside. Great companies grow their earnings over time, reinvest in themselves, and increase in value. They take on a little more short-term risk, but the long-term rewards are significant.
Buffett has often discussed the merits of investing in stocks over bonds, emphasizing the long-term value and growth potential of equities. For instance, in a 2018 CNBC interview, he stated that he would buy stocks instead of bonds “in a nanosecond,” highlighting his preference for equities as a long-term investment strategy.
“Are you a stock or a bond?”
While this doesn’t directly address the “stock or bond” analogy in a personal development context, it reflects Buffett’s broader perspective on growth, value, and long-term thinking—principles that can be applied to personal and professional development in the transition.
That question may actually be one of the most insightful ways to evaluate your own career potential. What valuation are you giving yourself?
From Mindset to Action
I like to play the what if game. What if I was a stock? How would I be performing? Think of yourself like a stock — a growing asset — and act accordingly.
1. Track Your Earning Power (Your Value)
Ask yourself:
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What are my most valuable skills today?
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What problems can I solve that others can’t?
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How am I positioning myself to contribute in new and meaningful ways?
This is the foundation of your “personal earnings” — your ability to create value for others.
2. Focus on Growth Rate
Are you learning faster than others? Are you seeking feedback? Stretching into uncomfortable situations?
Just like great companies reinvest their profits into R&D and innovation, high-growth individuals constantly reinvest their time and effort into improvement.
3. Build Durable Skills
Stocks with long-term potential have competitive advantages.
Leadership, adaptability, communication, and strategic thinking — these are skills that won’t become obsolete. They’re durable. They’re your career’s version of an economic moat.
4. Trust the Compounding
The best investors don’t panic during short-term dips. They hold onto high-quality assets and let them grow.
In your career, that means not chasing short-term comforts at the expense of long-term opportunity. It means trusting that if you do the hard work now, your value will compound.
This is a winning mentality
At Cameron-Brooks, we’ve worked with thousands of Junior Military Officers. The ones who thrive in the business world aren’t necessarily the ones with the flashiest résumés — they’re the ones who adopt this mindset:
“I’m a stock. I’m going to keep growing, keep compounding, and become more valuable every year.”
They see the transition not as a one-time event, but as the beginning of a long-term investment in themselves.
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
If you’re still trying to figure out what kind of role or company is the right “fit”, let’s talk.
Remember, are you a stock or a bond? Invest in yourself — because the earlier you adopt this long-term career strategy, the greater your return
If you’re ready to take that next step — whether it’s exploring options, building a long-term plan, or simply having a conversation — I’d love to connect.
Brock Dudley | Associate Principal, Cameron-Brooks, Inc.
(210) 874-1495
bdudley@cameron-brooks.com
Brock Dudley | LinkedIn