This is the first post in a series where I share my thoughts on why the "quickest" route might actually be the slowest, and the "slowest" route could turn out to be the fastest.
Recently, I saw news about a U.S. lawyer getting arrested. I won’t speculate on what exactly they did, but this made me reflect on how people often chase shortcuts instead of trusting the process.
Many are impatient, looking for immediate, tangible results. Whether it’s EB2 NIW, EB1A, or career growth, people are tempted by "hacks" or "shortcuts" they find online. But in reality, the most down-to-earth, seemingly slowest approach is often the most efficient and rewarding in the long run.
My "Slow" Approach That Paid Off
Ten years ago, I started networking relentlessly, with zero immediate results. In the first year, less than 1% of people even responded to me. I met hundreds of people, kept in touch, and kept going—sometimes having three coffee chats in one afternoon.
Two and a half years later, someone I had stayed connected with referred me to my first buy-side finance job. Almost at the same time, they became a Director at another firm—and later, one of my independent NIW recommenders.
Because I spent years genuinely building relationships, when the time came for NIW, I didn’t need to "buy" recommendation letters—I had plenty of strong, independent referees ready to vouch for me, at no cost.
Why Most People Give Up Too Soon 🚨
Many of my peers also wanted finance FO jobs, but most gave up within six months.
- Some sent 30 LinkedIn messages, got no replies, and decided networking "doesn’t work."
- Some took CFA/FRM Level 1, barely passed, saw no immediate benefit, and quit.
- They kept searching for the fastest way, but in reality, they were just starting and stopping—never giving time for compounding efforts to take effect.
The truth? ⏳ Those who chase shortcuts often end up taking the longest road.