Progress rarely comes in a straight line. It usually comes disguised as a problem.

Think about every major innovation in the world. Most were born not out of comfort but out of necessity. Someone faced a challenge, asked “what if,” and created something new. Without the problem, the innovation would never have existed.

The same is true in investing. Every market downturn feels like a problem. Every period of volatility feels like a setback. Every headline makes you wonder if progress has stalled. But if you zoom out, you will see that these problems have always been the stepping stones to progress.

Volatility forced the creation of diversification. Inflationary periods drove the need for asset allocation. Crises taught investors the value of discipline and patience. Even personal setbacks such as overtrading or chasing fads become the problems that push you toward wisdom and better behavior.

In fact, the entire cycle of progress in investing mirrors this: problem, innovation, new problem, and then more innovation. Each cycle, if embraced with perspective, takes you forward.

As an investor, the key is not to run away from problems but to learn from them. A market decline is not the end of compounding; it is a test of it. A mistake in judgment is not a verdict on your ability; it is an invitation to refine your process. Problems are the tuition you pay for wisdom.

If you feel unsettled by a problem in your financial life, think and reframe it. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me,” ask, “What can this teach me?” That simple shift turns fear into fuel.

Because every problem, if used well, is not a roadblock. It is a stepping stone to progress.