A 149-Word Letter That Changed My Life
Years ago, a simple letter from the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London altered the trajectory of my life.
It wasn’t a long letter – just 149 words – but it carried a truth that would shape everything that followed.
In it, the Institute congratulated me on my election to Associateship and said something that struck me deeply:
“If you want to keep in touch with a subject, try teaching it.”
At that moment, I was a young banker – ambitious, driven, and curious.
But I hadn’t realized that the act of teaching could be far more powerful than the pursuit of titles or promotions.
That short line – try teaching it – became my compass.
It pushed me to share what I knew.
And in sharing, I began to grow in ways no classroom, conference, or corporate training could ever provide.
The Multiplier Effect of Teaching
Teaching is the hidden multiplier of life and leadership.
It’s the one skill that compounds every other skill you possess.
When you teach, you deepen your understanding.
When you teach, you expand your reach.
When you teach, you multiply your impact.
Every great leader in history – from Edward Deming and Peter Drucker to Tony Robbins, Seth Godin, and Mel Robbins – built their legacy not just by doing, but by teaching what they did.
Deming taught quality.
Drucker taught management.
Robbins teaches transformation.
Godin teaches creativity and permission marketing.
Their names endure because they didn’t just achieve – they transferred wisdom.
Teaching is how knowledge becomes legacy.
From Banker to Builder of Leaders
When I began teaching, it was to stay “in touch” with my field.
I taught Elements of Banking, Elements of Management, and Elements of Investment to junior colleagues and interns.
Soon, I discovered that teaching wasn’t just about giving – it was about growing.
The more I taught, the more I learned.
The clearer my thoughts became.
The more confident my voice grew.
Over time, that single decision to teach led me down a completely new path – from corporate banker to corporate trainer, from trainer to leadership coach, and eventually, to Legacy Book Coach.
Today, I’ve taught more than 20,000 professionals across industries and coached executives from top organizations through Vision & Talent Group.
And every time I step into a room, virtual or physical, I see the same truth play out:
Teaching doesn’t just transform the learner – it transforms the teacher too.
Why Teaching Is the Ultimate Leadership Skill
It’s no accident that every great leader is also a teacher.
Leadership and teaching are two sides of the same coin.
Leaders who can’t teach end up managing tasks, not inspiring transformation.
But leaders who teach – who simplify, explain, and mentor – build cultures that outlast them.
When you teach, you do three things that leadership books rarely emphasize:
- You Clarify What You Believe.
Teaching forces you to articulate your ideas clearly and consistently. You can’t hide behind jargon when you’re explaining something to a beginner.
- You Multiply Yourself.
Through teaching, you replicate your values, vision, and wisdom in others. That’s how institutions endure and movements grow.
- You Leave a Legacy.
When you teach, your influence survives beyond your presence. You empower others to think, act, and create long after you’ve left the room.
In short:
Leadership without teaching is authority.
Leadership with teaching is legacy.
Teaching Is Not About Profession – It’s About Intention
Many people think teaching belongs only in classrooms.
That’s a myth.
You don’t need to be a “professional” teacher to teach.
If you’re a doctor, engineer, designer, or founder, you already have something the world needs to learn.
Think of Pat Flynn, the founder of Smart Passive Income.
He built an empire simply by teaching what he knew – step by step.
Or Danny Iny, the Canada-based entrepreneur behind Mirasee, who wrote two landmark books – Teach Your Gift and Leveraged Learning.
Both books champion one simple idea: when you teach your gift, you multiply your influence.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
You only need the willingness to share what’s worked for you.
Teaching isn’t about perfection – it’s about participation.
Teaching as the Foundation of Vision & Talent
When I founded Vision & Talent Group, it wasn’t to create just another training company.
It was to build a movement of multipliers.
People who understand that knowledge is wealth – but shared knowledge is power.
We’ve since trained tens of thousands of professionals, built communities of authors and thought leaders, and launched programs that help executives turn their expertise into influence.
At the core of it all is one belief:
Every expert should become a teacher.
Every teacher should become a leader.
And every leader should leave a legacy.
That’s the DNA of Vision & Talent – and the essence of my work as The Legacy Book Coach.
How to Start Teaching What You Know
If you’re wondering where to start, begin simple.
- Start a blog or newsletter. Share lessons from your experience.
- Host a free webinar. Teach a single topic you know well.
- Mentor one person. Help someone who’s two steps behind you.
- Write your book. Document your journey and frameworks.
You don’t need permission.
You only need conviction.
Because the truth is this:
The world doesn’t need more information.
It needs more interpretation – from people like you who have walked the path and can show others the way.
Your Legacy Begins When You Teach
Teaching is the most underrated form of influence in our time.
It is how we multiply what matters.
It is how we build what outlasts us.
If success is climbing the mountain, teaching is building a ladder for others to climb.
And in doing so, you rise even higher.
So – what could you teach this month?
What lesson has your journey already paid for?
Don’t wait for the perfect time.
Start teaching what you know.
Someone’s destiny may depend on your willingness to share.
Ready to Multiply Your Impact?
Join my Train-The-Trainer Program: here’s the waiting list.
Learn how to turn your expertise into structured learning, authority, and lasting legacy.
Because the moment you start teaching, you start multiplying.
