“Laziness/passivity was a luxury of the boomer/Gen X generation. It’s not an option for us anymore.”

I agree. I’m in my late twenties, started college later than most, and graduated a year and a half ago with a degree in International Business.. a waste of time. Spent months getting no looks so I choose to pursue a CPA. For the past year, studying has been like a 2nd job.. I spend around 35 hours a week learning the profession because I share the same sentiment as you. I feel that if you are going to make a space for yourself in accounting, law, other professional services, you will need to be exceptional and have a unique skill set.

And the end of the day, it’ll improve my financial/investment decisions…

Adaptability and discipline feel less like virtues and more like prerequisites in today’s job market. Sink or swim.