PwC US CEO Paul Griggs on the quiet habit that fuels career growth

The strategy hinges on how individuals handle the gaps in their knowledge. Griggs contrasts two types of workers: one who mentally checks out the moment the work week ends, and another who dedicates twenty minutes to researching a problem they cannot yet solve. That small, consistent investment of time compounds, allowing the latter to arrive at future meetings better prepared, faster at grasping complex concepts, and ultimately more valuable to the firm.

This approach mirrors a practice Griggs observed early in his own career. A colleague carried a notebook to every meeting, recording every term or concept he did not understand, then systematically researched them later. Adopting this habit—cataloging your own gaps and closing them before the next interaction—transforms passive attendance into active professional development. In an era of near-limitless information, the intentional choice to dig deeper when no one is watching remains the most reliable indicator of who will climb the ranks.