S.E.C. Save- Earn - Create.

What’s your SEC Mindset?

Are we focusing on the right things? Whether you're a CEO navigating corporate strategy, an attorney in private practice, an RN managing critical patients, or a stay-at-home mom juggling family needs, it’s essential to ask: Are we truly focusing on what matters most? Too often, we don’t think about how to Save, Earn, or Create—what I call the SEC mindset—until circumstances force us to. We scramble for solutions only when the pain becomes unbearable, but why isn’t this mindset part of our everyday approach?

Save: The Secret Weapon We Often Overlook

If you’re married, could you live on one paycheck if needed? If not, it’s time to address how lifestyle creep may be jeopardizing your financial security. The same concept applies to organizations. How often do businesses fail to take a line-item view of their expenditures and simply do the math?

Take healthcare, for example. If you’re running a hospital, do you know exactly how much you’ve spent on travel staff in 2024? And more importantly, what will that number look like in 2025 if you don’t prioritize hiring permanent candidates? These are critical questions, yet many organizations overlook these costs until they’re facing a budget crisis.

Saving isn’t just about cutting back; it’s about strategic foresight. At home, it’s ensuring your grocery list doesn’t balloon with unnecessary items. It’s reviewing those endless streaming subscriptions and asking, “Do we really need them all?” It’s making sure that every equipment purchase is backed by a solid pro forma—going beyond, “Can we afford this today?” to “How does this impact our future?”

The truth is, saving isn’t our secret weapon—at home or at work—unless we’re giving it constant attention. It requires discipline, vigilance, and the willingness to ask tough questions about every dollar we spend. Proactive saving provides the safety net and flexibility to navigate challenges without scrambling for quick fixes. It’s time we start viewing saving not as an afterthought, but as a daily practice that safeguards our future.

Earn: Creating Value in Every Role

As a business owner, Earning has always been a constant focus. I’ve bootstrapped Hunter Ambrose since day one and have been fortunate to achieve success—thanks to every client, candidate, and partner since 2006! But even while focusing on the big E, I’ve noticed that many executives, myself included, don’t integrate the full SEC mindset into our routines until it’s necessary.

Earning isn’t just about revenue; it’s about generating value in every role we take on. Whether it’s closing deals, creating new opportunities, or simply being more efficient, Earning is about finding ways to grow and contribute in whatever we do. It’s about making sure every effort, every conversation, and every meeting has a purpose and leads to progress. We often don’t discuss these goals until a bad quarter hits, but it’s vital to keep the focus on Earning every day to ensure sustainable success.

Create: Innovation Beyond Crisis

Creating is where we bring something new into the world—whether it’s developing new products, solving problems in novel ways, or creating a better work-life balance. It’s the most rewarding aspect of the SEC mindset because it allows us to innovate and build beyond the status quo.

When I started Hunter Ambrose in 2006, I was a single parent of three school-aged children. Every day, through the ups and downs of building a business, navigating a recession, and surviving a pandemic, I woke up with the SEC mindset. It was my way of ensuring that every day counted, both for my family and my business. And I’ve seen the power of this mindset not only in my own journey but in the careers of candidates I’ve placed and coached.

I often ask candidates during interviews how they have practiced SEC in their careers. How have they Saved, Earned, and Created in their roles? Because this is the true value they bring to any organization. It’s the most critical conversation we should be having in every meeting and decision-making process.

Embrace the SEC Mindset

So, as you navigate your career, your business, or your household, consider adopting the SEC mindset. Don’t wait for a crisis to think about how you can Save, Earn, or Create. Make it part of your daily routine and conversations. It’s easy to get comfortable with spending and routine when things are going well, but real security and growth come from focusing on what truly matters.

Take a moment today to think about where you can Save—at home, in your business, or in your personal energy. Look for ways to Earn—not just in financial terms, but in value and impact. And always find opportunities to Create—to innovate, to build, and to improve. By making SEC a habit, you’re not just preparing for the unexpected; you’re unlocking new possibilities in every aspect of your life.