Stronger for Longer

"The Tortoise and the Hare" is a famed fable, which is most commonly associated with the dictum slow and steady wins the race. This dictum has given rise to my new philosophy: stronger for longer. In this post, I will explain why investors should always have this at the forefront of their minds. 

In a recent gym session, I pushed myself particularly hard. Consequently, my left quadricep froze, causing inflammation around my knee. A few days later, my lower back muscles went into spasm. I am now using compression, a foam roller and ice-packs to help my leg and back heal. This is the second time my knees have become irritated, and the third time my back has gone into spasm. Clearly, I have injured myself far too frequently in the gym. Thus, I have decided that I must be more careful in the gym, and dedicate more time to post-workout stretching. 

My repeated experiences in the gym have finally reminded me of "The Tortoise and the Hare"; I have concluded there is no point attempting to go too far too fast, only to suffer from an injury. It is better to make slow and steady progress.

So, why should all this matter to an investor? Amongst athletes and active-types, making gains is a colloquialism used to refer to getting stronger, and building muscle mass. Too many people are in a rush to make such gains. Too many people get injured in this rush.

Investors are in the business of seeking gains - albeit of a different kind. And, surprisingly - or unsurprisingly - investors too are in a rush to make gains. Thus, it is important for investors to remember that the race is won through patience, and disciplined capital allocation - not by chasing quick money; it is always better to avoid an injury that will land you back at square one. Let us all seek to be stronger for longer.