This Mindset Shift Changed My Wealth Forever
Stop Chasing Trends Start Winning Big
There’s a famous quote by Bruce Lee that goes something like: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
When I started getting interested in the world of investing over 12 years ago, I obviously tried to absorb as much information as possible, searching for that secret strategy that would take me to the next level.
I read all kinds of books: technical analysis, fundamental analysis, quantitative trading, crypto, technology, options, real estate… all sorts of strategies. The result? Always the same: generally, the best approach was to focus on a specific asset. At that time, I met an investor on Twitter who had made a lot of money with a particular asset. That made me interested in that asset.
A clear example was in 2017 with Bitcoin. I read many books on the subject and, of course, began to understand the cycles and the narratives behind it. About how it’s one of the most resilient assets and how its value lies in scarcity and being better than any other asset.
But in the end, it was always the same. Yet, I lost my nerve during one of the cycles. Like everyone else, I sold at the worst moment and then bought Bitcoin again. In fact, it was a very good decision, but not for the right reason.
This has happened to me over and over again. As I did, I went back to the classics. I returned to the books that truly teach about mental models and principles. I reread the classics.
Now I find myself reading Ray Dalio’s Principles again. It’s an incredible book that summarizes these fundamental questions in a simple and clear way. I skipped the investment part and focused on the personal and work section. It’s been especially useful.
These principles are divided into life and work principles. This has made me reflect on a main idea I want to share today, because I believe this point can help you make a lot of money.
Here it is:
The evolutionary process of adaptation and productive ascent—seeking, reaching, and surpassing new goals, over and over again—is not just something nice or inspiring; it’s fundamental. Life consists of a succession of obstacles and challenges, and success depends on how you face and overcome them. Every time you overcome a difficulty, you become stronger and more capable.
The key is in how you handle pain and failure. We all, at some point, face situations that seem insurmountable. There’s an abundance of failures that can demotivate you. In those moments, you’ll feel pain and maybe think you lack the strength to keep going. In the end, you almost always pull through; your ultimate success will depend on how you accept that pain, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.
That’s why so many people I’ve met, who at one point seemed defeated, end up as happy as before (or even more so) because they have adapted well to them. Your quality of life depends on how you face difficulties. The faster you adapt, the better. No matter what you face in life, your ability to adapt and overcome pain determines your success. The key is in how you manage your emotions and learn to control your psychological reactions to adversity, and what once seemed painful can become something you long for.
But what kind of pain are we really talking about? How can I apply this in my day-to-day life? What I’m going to show you next is what I’ve been internalizing in recent years and what I’ve seen repeated among the best investors and entrepreneurs.