Wednesday, 29 August 2018
How to know you are "trying too hard" or "doing it wrong" when it comes to investing?
Exercise is good for the body and mind.
But overdoing it may lead to sports injuries and other complications...
Also, a little knowledge may do more harm to the body than good. Have you seen those "clueless" joggers running along the main roads during peak traffic rush hour in the evenings?
Then there are exercise myths like believing in false prophets...
No, exercise won't grant you immunity against cancer, strokes, or heart attacks. Just talk to your doctor. But no... You rather believe in your (vested interest) exercise guru. You'll live forever and ever! Your exercise guru said so!
There are also those who mixed-up anaerobic with aerobic exercises, or have no clue between the two!
If you want to bulk up to look like the incredible Hulk, will climbing stairs or jogging help?
Similarly, if you want to lose fat fast and not wait 10 years to see the result, high-instensity intermittent exercise would be a better bet than doing Tai-Chi, no?
Exercise can bring pain. Pleasurable pain. Just like those we experienced behind close doors. Often, after a good workout, it'll lead us to a good night's sleep.
But something is not right if the pain just won't go away... Or the more we exercise, the more we can't sleep at night...
Idiot! Click-bait!
When will I start talking about investing?
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<Investment> can bring pain. Pleasurable pain. Just like those we experienced behind close doors. Often, after a good <investment>, it'll lead us to a good night's sleep.
ReplyDeleteBut something is not right if the pain just won't go away... Or the more we <invest>, the more we can't sleep at night...
Hey ... you've said it man! ;)
Spur,
DeleteThat I have ;)
When pain recovered and pleasure slowly built up behind closed doors and every year end smiling as next year budget looks okay. That is right investing.
ReplyDeleteCW,
DeleteThat's the best kind of "crash got sound"!
POSITIVE reinforcement ;)
Warning bells should sound if the "purpose" of investing is I'll breakeven one day...
Hi SMOL,
ReplyDeleteI come here to be naughty. Kekeke
Question: How to know you are "trying too hard" or "doing it wrong" when it comes to investing?
Answer: ....When you are a "long-term income investor" and you blog about portfolio updates every fortnight detailing no changes to your portfolio.
XD
Unintelligent Nerd,
DeleteYou smart!
Doing it here is lot a safer!
People are used to "poking" at this watering hole; immune already ;)
I've learnt the hard way who can poke; who cannot at other blogs.
Some super sensitive. Will "cry" one!?
LOL!
temperament,
ReplyDelete"Should" is too Indian Chief for my taste ;)
Not everyone is looking to complete a marathon...
There are those who prefer a series of short sprints and/or jumping from one meaningless relationship to another ;)
Then there are those who can't run; so they walk (voluntary CPF contributions anyone?) Some stay celibate as they are too cheap to pay for dates :(
Exercise more sounds so easy!
That's until you found out, too much or the wrong exercise for you, can lead to injuries and pain you never bargained for...
temperament,
ReplyDeleteLook at Soros, Jim Rogers, Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger; etc.
They enjoyed what they do (be it trading or investing) so much there's no concept of retirement - that's investing/trading to achieve ;)
Makes me wonder those who use investing/trading to escape whatever dreary jobs they have, once they have achieved their X dollars by Y year goal, will they continue to invest/trade?
If they can't hit their goals, what do they do? Help others achieve their X dollars by Y year goals!!!
Hi smol,
ReplyDeleteExercise is good for good health. But actually diet more important, because we eat three times a day.
Exercise become a panadol for less guilt when we dun watch the mouth.
Sillyinvestor,
DeleteDiet is important; we are what we eat.
However, eating "right" is like save more - we "just need" discipline. (Not everyone can self-discipline themselves though)
Eat until 70% full? Intermittent fasting? One meal a day? Its about cutting down; reduce. Making do with less ;)
Excercise is like earn more - we need competence.
The more we practice, the more repetitions we do, the more we train, the better we become at it. Its about breaking down the wall of self-limitations ;)
Of course its never about black and white, either or choices. Can do BOTH even better!
I just want to say I've never heard of anyone winning an olympic gold medal just with dieting alone!?
Hi SMOL,
ReplyDeleteI used to work too hard at blogging, trying to drive up the traffic and getting comments and all that. It's all very fun and great while I'm at it, but that phase is long gone. I went through a phase of thinking whether to continue blogging or not and I realised that I will, and it's not because I want all these comments and praises. It's because I want to do it. I'll even do it when there are nobody there reading (even though I don't wish for it).
Now? If I blog when I don't feel like blogging, it's too much work. If I look at the traffic after each post to see if it inches up, it's too much work. Gosh, I guess I've become the Singapore man of leisure when it comes to blogging LOL! If my intention is anything but to write out whatever is on my mind, it's too much work!
LP,
DeleteFunny how as adults, especially men, we have been so brainwashed that we need do everything with an objective or goal in mind. Then we admonish those without a plan that they plan to fail in life...
Everything is WITHIN our control! See?
And when we fail, we blame big daddy!
Eh?
I don't want to grow up. I want to be like youth - their strenght is they don't know what cannot be done!
I am in touch with my feminine side; to be more like women - their strength is happy do, not happy don't do!
And most of all, I wish to be more like your young son - to see everything with fresh eyes and wonder!
Blogging is definitely not a business or work for both of us ;)
LOL!
temperament,
ReplyDeleteThat's how some of chinese educated discovered they do enjoy being their own boss after discovering both corporate and big daddy treat them 2nd class ;)
Similarly, those of us with papers that are less powderful stumbled on to the sales line and found out its one of the most meritocratic careers out there!
No one cares whether we old or young, man or woman, handicapped or able-bodied, tall or short, ugly or pretty.
Can sell, can oredi!
And that's the same with trading and investing.
Of course, we'll never seek to achieve any activity where anyone and everyone can do it ;)
Parents tell their children to study and work hard so they can AVOID jobs that anyone and everyone can do.
And that's why Singaporeans get stressed when their jobs can easily be replaced by foreign talents or robots :(
temperament,
ReplyDeleteAll I can say life is generally harder for those who have low EQ.
You keep "offending" people even if you are not selling things to them...
Straight talking to the wrong person at the wrong time is a sign of low EQ.
The odds are stacked against those with low EQ who wants to do direct sales.
Hi temperament,
ReplyDeleteWhat does straight talking mean? If he ask someone whether they want to buy, and they say no, then he walked away? Is that straight talking?
If you die die want an example, I think i can fit it. I'm about the most straight talking tutor there is, and I find my own students, so I'm in direct sales. Straight talker sells by results, but that's only because tuition is a product that everyone already knows.
ReplyDeleteOkay, if your definition of straight talking is like that, then of course, can't do direct sales. It's like asking whether you've seen a bird that has no wings flying? That straight talking man is not going to fail in direct sales, i think he will have trouble finding friends too lol
ReplyDelete1) First of all, thank you LP for engaging temperament so that I can go for my late lunch.
ReplyDelete2) temperament, notice how LP intelligently tried to pin down your definition of "straight talking"? If not it would be a case of one talk chicken, another talk duck...
I simply avoided it altogether by referencing a broader definition of EQ - to be more vague and grey ;)
And notice I say the odds are stacked against... I not so stupid to say with 2 decimal precision that its impossible.
Exceptions do happen like the 2 dots in the Tao symbol!
LP is "self-professed" straight talker to his students. We can't verify it unless we talk to his students.
I'm more interested is he also the same straight talker to his student's parents? The real paying customers! LOL!
What we can verify is how he treats trolls at his blog ;)
And how he managed to incubate so many bloggers that were spinoffs from his cbox tavern.
I count myself as one of them ;)
temperament,
ReplyDeleteYou are one slippery eel ;)
;)
ReplyDeletewho is more striaght talking than me? who?
ReplyDeletefinally a trading subject!
ReplyDeletethere is no trying too hard in trading unless you mean to make more money every time, everyday. thats a fast lane to poor house.
turn trading into a game and try to have fun, then you will automatic stop trading if you no longer having fun, you wouldn't fall into the trap of trying too hard.
coconut,
DeleteOver trading can be painful...
Especially those with daily $ trading goals...
Trading/investing is like jogging. If we can't have a normal conversation while jogging, we are probably pushing ourselves too hard!
Unless we are doing a 100m sprint... That's another story!
my trading volume down at least 70-80% from the peak, so as my performance. but i still trade as per normal, don't fight the market, don't try to squeeze too much out of a dull market, wait for the big moment to come.
Deleteif ones need trading profit to meet ends needs, or up volume just to keep pace with performance, then....good luck!
coconut,
DeleteYup. I was having the same conversation with another blogger.
If an income investor needs to leverage his portfolio just to make enough passive income to maintain his "financially free" status, how is it any different from a spender who needs to max out his credit cards to maintain his lifestyle?
My trading edge is I do not need to trade for a living ;)
That's why institutional traders have a base salary. How to trade with serenity if we have to constantly worry about paying our bills and putting food on the table every day?
Good to have professional traders like coconut and Macroananlyst on SMOL's watering hole here. If a trader has only one working trading strategy up his sleeve, he had better know when to work hard, when to be lazy. No trading strategy works all the time in all market conditions. The trader needs to know under what market conditions his strategy will stop working.
DeleteIn Feb2018, global stock markets turned. Strategies which worked in low-volatility, smoothly uptrending 2017 market are unlikely to continue working post Feb2018. Given the change in market conditions, it is good opportunity to try out new ideas, new strategies for future diversification. If not now, then when? I lost money so far in 2018 doing that. The game gets more fun when one tries to develop tricks to play in different market conditions :) Working too hard? I don't think so. Doing it wrong? Certainly since money was lost.
hyom hyom,
DeleteCrash got sound is the best kind of "feedback".
Immediate and we'll remember it for sure - that's provided we survived the crash!
2018 so far has not been easy. Another 1/3 to go. Let's see how it will end ;)
coconut,
ReplyDeleteI believe you more than temperament ;)
You got no screws in your brain! You are like those innocent children who will say the darnest things!!!
So cute!
As for temperament... Well, he's a bit like those slim women who go round complaining to others they "feel" fat!?
LOL!
temperament,
ReplyDeleteWell, now we know coconut still alive!
LOL!
Trading is hard for me these few months. Markets one day up, one day down. No fun for my style; but great for intraday traders out there!
temperament,
ReplyDeleteLOL!
You know what? The fact we can joke and dance around is a good sign ;)
Stay cool and nimble.
You are our "lao da"!
No, not because your one bigger than us, but because you the oldest amongst us mah!
Must show respect to our seniors :)
haha its so funny that when talk i'm as straight as a flag pole, but tradings wise, i'm very flexible.
ReplyDeletemarkets have been tough for everyone, especially for traders, me included. volume down, volatility down, high frequency trading up, no good for all!
coconut,
ReplyDeleteAnd to think beginning of the year was so fun...
Like the weather today. It was blue sky and hot sun when I went to Tiong Bahru market to have brunch. Now returned home and it started pouring!?
Just like out STI today in reverse ;)
The more time you have, the higher chance you can reach FI.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a fat person who live till 100? Lol
WolfT,
DeleteWait. I'm trying to think hard now...
Warren Buffett? He's not exactly slim and lean...
No, he's only 88.
Li Ka Shing is definitely not fat!
But he only 90...
Hang on! There are not many people who lived till 100!!! Doesn't matter fat ot thin!
I just got played...
:(
And we have some worrywarts concern their HDB 99-year leases will run out...
LOL!
temperament,
DeleteWhat do communist bandits tell their flock?
The land and the whole country "BELONG" to the people ;)
Scared the message did not sink in... There! We now have People's Republic of China ;)
If you have China relatives, go ask them whether the land "belongs" to them ;)
Land owners believe in sticks and carrots to puppet their shepherds.
Sheep believe in their shepherds.
Cats just meow.
Hmm... I would say that your equity curve is an indication of whether you are trying too hard... but then you know that I'll be saying that already...
ReplyDeleteMacroanalyst,
DeleteKnowing when to reduce my position size or stay on the sidelines is very humbling and ego reducing :(
Finally! Someone who uses "insider" financial lingo ;)
Retail "outsiders" out here like to use broken singlish like XIRR and/or their own made-up definition of net-worth...
LOL!
Look at my trading volume in past 3 months. Do I still qualify as an investor?
ReplyDeleteSanye兄,
DeleteYou are definitely not trying too hard ;)
Any reader comparing your blog to other wannebe dividend "investor" will notice a sea of difference!
Of course we can empathise. Climbing up the mountain not the same as strolling down the mountain.
Captain of battleship can't sail like captain of destroyer.
Steady as she goes!
For people who love the investing process, there is no such thing as "trying too hard" but definitely got such thing as "doing it wrong".
ReplyDeleteWhen a person loves doing something, even if he spends all his waking hours doing it and still fail, no regrets. This is why entrepreneurs/speculators had better love what they do because most will fail despite trying very hard.
Not hard to know when an investor/trader who loves his craft is doing it wrong. He works very hard at it, yet loses money. For investors/traders who loves the money but not the game, he will lose money, lose sleep, lose appetite, lose happiness, lose mood for daily activities ... Please quit the game and work hard at your day job.
hyom hyom,
DeleteFrom a holistic perspective, we can be "trying too hard" even if we are good at what we do and a "success" at it!
We may love gaming, but if we play it all night until 3-4 am, we are probably "trying too hard" if we let gaming affect our studies or work.
Then there's my definition of success:
Success is what we have to give up to achieve it!
We can be wonderful and great investors/traders. But it comes at the cost of single-minded focus and attention. We neglect our love ones and friends. We have money; but no one to share it with...
Middle path.
Or the ability to carry a conversation while jogging.
Of course cannot win the marathon like that, but at least I'll have companions to welcome me even if I reached the finishing line 12 hours after the race ;)
P.S. We have some characters in the community that keep getting themselves banned from forums or blogs. These are the ones who try too hard, or doing it wrong to be "popular"...
Hi Jared,
DeleteIndeed. From a holistic perspective, success comes with a price. A good question to ask before embarking on something risky and time-consuming is "Is it worth the sacrifice?"
A good example will be the widely quoted Warren Buffett in investment circles. Read the biography book "Snowball" by Alice Schroeder. Mr Buffett neglected his family while pursuing his investment career. His wife left him after the children grew up despite Mr Buffett being a good-natured, kind man. She must have been bottling up her unhappiness and enduring it for the kids for a long time. In the book, she was portrayed as a wonderful woman. For a wonderful woman to do such a thing to the husband, I think the husband has a lot to be blamed.
This is a deep lesson to learn from the investment master, although this lesson has nothing to do with money. I still remember this lesson from the book from time to time. Many of us will get carried away by our own selfish pursuits sometimes and neglect our duties to people around us. Thanks for the reminder.
hyom hyom,
DeleteNamaste.
temperament,
ReplyDeleteWell, the other extreme will be like Jim Rogers.
Don't do anything until you find a pile of gold sitting in a corner. Then all you need to do is bend down and scoop it up!
Sounds so easy until I realised in Singapore, there would be a LONG gueue of people ahead of me!!!
LOL!
Different flowers have different blossoming seasons ;)
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI think that it's better to go with the Zen. If one feels like investing at that point of time, do it. If not, don't do it. It's simple. Another way is to invest on a monthly basis. If the paycheck comes in, invest the excess fund. There is no need to bother with the share price for one who is focused on dividend growth investment.
My two cents worth of views.
Ben
Ben,
DeleteFirst of all, most people have no clue what is Zen - even if they have heard of it.
Come to think of it, most lay buddhists would stay away from Zen as its definitely not for anyone and everyone ;)
Good luck to you if the next person starts to ask you what is Zen?
OK... I think most of the regulars here know how I feel about those "Look mom! No brains needed!" strategies ;)
What you've described is closer to what I would associate with Pure Land Buddhism...
Don't hit the face!
Smol,
ReplyDeleteMy perception of Zen is simple. "Free-Will Mind". It's that simple. Not complicated.
Ben
Ben,
DeleteMy path is unlearning and letting go the baggage I've brought with me.
Its also known as 无心 or no mind ;)
Smol,
DeleteYour path is of high level of attainment. It takes a great cultivation to be able to put down all the baggage. You have achieved the pinnancle of "Zen" as per my perspective. I still have a lot of ground of improvement.
Ben
Ben,
DeleteNo higher or lower attainments.
Same Tao; different paths （法门） ;)
Smol,
ReplyDeleteWell said. All roads lead to Rome. It does not matter how one reaches the destination. It must be with good intent.
Ben