One thing I have loved since I started—and stayed committed to through the highs and lows—is investing.
No part of my life holds as much uncertainty, yet no part has taught me more practical lessons about life.
There has been no great win attributed to perfect timing, nor any great loss solely due to poor timing.
Stuff happens, and that’s okay.
Some lessons along the way:
Debt is sweet only on the day you’re credited. Before and after that day, it drains the soul. There’s good debt, just as there’s good pain—but if you can, avoid the pain.
Debt forced me to chase returns that could offset it and still leave some change—a recipe for greed and loss.
Using my own money taught me to focus on preserving capital—a calming of emotions that allows for better long-term decisions.
I’ve learned to invest in what lets me sleep soundly. And if I can make money while I sleep, all the better.
Risk lies in volatility, but the odds of volatility even out over time. The longer you can wait, the less volatile things become—if the fundamentals are right.
I sell only when I truly need the cash, never for the allure of a hot investment on the horizon. Still, I’ve had to redefine what “truly” means after a betrayal of trust.
One of my favorite people in the world is a trader. I neither have the heart nor the stomach for it, but I enjoy observing it as a reminder of why I’ll never actively trade, no matter the returns. To me, it’s like bungee jumping with an untested rope—it might snap under your weight or tug hard to save you at the last moment. Not my idea of fun.
In the end, investing has given me three gifts:
• I am debt-free.
• I see through false confidence.
• I play the long game.
– Osasu Oviawe