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Most investors are chasing success — more money, bigger alpha, superior returns. But “success” — however you decide to measure it — can be misleading, problematic, and worst of all…fleeting. Excellence, however, is timeless.

I thought I knew what it took to be a good father. As long as I showed up, played with my kids, and taught them some good values along the way, I’d be all set. I have never been more spectacularly wrong in my entire life.

Early one morning, I sat at my kitchen table with a steaming coffee before me. The pleasant aroma of my steamed half-and-half and the double shot of espresso wafted into the air. The sun was shining through the window, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the open door behind me. I should have been in a euphoric state of bliss. But I wasn’t. My mind was reeling. And my stomach was in knots.

Investors often lose money not due to lack of information, but from a lack of conviction. When market opinions diverge from their analysis, doubt creeps in, leading to poor decisions. Building a structured process and understanding the reasons behind investment choices can foster true confidence and encourage disciplined decision-making, even during market downturns.

I am constantly hearing people tell me that life is short. But I have begun to think that the idea that life is always short may be the wrong way to think about it. 

From 1929 to 1932, GDP in the United States declined by 30%, the stock market lost 73% of its value, and unemployment hit an all-time high of 25%. One in every four Americans did not have a job.