Many people ask me how to do something. i used to tell them until I realized that, even after i told them how i did something, they often did not do it. i then realized that it was not the 'how', but 'why' i do something that is more important.
THE ART OF INVESTING ARTFULLY
About two years ago, while browsing YouTube, I came across the interview of an American economist and business leader who was advocating financial freedom through stock market investing. As I listened to what he was saying — which made quite a lot of sense to me — what started as simple curiosity quickly turned into a growing interest. By the end of his interview, this man had convinced me to implement his idea.
So I began to read more and more about the subject and discovered the world of the stock exchange and investing. A world where it is possible to make millions in a short amount of time, simply by investing your money in a promising young company that, from one day to the next, could rise to the rank of the multinationals of this world, thanks to its revolutionary product or technology. A world where, it seems, the powerful of this world gravitate towards and where you watch money work for you relentlessly and multiply endlessly.
“What a brilliant idea! That’s why rich people are so rich!” I thought to myself. So I opened an investment account at my bank and started taking a course in stock market investing, particularly in stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, and options. The more knowledge and confidence I gained, the more money I invested. After nine months, I felt I had developed an acumen for profitable startups of all kinds, whether in cryptocurrency, medicinal cannabis, virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing and bioprinting, electric bus batteries, drones, gold mining, in short, I had acquired, in my grandiose ego, the “eye of the investor”.
Then one morning, as I logged into my investment account, I saw that the stock market had experienced a big dip. I had lost a substantial amount of money. That made me feel like crap and also realize that I hate losing money way more than I love making money. I like my investments to be safe and growing.
According to the Intelligent Investor (Benjamin Graham), ‘An investment operation is one which, upon thorough analysis promises safety of principal (the money you invest initially) and an adequate return. Operations not meeting these requirements are speculative. So could that mean that I had been speculating all that time? I came to the conclusion that I had indeed since I had lost some of my principal.
Then what is a true investment? What sector should I invest in to get an adequate return while preserving the money I have invested initially? I pondered that question for a while and only found the answer not too long ago.
The only investment that makes me fully satisfied (financially and emotionally) is an investment in something I love. When I spend money on that thing, I do not fear losing anything, the return is instantaneous AND appreciates over time!
That thing is Art, my passion. Every time I spend on art supplies, art courses, art books, and so on, I know that I’m investing in something that cannot lose value; ME! I AM my best investment. I’ve always been, and that’s where I’ve decided to put my money now. The goal? Build a profitable art company and brand.