Why be an Optimist?
Life is too short for prolonged sadness, and much too long for pessimism. In my view, it is possible to be a responsible optimist investor. My method is simple: Dream, Challenge, Reflect.
First, we must dream big. I prefer to invest in companies that are shaping the world. This requires a big imagination. The founders of these companies have creative minds that endlessly push the boundaries of what is possible. To be an optimist investor, we must learn to dream like them.
Next, we must challenge and dissect the investment theses. Big dreams have one big problem. They are only dreams. It is hard to shape the world. Successful investments will weather tough times, significant competitors, and seemingly unsurmountable obstacles. To be optimist investors, we must learn to spot the qualities of companies will thrive in challenging environments and have the strength to reject companies that fall short of our high standards. No matter how great the vision is, a company must have the fundamentals in place to succeed.
Finally, we must reflect. I am approaching four years as a stock market investor. Every single day I learn something new. Reflecting on previous decisions and investments will provide us with an unending stream of insights. To be good at reflection we must both document our thought processes in the moment and return to them in the coming months and years. By reflecting, we will get better at both dreaming big ideas and challenging the strength of investing theses.
Dreaming big opens our eyes to all that could be and increases our potential returns.
Challenging our ideas through research, counterarguments, and strict scrutiny increases our rate of success.
Reflecting on our mistakes and victories makes us smarter, wiser investors.
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The Newsletter
I am not sure exactly what form this newsletter will take. I plan to share investing ideas, research, my methodology, and hopefully have some fun with all of you along the way.
None of this is investing advice. It is solely my own opinions and thought process. It is of the utmost importance to do your own research before investing in anything.
Who am I?
My name is Ian Gray. I am a life-long learner, entrepreneur, and lover of business.
Currently, I am a student at Loyola Marymount University studying Finance, Economics, and Philosophy.
I have experience in equity research, corporate finance, real estate development, and business operations.
I always interested in new and exciting opportunities, so do not hesitate to reach out.
I also write a weekly blog (www.iangraylive.com) where I explore leadership, productivity, learning, habits, and a variety of other topics. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer
All opinions expressed on this newsletter are solely those of Ian Gray and Optimist Investing. They are in no way affiliated with any other organization or institution. Information and opinions contained on this website are not intended to be treated as a specific recommendation to make an investment. The newsletter is not soliciting any investments or offering any investments to the public. It is important for anyone reading this newsletter to do their own research before making any sort of investment. These are investing opinions, not advice. I am sharing my process, journey, and research for informational purpose, not to recommend particular investments.
