Relax, Concentrate & Expanded Intelligence
I think the best thing for you to do, DT, is to relax.
Don’t do it?
No, don't do it.
That Was a song, wasn't it?
It was, Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
So, what does it have to do with this week’s topic?
It doesn’t really, it’s just a play on the idea of relaxing.
Like the song was?
Yes, DT. Like the song was.
So, uh, really, what are we talking about today?
Concentrating. Like on a flame!
A flame? Waaaiit a minute.
What’s going on here? Are you using artificial intelligence?
No, just normal market intelligence. We’re looking at the idea of stressful situations.
And?
And investing is, for many people, very, very stressful.
Has someone ever told you to “just relax”?
Yeah, and I’ve thought to myself, “Well, that’s easy for you to say!”
Which is exactly the point, DT.
You, I, we all, have to relax. We have to focus on emotional intelligence.
Is there a right way?
There is!
And what is it?
It’s the way that works for you!
That seems kind of placating…
Not at all. It’s YOUR money, and YOUR future.
It HAS to work for you!
Or?
Or you just might not do it.
There’s that knowing-doing gap thing again.
Yeah, funny how it ties together, isn’t it?
Well, learning works like that sometimes. It's like we have our own intelligence community.
That it does, DT.
When you think about it, relaxing your mind and body can relieve stress. It can relieve anxiety…
Even depression!
In some cases, yes, but we’ll leave all that stuff to the doctors.
Okkaaaay. So what’s the point?
The point is, if we let any of these things get to us, we will have more trouble investing that we need to have.
We’d have more trouble with a lot of things, wouldn’t we?
We would indeed, but this one especially will mess with your future and your family’s future.
Marvelous. So when are we opening this yoga clinic?
I didn’t say anything about that, DT!
You didn’t, true, but I can use critical thinking - I can smell it.
Okay, a yoga clinic with Bloomberg terminals. How about that?
Okay, you win. I’ll stop.
Great! And while you do that,
Or DON’T do that.
Yes, or don’t do that, I’m going to take slow, deep breaths.
And then?
And then invest like I stole the money!
Are we on Candid Microphone?
You mean Candid Camera?
Sort of, just older. Anyway…
Plus, I’d soak in a warm bath.
Listen to soothing music.
While investing?
Hopefully. May be a few technical details to work out, but that’s the idea.
Uh huh, so then what?
Hot stuff.
Not falling for that. Just explain.
Hot water, like a shower, or hot tea.
What about hard stuff or caffeine?
Nope. Focus, not avoidance or distraction.
Should I keep a journal? Do gratitudes?
If you want. I do some of that.
Anything else?
Yes! I use guided imagery to create a picture of successful investing, for me as well as for all of you!
And of course, you walk.
Yeah, there’s that, too! At my current 12,000 steps per day goal, I have plenty of time to plot my next investing moves.
Just relax, there's nothing to worry about.
What did Peter Pan say?
Who? Was he some University of California dude?
“Let go of the fear and enjoy the ride”.
I’ll try, but I just might like this break more.
So how did you like that?
Like what?
The break. You said you’d like the break more than letting go of fear.
The break was great, but what I said was just a figure of speech.
Oh, kind of like you.
No, more like How to Succeed in Business, amigo.
Okay, so we’ve done some relaxing and concentrating…
You mean we can’t do more?
Oh, of course we can, DT! I’m just being mindful (get it?)
Got it.
Of the importance of time to all our listeners!
Okay, a quick glance into Expanded Intelligence.
The Woo-woo warning goes here, folks.
Hey, I did not make this up. It’s not one of my Simple Success Plans…
YRTBR 01a
He didn’t say anything about Expanded Intelligence!
Oh, but he did, DT!
I’m listening.
The first broadcasting and receiving station was determined to be in the brain. He SAID that.
What more can you ask for?
Lots of choline?
What?
It’s something we all need more of, something like 90% of Americans!
Are you saying that vegetarian-type people don’t think as well?
Read into my words like a politician, will you?
You are a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise breaker, the owner of no one good quality.
Hmmm…I guess all’s well that ends well.
And?
I was just quoting from research that most choline comes from eggs, beef and seafood.
It’s important that we don’t make judgments without facts.
Speaking of Psychedelics...
Were we? You never cease to surprise me, DT…
There’s a bit of research out there suggesting that more research is a good idea, but for today we’ll stick to the less regulated stuff, like Creatine.
Creatine?
Yes, the stuff found in a lot of protein shake powders. Both in North America and in South America. It’s reportedly very good with providing energy, both the body and to the brain.
Recently it's started to gain traction as a “smart drug”.
That’s certainly a contradiction in terms.
Not really, it’s just a different mindset. Like how we look at weight.
Whoa. Back up.
Imagine you are 200 pounds.
Okkaaayyyy…
And you want to be 190, and you “lose” that 10 pounds.
Um hum…approaching Air Force weight, right?
Better actually. Remember Dr. Murphy?
What?
Week 21, about finding lost and misplaced items.
I think I’m lost.
Nice turn of words, there, DT. We’re talking about the subconscious mind again.
Go on.
And how it finds at the center core what you’ve lost, because it was there, whether or not you were there.
Should I be doubtful that this thought will resolve in a sensible way?
No, here’s the point.
Ol’Sub, as I call him, will find that 10 pounds and you’ll be back where you should be.
You mean, where it THINKS you should be.
And as you think, you are. It’s a set point. Ol’ Sub is included in that.
And set points?
Make for unsuccessful anythings, in fitness and also, more importantly here, in finance.
Can we avoid unsuccessful anythings?
Probably. Let’s start with a successful break!
So, after the candles and the yoga, what then?
What more is there, DT?
Well, a few episodes ago we were talking about paradigm shifts…
Yeah, and last episode…
Number 50.
I committed to increasing my weekly investing in 2022 by 10 times over this year.
That no doubt required both courage and creativity.
Oh, more than that. We have to connect our creativity to our goals.
And through that, then ultimately connecting that to investing.
Speaking of creativity…
Yes, creativity. And we’ll get back to paradigm shifts too a lot more.
Can you read from that annual report – that funny one?
Sure. I keep it in a Word doc called Best Disclaimer Language Ever.
Here’s what they said in a section they called Lawyer Stuff:
The future is unknowable. We have good intentions, but all of our projections and estimates will be wrong and could be materially wrong. Wildcat exploration is expensive, speculative, and potentially dangerous. An offshore spill or explosion would be enormously expensive. We have insurance but it may not be enough. You could lose your entire investment. Don’t be lazy – read our 10-Q’s, 10-K’s and press releases, and if you lose money – please no tears.
I don’t know about you but laughing like that takes away a whole lot of pressure!
As long as you practice along with laughing.
Did I ever tell you the Ivy Lee story?
Oh, Earl Nightingale’s Ivy Lee story?
You’ve heard of it.
Well, as I said before, Earl was a pretty interesting guy.
Pop quiz! What was the point of the story?
Take off the pressure.
Using a system…
A system that’s simple, like a simple success plan.
Yes, and practice with it.
Yes, and improve, and improve, and improve some more.
Which means better practice.
After which…
YOU’LL GET GOOD!
¡Gracias por escuchar! ¡A la prochaine!