11th April 2025
Buffett once said, “Be fearful when others are greedy & greedy when others are fearful.”
Everyone in the investment business loves to repeat it, but it’s much easier to repeat the quote during calm seas than it is to live by the quote during storms.
lets talk about Courage – the courage to take action when the opportunity knocks the door & there is a storm outside.
Over the course of the last few weeks, global financial markets have been thrown into chaos by the announcement of new American tariff policies that threaten to disrupt businesses, trade & the current world order.
As I did my regular scan of the financial markets the last few weeks, I couldn’t help but think about that famous Buffet quote mentioned above.
The Nifty, S&P 500, Nasdaq were down 10% -15%, as were most markets worldwide, with a lot of volatility thrown in – a dramatic decline in just a short time.
Fear was flowing in every investors mind. So, where were all the people who are supposed to be greedy while others were fearful?
Well, as it turns out, it’s much easier to repeat the quote during calm seas than it is to live by the quote during storms.
Courage is not about the spotlight, It’s not about perfection.
Courage is who you are when it’s inconvenient, when no one is watching, when the rewards are uncertain, when the outcomes are unpredictable & when there is storm raging.
It’s easy to declare our values, principles & virtues in times of peace—it’s hard to live by them in times of war.
It’s easy to be a loyal friend on a bright summer day.
How will you show up when winter comes?
It’s easy to think long-term when the future is bright.
How will you show up when the horizon gets dark?
It’s easy to be brave when you have nothing to lose.
How will you show up when you have everything on the line?
Courage is a Choice;
Talent & intelligence are abundant, but alas, courage is not.
Just remember at these times that, ‘There’s someone out there living the life you want simply because they had the courage to act, they aren’t smarter than you, they aren’t more talented than you, they just took action when you didn’t.’
The worst prison in the world is having the talent & intelligence to achieve something great, but lacking the courage to go out & do it.
But here’s the most empowering thought: ‘Courage is not born, it is chosen.’
Every single day, you get to choose how you show up during the storm, how you face challenges life throws at you.
The challenges do not get any easier—if anything, they get harder as we rise—but we need to get stronger, we need grow, we need to change, we need to act.
The stoic philosopher Seneca once wrote:
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”
When the time comes, Choose the hard path, Choose courage & stay blessed forever.
PS :This is not an investment advice. Please consult your financial advisor before investing.