” Don’t pay attention to the daily noise. Stay the course.” Jack Bogle
The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and other nations, particularly China, undoubtedly carries significant global economic consequences that will likely affect everyone financially. However, as I grow older, I’ve learned the value of focusing my energy on my own pursuits rather than dwelling on uncontrollable situations.
Am I going to stop investing in my ETFs monthly? The answer is no. Those who react emotionally to every bump in the road often lose, while those who stay calm and focused- even when everyone else is panicking- come out ahead.
Mind is Crucial
Mindset is crucial, especially when you are chasing something unconventional, and everyone’s got an opinion about it.
Let me tell you a story.
Jan Koum grew up in Ukraine, in a small village without hot water or regular electricity. His family immigrated to the U.S when he was 16- dirt poor. He swept floors at a grocery store while teaching himself computer programming on the side.
He eventually landed a job at Yahoo as an engineer. Not flashy, not famous- but stable.
After nearly 9 years, he got burnt out. He quit.
While taking time off, he started noticing how annoying it was to stay in touch with people across countries- especially for immigrants. SMS fees were high. There was no easy app for global, free, real time texting.
So he started building one.
He called it WhatsApp.
When he launched the app in 2009, everyone ignored him. Then they mocked him:
“ Texting is already free on most plans”
“ There are already apps for that.”
“ Who needs this?”
Even when WhatsApp started gaining users, venture capitalists weren’t impressed. It wasn’t sexy. No filters. No stickers. No ads.
But Koum stayed quiet- and focused.
His mantra was simple: “ No ads, no games, no gimmicks.”
He ignored the hype around flashy startup trends. He didn’t cave to pressure to monetize early. He focused entirely on building something clean, private and reliable.
At one point, he applied for a job at Facebook.
He got rejected.
Fast forward to 2014: Facebook bought WhatsApp…. For 19 billion- the largest tech acquisition in history at the time.
Jan Koum became a billionaire- but he stayed true to his quiet, no-BS style. No bragging. No ego.
He later wrote: “ I never had an office with a door at Yahoo. At WhatsApp, I still sit at my desk like everyone else.”
If Koum had listened to the noise- the rejections, the doubts, the comparisons – he would’ve quit. But he turned it all out and stayed focused on solving a real problem, for real people.
Noise is loud. Results are louder.
Noise in Investment
During long-term investing, it’s common to encounter repetitive and often contradictory market sentiments.
You’ll frequently hear pronouncements like
“This time is different!”
“The market is dead!”
” The crash is coming!”
These recurring narratives, while sometimes reflecting genuine concerns, often prove to be emotional responses to short-term volatility rather than accurate long-term forecasts. Experienced investors learn to recognize these cyclical patterns of fear and exuberance and avoid making rash decisions based on fleeting market noise. Instead, they remain focused on their long-term investment goals and a well-defined strategy, understanding that market fluctuations are a normal part of the investment journey.
I tend to disregard short-term distractions and focus on my long-term objectives. Since predicting Donald Trump’s next move or China’s immediate reaction is impossible, it’s better to conserve your energy and mental capacity. Instead, dedicate more time to your children or parents, as forecasting the future or market trends is futile.
The pursuit of accurately forecasting the future ( which often claimed by some gurus that they could do it), be it in the political or economic sphere, is often a deceptive endeavor. Market trends and global events are influenced by a multitude of interconnected and often unpredictable factors, rendering precise predictions exceedingly difficult, if not entirely unattainable.
Therefore, it is a more prudent and fulfilling strategy to concentrate one’s efforts on pursuing long-term objectives ( such as investing for financial independence) that are within one’s sphere of influence, rather than chasing the elusive and ultimately futile goal of predicting the unpredictable.
Conclusion
Step away from the screen, turn off the TV, and ignore the financial gurus on YouTube who claim to predict market trends. No one can accurately foresee the future of the market, no matter how persuasive they sound. Instead, dedicate more time to your children or parents and focus on increasing your income to invest for the long term.
