10 Powerful Lessons from The Little Book That Still Beats the Market

Here are 10 powerful lessons you might glean from Joel Greenblatt’s The Little Book That Still Beats the Market:

Value Investing Strategies

1. Focus on Quality and Bargains: The book champions value investing, where you buy stocks of high-quality companies at a discount to their intrinsic worth.

2. The Magic Formula: Greenblatt introduces his “Magic Formula,” a ranking system that identifies stocks with good earnings yield (earnings per share divided by share price) and high return on capital (a measure of profitability).

3. Simple Yet Effective: The Magic Formula is a straightforward approach that can be applied by investors of all levels of experience.

4. Long-Term Investment Horizon: The book emphasizes a long-term investment approach, focusing on holding stocks for several years to benefit from company growth.

Disciplined Investing Practices

5. Diversification: While the Magic Formula helps identify undervalued stocks, The Little Book That Still Beats the Market also emphasizes diversification to spread risk across different companies and sectors.

6. Patience and Emotional Control: Value investing requires patience and discipline. The book discourages reacting to market fluctuations and encourages sticking to your investment plan.

7. Low-Cost Investing: Greenblatt advocates for minimizing investment fees and expenses to maximize your returns.

Value Investing Philosophy

8. Margin of Safety: The book emphasizes the importance of buying stocks with a “margin of safety,” meaning the price you pay is significantly lower than the company’s intrinsic value.

9. Thinking Like a Business Owner: Value investors approach the stock market as buying ownership in businesses, not just trading pieces of paper.

10. Beating the Market, Not Timing It: The book focuses on building wealth through a long-term value investing strategy, not attempting to time the market.

Additionally

• Greenblatt’s approach has been successful for him and some investors, but past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

• The book offers a clear and concise introduction to value investing principles.

By reading The Little Book That Still Beats the Market, you can gain valuable insights into value investing strategies, understand the Magic Formula, and develop a disciplined approach to building wealth through the stock market. Remember, investing involves inherent risks, so it’s crucial to do your own research and understand your risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.

BOOK:https://amzn.to/4d8bD0Q

You can also get the audio book for FREE using the same link. Use the link to register for the audio book on Audible and start enjoying.

Self-Worth

Your self-worth is your ceiling! ~ Jamie Kern Lima, author of Worthy!
Eighty percent (80%) of people hear their inner voice telling them they’re not enough. Jamie Kern Lima’s book WORTHY helps you unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and enables you to ignite your self-worth!
‘Worthy’ is a confidence-building compass, empowering you to conquer self-doubt and embrace your authentic self.
Do you allow yourself to dream big, love deeply, and pursue your most audacious goals? Remember, you are inherently worthy of all the beauty life has to offer. Embrace your worth, reach for the stars, and let your belief in your limitless potential guide you writes Jamie Kern Lima.
To craft a life filled with self-love, purpose, and unstoppable empowerment, you must believe in yourself and believe you are worthy of your hopes and dreams and of living this one precious, beautiful life as who you indeed are, states Jamie Kern Lima!
You are deserving of all the greatness that awaits!

“In life, you don’t soar to the level of your hopes and dreams, you stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. In your business, leadership, relationships, friendships, and ambitions, you don’t rise to what you believe is possible; you fall to what you believe you’re worthy of. When you build your self-worth, you change your life.” – Jamie Kern Lima.

REWIRING YOUR SUCCESS

BOOK TITLE : REWIRING YOUR SUCCESS:  |  AUTHOR : JOHN QURESHI
Success is not a matter of luck.
Successful people are not just lucky; they make their luck by taking action and persevering through setbacks.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for success. What works for one person may only work for one person. The important thing is to find your path to success and to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices along the way.
Success is not about money.
Money is important, but it is not the only measure of success. Successful people also find fulfillment in their work and make a positive impact on the world.
Success is a habit.
Successful people have developed habits that help them achieve their goals. These habits include setting goals, taking action, and never giving up.
Success is a choice.
You choose to be successful or not. It is not something that happens to you; it is something you create.
Success is a mindset.
Successful people have a positive mindset that allows them to see possibilities instead of obstacles.
Success is about personal growth.
Successful people are constantly learning and growing. They are unafraid to step outside their comfort zones and try new things.
Success is about giving back.
Successful people use their success to help others. They know they are not alone and feel responsible for giving back to the community.
Success is about leaving a legacy.
Successful people want to make a difference and be remembered for their positive contributions.
Success is possible for everyone.
You can achieve your dreams no matter where you come from or your circumstances. It takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance, but you can reach your full potential.

10 Lessons from The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less
  1. Identify the critical 20% of activities or efforts that yield 80% of the desired outcomes and prioritize them over less important tasks.
  2. Work smarter, not harder. Focus on maximizing efficiency in the tasks that deliver the most significant results rather than trying to do everything.
  3. Streamline processes and eliminate unnecessary complexity to increase effectiveness and productivity.
  4. Develop a strategic mindset by focusing on high-leverage activities that align with long-term goals and objectives.
  5. Recognize that not all decisions are equally important. Focus your time and energy on decisions that have the most significant impact on your goals and outcomes.
  6. Identify and leverage resources, talents, and opportunities that contribute the most to your success.
  7. Embrace a continuous improvement mindset by regularly evaluating and refining your strategies and processes.
  8. Remain flexible and adaptable in the face of changing circumstances. Be willing to adjust your approach as needed to stay aligned with your objectives.
  9. Recognize and mitigate potential risks that could derail your progress toward your goals.
  10. Seek balance and harmony in your life by focusing on what truly matters and letting go of unnecessary distractions or obligations.

Jeff Bezos on Amazon Business Strategy,

Jeff Bezos’ three key lessons for business success.

1. Customer Obsession: Bezos’s relentless focus on customer obsession is legendary. It’s not about revenue; it’s about delivering exceptional value to your customers. Develop a systematic approach to proactively engage with existing customers. Seek out their problems and find solutions.

2. Long-Term Thinking: Bezos’s long-term perspective is a cornerstone of Amazon’s success. You can benefit by ditching short-term tactics and prioritizing long-lasting customer relationships. Building trust and prioritizing your customers’ needs may take time, but it leads to sustainable, fruitful relationships.

3. Data and Experimentation: Bezos champions a culture of data-driven experimentation at Amazon. You should adopt this mindset for better decision-making and innovation. Experiment with new approaches and continually refine your methods based on data-driven feedback.


References:

  1. !https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/emulate-jeff-bezos-sales-success-tory-johnson-kmyuc

Keep Your Personal Power

“Energy is the essence of life. Daily, you decide how to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal and by maintaining focus.” ~ Oprah Gail Winfrey

Mentally strong people have healthy habits and mindsets. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that help them keep their power and set them up for success in life, according to Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

Here are nine ways to keep your power.

1. Don’t waste energy complaining.

There’s a big difference between complaining and problem-solving. Venting to your friends, family, and co-workers keeps you focused on the problem and prevents you from creating a solution. Grumbling not only implies you have no power over your situation but also shows you lack power over your attitude.

2. Accept responsibility for how you feel.

Saying your mother-in-law makes you feel bad about yourself, or claiming your boss makes you mad suggests they have power over your feelings. Don’t let other people’s behavior dictate your emotions. Accept that it’s completely up to you to manage your emotions, regardless of how others behave.

3. Establish healthy boundaries.

Giving in to guilt trips and refusing to speak up for yourself gives power to others. Recognize that you’re in charge of yourself rather than blame others for wasting your time or forcing you to do something. Establish healthy physical and emotional boundaries that give you control over how you spend your time and whom you spend it with.

4. Practice forgiveness.

Holding a grudge against someone who has hurt you doesn’t punish the other person. Instead, it only punishes you. When you waste valuable time thinking about a person you feel wronged you, it takes away your ability to enjoy the moment.

Forgiving someone is the best way to take back your power. But to be clear, forgiveness isn’t about saying what the person did was OK. Instead, it’s about letting go of the hurt and anger that interferes with your ability to enjoy life.

5. Know your values.

When you’re not clear what your values are, you’re at risk of becoming more like a helpless passenger rather than a confident driver in your own life. You’ll be at risk of jumping on board with other people’s ideas, and you may be easily led astray. Take back your power by acknowledging your values and living true to what’s important.

6. Don’t waste time on unproductive thoughts.

Have you ever come home from work and spent the entire evening wishing you didn’t have to go back again tomorrow? Suddenly, you’re giving your eight-hour workday 12 hours of your time. Take control over the thoughts that occupy your mind so you don’t provide more brain power to areas of your life that don’t deserve it.

7. Avoid language that implies you’re a victim.

Saying things like “I have to work 60 hours a week” or “I had no choice but to say yes” infers you’re a victim of unfortunate circumstances. While there will certainly be consequences for your decisions, acknowledge that you always have choices.

8. Make your self-worth independent of other’s opinions.

If your self-worth depends on others holding you in high regard, you’ll likely become a people-pleaser. Not everyone needs to like you, nor must they agree with your lifestyle. You can evaluate the merit of criticism you receive but never allow one person’s opinion to determine your self-worth.

9. Be willing to stand out from the crowd.

Self-doubt and fear can make you want to blend in with those around you. But trying to fit in with the crowd will cause you to disguise yourself as who you are. Trust that you’re mentally strong enough to stand out and dare to be different.

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude,” says Oprah Gail Winfrey.


References:

  1. https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/9-ways-mentally-strong-people-retain-their-personal-power.html
  2. https://amymorinlcsw.com/about-amy/

10 Lessons to Learn from Jeff Bezos

“You can be grinding for four years with no results and, in the 5th year, become the biggest thing on the planet. The power of not giving up is real.” ~ Jeff Bezos

Here are 10 Incredible Lessons from Jeff Bezos:

1. Customer Obsession: “Start with the customer and work your way backward.” Bezos emphasizes the importance of focusing on customer needs and satisfaction above all else. Amazon’s vision: “To be earth’s most customer-centric company.”

2. Long-term Thinking: Bezos encourages a long-term perspective, often at the expense of short-term gains. He believes that truly great businesses are built over decades rather than years.

3. Embrace Failure: Bezos recognizes that innovation and experimentation come with the risk of failure. He encourages taking calculated risks and learning from mistakes. Amazon has benefitted from this mindset, part of its DNA and culture.

4. High Standards: Bezos insists on maintaining high standards in all aspects of the business, from products and services to hiring and decision-making. He is known for banning PowerPoints and unnecessary meetings to force a high standard of work.

5. Innovate Continuously: Amazon’s success is built on a relentless innovation process. Bezos encourages constant innovation to stay ahead of the competition and meet evolving customer needs. Pushing for “same-day deliveries” is an example of this.

6. Invent and Simplify: Bezos advises his team to invent new solutions and simplify existing processes. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency.

7. Frugality: Bezos believes in controlling costs and avoiding unnecessary expenses to maximize efficiency and maintain a lean business model. Large corporations become more efficient over time if they relentlessly focus on staying lean.

8. Think Big: Bezos encourages ambitious, audacious thinking. He believes that thinking small limits potential and that bold ideas can lead to groundbreaking success.

9. Build a Great Team: Surround yourself with talented, passionate individuals. Bezos emphasizes the importance of hiring and retaining top-tier talent. As an entrepreneur, you need to attract people smarter than yourself to work for you.

10. Stay Agile: In a rapidly changing world, Bezos advises businesses to remain flexible and adapt to new opportunities and challenges swiftly. Amazon AWS is the prime example. It was a bold bet that few thought would pay off. Today, AWS is on its way to $100 billion in sales.

Source: Invest In Assets | Stock Market Investing  https://x.com/InvestInAssets/status/1718559795907907679

Boring Movie and Life

Imagine going to a movie and watching the main character spend the entire movie squirreled away indoors on their cell phone surfing social media.

You would conclude that the movie was boring, a waste of time to watch, and not worth the price of admission.

Yet, many teenagers and adults alike are doing this daily…creating a boring life for themselves.

So, put down your cell phone and go create the life you dream and desire.

Stop referring to what you could have done and start getting things done, isn’t that why you were born?

Enough of waiting and putting your life on hold, it was meant to be lived, and lived to the fullest!

If you can’t stop thinking about it, it’s probably worth going after, if it is what you are meant to do, then it’s time to let go of your fears and get it done even if you have to do it afraid.

At the end of the day, let there be no regrets, no excuses and no wishes, Let your life be filled with daring adventures, worthy risks, multiple tries, awesome failures, and great accomplishments.

Life is meant to be experienced, put yourself out there, do things you have never done, try things you’ve always wanted to. You won’t be here for long, let the short time you have to live be one that is worth remembering.

In the end, you won’t regret your failures, you will only regret the chances you didn’t take.

Happiness and the Meaning of Life

According to Frank Martela, a Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher, finding meaning in life boils down to five words: Make yourself meaningful to others”.

You can do this by opening yourself up to deep connections with others, your community and your passions.

1. Live for yourself, not someone else’s expectations.

It can be hard to live with purpose if you’re going through the motions, burned out, or filled with resentment because you’re on a path that someone else picked for you. Even a meaningful job like being a doctor can feel empty if your heart isn’t in it.

Before you can give to someone else, you have to understand what makes you happy, and start doing more of it.

2. Become an expert and share your knowledge.

One of the best ways to serve others is to find something that meets three requirements:

  • You’re good at it.
  • It excites you.
  • It has a positive impact on others.

Once you’ve found a job or a hobby that makes you feel fulfilled, put all your focus into becoming an expert in it. Then share it with your community.

3. Practice random acts of kindness.

You should strive to do three random acts of kindness a day. It can be as simple as offering a glass of water to the mailman, spending an afternoon with a grandparent, or helping a tourist find their way.

By doing three random acts of kindness daily, you might develop unexpected deep bonds with others as a result. Here’s how:

Helping people doesn’t just feel good in the moment; it benefits your long-term health, too. Studies show that people who give emotional support to their family, friends and neighbors are more likely to live longer.

4. Be a good neighbor.

“Working together to do something that one would not be able to do alone.” This philosophy can be essential for the good of the whole.

5. Embrace quiet time together.

People don’t need to make grand gestures to be an important part of your life. Being together in silence is enough to make individuals feel connected and loved. Sitting silently with someone can be moments of deep meaning and connection.

6. Practice mindfulness.

Being intentional with your thoughts and actions, you can begin to reduce your stress and increase your happiness through consciously focusing on your state of mind.

Mindfulness is focused around being present in any moment, at any time. It’s the human ability to be aware of where you are and what you’re doing  A key to mindfulness is recognizing emotions or situations without any positive or negative judgment. When you observe rather than judge, you can be more purposeful in what you say and how you say it.

Mindfulness has been proven to be an effective tool for reducing stress and anxiety. If you’re one of the 40 million U.S. adults who suffer from anxiety per year, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) promotes mindfulness as a technique for growth, self-discovery and success.


References:

  1. Frank Martela, I’m a psychology expert in Finland, the No. 1 happiest country in the world—here’s the real meaning of life in 5 words, CNBC Make It, June 9 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/09/psychology-expert-from-finland-the-worlds-happiest-country-shares-the-meaning-of-life-in-5-words.html
  2. Joanne Coffey, How to Practice Mindfulness, Southern New Hampshire University, October 18, 2022.  https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/how-to-practice-mindfulness

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

Bronnie Ware, an Australian palliative care nurse, recorded patients’ dying epiphanies and put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

Ware wrote of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how you might learn from her patients’ wisdom. “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.”

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Bonnie Ware:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”


References:

  1. Susie Steiner, Top five regrets of the dying, The Guardian, February 1, 2012.  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying