Great Investors: How I Learned to Beat the Market

What makes a great investor? Is it luck, intelligence, or something else entirely?

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I once believed that investing was all about finding the next big thing — chasing hot stocks, following market trends, and making quick profits. But over the years, I discovered something different. I learned from my mistakes, observed legendary investors, and, most importantly, built my own rules.

Today, I want to share the secret playbook of great investors — not just the theory, but the lessons I’ve learned from my own journey.

Lesson #1: Cutting Risk Comes First, Returns Come Later

I remember my early investing days. I bought a cheap stock, hoping it would double overnight. Instead, it crashed. Hard.

That’s when I learned my first big lesson: Great investors don’t chase risk; they cut it. You won’t see them leveraging or buying junk businesses. They don’t touch penny stocks. Instead, they focus on solid businesses with strong fundamentals.

Risk management is their first priority. Returns automatically follow.

Lesson #2: Thinking Independently — The Power of Mental Models