Co-produced with Beyond Saving
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. A saying that originated in the US military, it has a core concept that applies to a wide variety of situations. The idea is that when we rush and try to do something quickly, we will find ourselves becoming "all-thumbs," fumbling, making mistakes and the end result is inferior and slower than if we had not rushed at all.
Of course, moving fast is potentially very necessary and possibly life-saving for a soldier. The point of the saying is less about actually moving slowly, and more about taking those fractions of a second to ensure everything you're doing is correct. It's about not being rushed and ensuring that every movement is deliberate and done smoothly.
Consider your favorite athlete. While they move incredibly fast, an elite athlete rarely looks rushed. Even as events are unfolding at rapid speed, their movements are deliberate and unhurried. Put them on slow motion, and you will see them executing all of the fundamentals flawlessly. They are taking shortcuts to do something a little faster. If it takes a fraction of a second to ensure that your body is in the right position, to ensure that everything is in its place, to properly survey the situation, taking that little bit of extra time will often be the difference between success and failure.
A hurried soldier could end up dead, a hurried athlete loses a game, a hurried investor loses money. The stakes are different, but the philosophy behind the saying is the same. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
As investors, when we rush to buy or sell something, it will often lead to irreversible mistakes. The market is down 10%! Sell, sell, sell! Or "this stock is shooting up, I have to catch it before it goes higher!" Every investor has been there, caught up
High Dividend Opportunities, #1 On Seeking Alpha
HDO is the largest and most exciting community of income investors and retirees with over +4000 members. We are looking for more members to join our lively group and get 20% off their first year! Our Immediate Income Methodgenerates strong returns, regardless of market volatility, making retirement investing less stressful, simple and straightforward.
Invest with the Best! Join us to get instant-access to our model portfolio targeting 9-10% yield, our preferred stock and Bond portfolio, and income tracking tools. Don't miss out on the Power of Dividends! Start your free two-week trial today!
