(Not) boring finds for April 2015

Our team occasionally uncovers signal in the daily parsing of noise. Since such information can be easily passed over, we thought we’d make it a habit to share some links that we’ve liked recently.

Not everything below is technically about investing—but everything relates back to investing or decision-making in some way.

Links

(Not) Boring Posts

Stop thinking and start doing: the power of practicing more

There is a difference between knowledge and skill. You might know all about hockey and what it takes to make a great shot, but that doesn’t mean that you have the skill to play in the NHL.

In this post, author James Clear elaborates on this distinction and offers reasons why we should all be practicing more. It’s a valuable read whatever your craft.

http://jamesclear.com/learning-vs-practicing?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=linkedin

I am ‘anti-business’, you might be too

American entrepreneur and best-selling author, Seth Godin, posted a great blog this month on the term anti-business. He takes a look at a number of examples in which what was initially slated as ‘anti-business’ decisions—such as banning smoking in restaurants in NYC—turned out to have better outcomes for their respective industries over the long run. This post examines the definition of ‘anti-business’ and suggests that the real question we should be asking is whether we take a short or long-term perspective.

This one resonates with us because of its thinking around social impact and business. Business and society are not competing as often as we imagine in the long run.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2015/04/i-am-anti-business.html

On Being Wrong

Most of us hate being wrong. But as NY Times writer Kathryn Schultz argues in this TED talk, being wrong is simply a function of life. We can learn to not only admit but embrace our fallibility.

The attachment to "being right" is a challenge to any investor, or any person for that matter. Cultural norms tend to implant and then reinforce this need in our minds, creating mental filters that prevent us from seeing the world’s complexities and uncertainties. Kathryn’s message is critical: If we detach ourselves from the need to be right, we regain the curiosity necessary for intellectual honesty.

“The miracle of your mind is not that you can see the world as it is—but as it isn’t.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong?language=en