The Context
Savvy investors know that financial markets are driven by two powerful emotions, fear and greed. Fear is the response to threat, and greed is the response to opportunity. Fear seeks to preserve an asset, and greed seeks to expand it. Fascinating economics. But forgetting about the stock market for a moment, consider how these two emotional states apply to the individual. Think about how fear and greed affect the marketplace of one. There is a direct relationship between the quality of life and the freedom to make choices that are not based on fear. Once a person gets to the point where they’re not always preserving the self, responding to threats, anticipating dangers, preventing loss, avoiding inconvenience and scoping out the competition, it’s amazing how much time and energy are left to focus on real growth. On the other hand, imagine somebody who is trapped in a fear state. She would love to take intellectual risks and be more creative and try innovative projects and open her heart to love again, but her daily life is shrouded in anticipation and awareness of danger. In fact, so scared of further losses, she typically throws her most imaginative plans out the window. Can’t dream right now, working. Must solely resolve the economic problem of livelihood.
The Tool
Greed Mode
GREED MODE -- Aggressively exploiting opportunities and expanding assets when you're already in a position of strength
This attitude is very common, completely understandable and quite useful. Fear is fuel. Humans have developed the ability to feel fear because it’s evolutionarily advantageous. And not surprisingly, the majority of the world doesn’t have the luxury of living any other way. However, if we are so blessed, there comes a point in our journey where we make the transition from fear to greed. Now, don’t get your prayer beads in a bunch. We’re not talking about anything sinful or illegal or unhealthy here. Because sometimes greed simply means responding to opportunity intensely and quickly. Sometimes greed simply means expanding our assets and taking care of ourselves without guilt or blame. Is that such a moral trespass?
The Rest
Gekko’s famous speech outlined that greed was good. He said that greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. Sounds like a winning stock to me. Perhaps greed is our ticket to moving from dealing with change to creating it. How would your life be different if your decisions we’re made out of fear?
The Benefits
Transition from dealing with change to creating it
Experience the liberation of not making choices solely based on fear
Generate new sources of income and fulfillment for yourself at a lower risk
Become more charitable with your surplus and give to others who need a boost
Free up time and energy formerly spent responding to threats and redirect yourself towards growth
Shore up a reserve of momentum to be later deployed when resources are scarce and pressure is higher