Investment Pointers from The Wall

As a millennial, I have grown watching Cricket like many others living in the subcontinent. One cricketer, who in particular stands out amidst all the mayhem of idol worshipping, is Rahul Sharad Dravid. The wolf who lived for the pack, as fondly called by cricket experts and pundits; Dravid was always there for the team. Be it any role from batting to bowling to wicket keeping, you name it and Mr. Dependable has already done it for the team that too under dire circumstances.

Many say that he was the last classic test batsman who would frustrate world class bowlers with his sheer perseverance to stay on the wicket and not making any room for error.

There are very few cricketers in world cricket, past or present, who are as admired for their disciplined personality as Rahul Dravid. His stellar career as one of the world’s top batsmen and now, as a coach post retirement has taught a lot of people many lessons – both in and out of cricket field.

As today is Dravid’s birthday, let’s take a look at some of such lessons which will come quite handy for your investment journey

Patience Pays in the Long Run

Dravid did not go for extravagant strokes, although he was quite capable of doing so, and instead waited for loose deliveries. With one end being secure, the famed stroke makers in the lineup could play far more freely. Similarly, in finance, the investor needs to keep a cool head on their shoulders. It’s not okay to make hasty decisions when the conditions are hostile, instead, it is advisable to wait out the storm and plan your next move accordingly.

Consistency is Important

Dravid took almost 10 matches to score his first half-century and 33 matches to score his first ever century. In fact, Dravid has scored only 12 centuries in a career spanning over a decade in the ODIs but what mattered most was the consistency in which he scored his runs that saw him retire with a batting average of 39.16.

This teaches us, investors, the most important lesson in investing. Invest regularly no matter how small the amount. While a few bulk investments, like the 12 centuries of Dravid, will help you raise your numbers, it is the small, regular monthly investments that help you grow your money over the long term.

Think Logically and Not Emotionally

When you are an investor then getting carried away with your investments are not going to take you anywhere. It’s important to pay attention to the current economy and the span for which the investment is made. Sometimes the investment which is not proving fruitful for you at some point might turn out the other way as time progresses. Sometimes, it’s okay to lose some money in an investment and take a cue from that to make better decisions in future. It all comes down to the temperament as Dravid puts it in many of his interviews.