“When will these rains ever get over?”, FunnyBone cries out as she wakes up from her slumber.
That’s not good. I didn’t want to sound off an idea with her with this mood. “What the heck!” I went ahead, anyways.
Me: Hey FunnyBone, what if I explain ‘risk’ to my investors as “something that is left over”. When you have thought through everything, what’s left still is the RISK.
FB: (slunk back in the chair) Yeah, and you think you are the smart one, Dufus! I might be sleeping most of the time but I keep my tabs. That way of putting risk is Carl Richard’s. Don’t copy so blatantly.
Me: Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise. I read so many people 🙁
FB: Don’t worry about it.
Me: OK, what do YOU think risk is?
FB: (with one eye open) You are at risk.
Me: What??? What do you mean me?
FB: Well, you have so little knowledge about what people want and yet you go about telling them as if you are the ONE.
Me: Explain!!
FB: Just yesterday, you spoke to someone who you had told to maintain a 50:50 equity:debt allocation. And yet, he went ahead and put a substantial money in buying these shares of a bank (on a TIP and hoping for a decent profit).
Me: So? He had spare money and the bank is large enough. If he wants to take one investment call by himself, and too in such a large bank, I won’t sweat. (murmuring) He might get FD returns by taking exposure to stock 🙂
FB: See. That’s what I am concerned about. People want to speculate and you are giving asset allocation gyan.
Me: Exactly. I am saving them from ruin.
FB: My friend, you are the one going to be ruined.
The other guy who put money in crypto coins and then you asked to stop it there, no more. Didn’t he go ahead and do it?
Me: Yeah, I guess (meekily)
FB: Here you go again! You are ignoring the basest emotions of people. That’s your blindspot. (slunking back)
Me: (with excitement) Wait, wait. BlindSpot.
FB: Yeah, I know what I said, and it is not GoldSpot that you are getting so excited.
Me: No, no, I mean that’s a great word for RISK. The blindspot! The way you can’t see enough when swerving a car or the thing that is missing even when you have thought of everything.
FB: Bravo, you really are a piece. I am surprised how are you still in business.
Me: (in a Scottish accent) Don’t you think you are pushing it a bit far now, eh!
FB: (in the same accent) Am I? Listen to me you *&#^n.
(normal voice) People want to take risk. It’s inside them. That’s what makes them feel alive. You have to figure out a way to get them to take risk. They should have a lot of fun and of course, not hurt themselves.
Me: Like what?
FB: (eyes rolling) Like burning crackers on Deepawali.
Or better still. Burn crackers in the MetaVerse. (grins)
Me: Now you are losing me. (I get up and start walking)
FB: Hear me out!
The world is Maya and MetaVerse is just an extension of that Maya.
Me: Maya within Maya. Are we in a Matrix?
FB: You tell me.
Me: Yeah, right. I have had enough. I am now going to wish my readers Happy Deepawali.
FB: What about the RISK thing?
Me: Well, I think no one can understand RISK completely. And that’s what makes it so.
I will offer all the right inputs but at the end everyone has to understand that it is better to respect some limits.
While we can’t eliminate it, that is the only way we can manage RISK and maybe even benefit from it. That is the path to build inevitable wealth.
FB: (smiling) Look who we have here.
Let your light shine!
Me: That’s a good one, FunnyBone. Thanks!
—
On this Deepawali, I send to you my wish – LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.
—
Access the LightHouse – your guide to building inevitable wealth.
