The Importance of Investing

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

An investor, Naval Ravikant, refers to uphill decisions as the choice to take the more difficult path in the short-term. His logic is that the path with more short-term pain is typically the one with the largest potential for compounded long-term gain. The core principle behind this mental model is simple: Most of the decisions that feel good now will feel bad later and most things that feel bad now will feel good later.

A mental model is a way to think about the world. It is a tool—a lens through which you can simplify, evaluate, and make decisions in real time as you walk through life.

When faced with any key decision, you effectively choose one of two potential characters: Investor or Borrower. The Investor is a long-term thinker who makes an investment to delay gratification, while the Borrower is a short-term thinker who takes out a loan to experience pleasure now.

Investments compound positively and the future self cashes in on the rewards. Loans accrue interest negatively and the future self is stuck with the bill.