Rule Breaker Investing

This week we look at Malcolm Gladwell’s 2009 New Yorker article, “How David Beats Goliath” and extract three inspiring investing lessons. Gladwell spells out the hidden advantages of being the “underdog” in a way well-suited to our Rule Breaker investing style. Thanks to Audible for supporting our podcast. Listen to Audible's new original series: Ponzi Supernova. Details at audible.com/ponzi. Audible and Amazon Prime members listen free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Often the best way to improve our investing is to improve our thinking. And to improve our thinking, it’s often helpful to reach outside of the disciplines of investing and business. Today we delve into the teachings of education reformer, Deborah Meier, and the “5 Habits of Mind” that she believes should be taught to all 21st Century students. Perhaps these habits should be taught to 21st Century investors as well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the earliest days of The Motley Fool, our mission has been to "Educate, Amuse & Enrich." Today we double-down on the "Educate" with an exploration of some commonly used financial terms. Guest analysts Andrew Fredrickson, Abi Malin, Aaron Bush, and Jim Mueller join David to define and discuss net profit margin, cash flow vs. net income, dividend yield, burn rate, and spiffy-pop! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we present a third installment of tips, tricks and lifehacks—to help you be a better you. Find a hidden superpower in your Kindle app, improve your investing while learning to draw, achieve your goals by ignoring them, and much more! Do you have a favorite mental tip or trick? Share it with us on Twitter @RBIPodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

February may be a short month, but our mailbag is as full as ever, overflowing with great questions and comments from you, our dear listener. Today we tackle why our biggest losers are the stocks we never buy, why predicting the future is getting more difficult, and much more. Plus, David reveals some of his favorite books to inspire and improve your investing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world of “fake news” and “alternative facts,” the political climate seems ever more chaotic and unpredictable. But as investors, by definition, we take a long-term view. And we look to businesses and innovators, not politicians, to bring us into the future. Today, David picks 5 companies that are likely to help us through these troubled times -- and become ever more valuable for doing so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time last year, David picked “5 Stocks to Feed the Bear,” highlighting 5 smaller companies with low risk ratings. Though these were meant as long-term picks (3 years at least), today we’re checking in to see how they’re doing so far. Spoiler alert: we’re kind of hoping you bought a few shares! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After last year's Portrait of the Investor as a Young Man, David goes even further back, seeking insights and investing lessons from his early youth. So gather back around the campfire for a few stories and lessons from these formative years. We look back to days of school projects, theater companies, baseball characters and mishaps abroad. Through it all, we learn that as we stumble through this human experiment, character counts, and optimism is justified. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are plenty of riches in this month's mailbag, including your thoughts on David's biggest losers, how to score your "Golden Ticket" to FoolFest, and how David switches hats when choosing stocks for Rule Breakers or Stock Advisor. Plus, a lightning round of your picks for "Don't Make Me Think" stocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March of 2008, David had just read a wonderful book on information architecture and website design by Steve Krug, entitled. "Don't Make Me Think." Turning lessons learned about design towards his home turf of investing, this inspired David to publish an essay titled, "Great Stocks Don't Make You Think!" Today we revisit that essay, the lessons learned at the time, and reflect on what we've learned in the years that have passed since.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices