The Dangers of Trying Too Hard in Investing

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Investing is one field where trying too hard can be a mistake. Many people think that putting in more effort and practicing more will yield better results, but that's not necessarily true in investing. Sometimes being too smart and trying too hard can lead to costly mistakes. Bill Mann coined the term 'Harvard stupid' to describe mistakes made by highly educated individuals who overcomplicate things due to their intelligence and ego. This concept of trying too hard applies not only to investing but other areas of life as well. Let me share some stories to illustrate this idea.

A truth that applies to almost every field is that it’s possible to try too hard, and when doing so you can get worse results than those who knew less, cared less, and put in less effort than you did.

There are mistakes that only an expert can make. Errors – often catastrophic – that novices aren’t smart enough to make because they lack the information and experience needed to try to exploit an opportunity that doesn’t exist.