Since I was a kid, I wanted to be an investor. I tracked my baseball cards religiously in the Beckett Price Guide and eventually rented tables at card shows to buy and sell. I would lie on the carpet in my grandpa’s apartment as he watched CNBC and jotted down his stocks’ price movements on a yellow legal pad. I watched the movie Wall Street and dreamed of being Gordon Gecko.
As I progressed through college, I studied Economics. I got an internship at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. I tried day trading. I worked in asset management.
I wanted to be close to investing. The more I saw of the industry the more I knew what I did not want to do. I realized that I was not emotionally suited to trade stocks. The daily gyrations and constant noise did not favor me. I was also not going to be Gordon Gecko or Bobby Axelrod, running a large hedge fund. I had neither the Ivy League education nor the skillset.
I moved to Panama. I continued in asset management. It was 2007 and Panama was booming. The bank I worked at was bought by HSBC, giving me a small liquidity event. I invested. Real estate development, land flips, commercial properties, stock market, office space. You name it, I dabble in it. I put people together, I raised capital for their investments, and most importantly I learned.
I enjoy the game. I enjoy the analysis. Judging the risk, getting the deal to favor me. I read anything and everything investment related. Histories of Michael Milken, annual letters by Buffet, and any current event dealing with investing were devoured.
Eventually, opportunity met preparation. My business partner presented me with an investment in a private business. The multiple made sense and we bought the company. As time went by, I realized I loved it. Being able to be involved, to influence the outcome. Focusing most of my time on investing and acquisitions. No daily quotes and a forever hold period.
I found the niche of the investing world that works for me. I found my edge. I love it.
If you are young and want to get into this game, I have one piece of advice: Try everything. Work for free, put people together, look at deals, read about companies, and take internships. Say yes to everything until you find your spot.
Once you have found it, stick your head down and get to work. Start saying no to everything else and just focus and build.
I am blessed today. I get to do what I love, to do what I always wanted, in an environment that makes me happy. I love going to work. It provides me with the lifestyle I always wanted. But it did not just happen overnight. It took time to become what I always wanted to be.