“In a war, the game is always with him who commits the fewest faults”
The same can be said of sports. Who generally wins the NFL game? The team with the fewest turnovers. Who wins the Tennis match? The player with the fewest unforced errors.
The same can also be said for investing and building a business. What is Warren Buffett’s first rule? Don’t lose money. And rule #2? Don’t forget rule #1.
There are different mentalities at play when trying to press forward and be aggressive versus preventing mistakes. Investing and business lend themselves to the person who lasts the longest. That sustainability allows for the magic of compounding to take place. That is where real money and success are made.
Ever read people talk about playing the long game? In business, in relationships, play the long game.
That is what the long game looks and feels like. Avoiding the mistakes, not pressing too hard, too aggressively. Ensuring you do not lose money and are around to enjoy the compounding.
It is as much a mentality as a course of action. You must be Ok with it taking a bit longer to get where you want to go. With watching someone next to you appear to race ahead. To have conviction in your plan.