The head of Westminster, Keith Evans, shared this history lesson with us at my daughter’s graduation from The Westminster Schools.
The British Antarctic Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott from 1910 to 1913, aimed to pioneer scientific research and achieve the first arrival at the geographic South Pole.
Scott & his team reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to discover that they had been beaten by Roald Amundsen's Norwegian team by 34 days.
Why?
The Norwegians decided to travel on all days, good and bad, while Scott & his team. traveled hard only on good weather days and rested on bad weather days.
But it is in these extreme conditions that the most vital skills and survival instincts are honed, ultimately leading to success in the most challenging environments.
Addressing the obstacle of traveling during bad weather is an important way to address fears and achieve success.
When I was stuck and didn't know what to do with my career eight years ago, while listening to Ryan Holiday’s book, The Obstacle is the Way, I realized that if I wanted to move forward, I had to address my fears and weaknesses.
My weakness: - I hated to write, but this was the way forward if I ever wanted to start my own business.
A negative can turn into a positive.
Writing helps me clarify my thoughts, articulate complex concepts, and, most importantly, find my voice.
When my other daughter Caroline was playing lacrosse in middle school,
she said to her friend's dad, “I wish I had taken the shot.”
The dad said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky
This quote shows how important it is to take risks, even though you might miss.
Not taking risk is actually a risk.
Not traveling on bad weather days turned out to be a risk.
Not putting myself out there and finding my voice, I wouldn't be where I am today.
There can be a positive feedback loop here: the more interesting ideas you have and make public, the more interesting people you attract, and they provide you with more ideas, etc.
Content is king.
My advice to anyone entering the real world, start to write, start to express yourself, tell stories, this is how you make yourself stand out in the world.
If you are a Westminster 2024 parent, Congrats!!
Later this summer, I will provide a helpful tool for your college kids to help them take ownership of their money and manage it better if they aren't already!
Tiffany Kent
Your Friendly Wealth Engagement Guide,
Disclosures: Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. The information contained herein should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.
This commentary offers generalized research, not personalized investment advice. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description of our investment services or performance. Nothing in this commentary should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future investment returns. All investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with an investment & tax professional before implementing any investment strategy. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.
Commentaires