Michael’s path to financial freedom (without the fluff)

This week I am pleased to have our first feature as part of our Guest Writer Series from Michael Walsh, The Irreverent Investor.

Writing from the mountains of Montana, Michael stood out to me on twitter as exceptionally brilliant, with unabashed insights that are trusted by investing professionals worldwide.

He is an avid investor, small business owner, coach, reader, USMC veteran, and family man.

We are honored that Michael chose to share some wisdom in our space and I hope you as a subscriber find it insightful!

Kobe and the Fundamentals

Tim Grover was Michael Jordan’s personal coach, and then Kobe’s:

Late one night in 2007, Kobe Bryant called Michael Jordan for advice. His knees were killing him, he said. He’d already played ten seasons in the league, and believed he could play ten more, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could withstand the physical toll. He didn’t know how much more those knees could give him.

MJ understood. “Call Grover,” he said. “He’ll take care of you.” He was already retired, and after fifteen years with me, he was more than happy to see me showing up at someone else’s door at 5:00 a.m.

He shared with Kobe some of what we’d done together, and why he thought I was the answer Kobe was looking for. “He’s the biggest asshole you’ll ever meet,” said MJ, “but he knows his stuff.”

You really cannot ask for a better compliment from Michael Jordan.

In his book Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness Tim Grover describes Kobe’s obsession over the fundamentals and how it enabled him to execute at a higher level:

The greatest player in the world, working on a basic chest pass. Why? Routine. Basics. Fundamentals. The court was his battlefield, and he knew where all the mines were planted. If you can’t master the fundamentals, you can’t master anything else.

Even before games, in the tunnel, he would go through the motion of a chest pass, watching an imaginary ball release perfectly off his fingers and thumbs, spinning its way through his mind, cutting through the unnecessary thoughts in his head.

His fundamentals were so well rehearsed, he never had to think about those basics during a game. He knew if he could get to a certain spot on the court, nothing could stop him. Most players have a spot like that. MJ had them all over the floor; that was his minefield. He knew exactly where to position himself, and where his doomed opponents would be blown up.

No different from elite military executing a complex operation. Routine isn’t an option, it’s imperative. Every detail is planned, mapped, and required; the team has to work in complete synchronization, or everyone is at risk. From the way you’re taught to make your bed, to the precision and accuracy of jumping out of a plane, there is no room for creative options; the decisions have been made for you.

Don’t think.

Execute.

What are the fundamentals you need to master in order to execute at the top level?

Here’s an exercise you can do if you don’t know the answer to this question. All you need is a journal.

1.       Write down your most impactful priority for that day. Just one thing. Make sure it gets done.

2.       At the end of the day write “What went well today?” Give three bullet points.

3.       Now write “What skills were required today?” Write them down. Three bullet points.

4.       Repeat for 30 days.

Your fundamentals will reveal themselves to you, waiting for you to master them.

Using these questions to surface fundamentals in your daily routines is just one trick. There’s so much more we can leverage and optimize if we are to squeeze every edge out of every day.

It just takes asking the right questions.

Happy hunting.

-Michael

Thank you for reading and I am grateful and humbled to be able to learn, grow and invest alongside you at Tuttle Ventures.

Don’t forget to follow Tuttle Ventures on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

Check out the website or some other work here. 

Important Disclosures Here

Best,

Darin Tuttle, CFA

NOTE - This is not investment advice. Do your own due diligence. I make no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or reasonableness of the information contained in this report. Any assumptions, opinions and estimates expressed in this report constitute my judgment as of the date thereof and is subject to change without notice. Any projections contained in the report are based on a number of assumptions as to market conditions. There is no guarantee that projected outcomes will be achieved. Unless there is a signed Investment Management or Financial Planning Agreement by both parties, Tuttle Ventures is not acting as your financial advisor or in any fiduciary capacity.