“You must strike a reasonable balance between risk and return”
— Howard S. Marks
Simplified Meaning:
When making decisions about money or investments, it's important not to just focus on making a lot of money quickly. Instead, you should think carefully about how much risk you're taking to get that potential reward. If you take too many risks, you might lose everything. On the other hand, if you don't take any risks, you might miss out on good opportunities for growth. Imagine you have some money and you want to either start a small business or put it in a savings account. Putting it in a savings account is very safe; you won’t lose it, but it also won’t grow much. Starting a business could make you a lot more money, but it’s also risky because the business might fail. To find a balance, you could put some money into the savings account and some into the business. This way, you protect a part of your money while also giving yourself a chance to grow it. This thoughtful approach helps you avoid big losses while still aiming for gains, and you can apply this idea to many areas of your life, like choosing a career path or even in relationships.