Lessons from Mentors: What Top Investors Learned
Investing is not just about numbers—it’s about judgment, character, and perspective. One of the most telling questions we asked guests on The Weighing Machine was simple: Who were your mentors, and what did they teach you? Their answers revealed timeless wisdom that goes far beyond markets. Here are three big themes that stood out.
1. Conviction, Communication, and Trust
Many guests highlighted the importance of developing and standing by one’s own point of view. One mentor taught: “If you have a point of view, own it.” That conviction, however, had to be paired with the ability to communicate clearly and build alignment with others. Several investors noted that communication is not just a skill—it’s a leadership imperative. Trust is built when you can explain your thinking, listen well, and create clarity in the noise. As one guest observed, building alignment is as critical as building portfolios.
2. Character Matters More Than Tactics
The second theme was ethics and integrity. A number of investors pointed to mentors who emphasized being impeccable with ethics, intentional in actions, and humble in approach. Hard work, discipline, and intellectual honesty were repeated lessons. One guest recalled that writing clearly and concisely was just as important as making the right market call. Others shared that surrounding yourself with excellent human beings—people who care deeply about clients, colleagues, and community—is a cornerstone of long-term success. Mentorship here was less about shortcuts to performance and more about building a foundation of character.
3. Diversity of Experience Builds Resilience
The third theme was the power of diverse perspectives. Some mentors came from surprising places: a mother who listened deeply, a railroad worker who taught discernment, or even lessons from competitive skating and cooking for royalty. Others cited professional influences at firms like PIMCO, Parametric, and Zillow, where credibility and process discipline were instilled. The common thread is that wisdom often comes from unlikely places, and great investors learn to draw insight from all walks of life. As one guest noted, curiosity across market cycles and life experiences builds resilience that no textbook can provide.
The Common Thread
Across all these stories, the lesson is clear: the best mentors don’t just teach investment techniques, they shape who you are as a professional and as a person. They remind us that conviction, character, and curiosity are the true differentiators in a noisy, complex world. For investors and leaders alike, mentorship is a bridge between knowledge and wisdom.
Invest Well, Be Well.