Looking for the best investments, and the best strategy?
Let me ask you this: Do you believe it’s possible to build more wealth using a values-based approach? An approach that aligns what’s most important to you with the finite set of choices you have regarding your resources?
If you think this sounds a bit too abstract, consider this: What happens on the inside—our thoughts, values, and beliefs—inevitably bubbles up and overflows into our outside world.
What we feed our minds influences our thought life. Our thoughts shape our words, our actions, and ultimately, our lives. Of course, there are situations that require more than just positive thinking to overcome, but for most people, significant improvements can be achieved by simply reflecting on and adjusting what we think about. That’s the strategy most of us miss, and no matter how awesome the opportunity is, time and time again we sabotage what’s in our best interests, as we don’t want to ‘go there’.
Let’s take a moment to consider your values. How do you discover what they truly are? Here’s a fun exercise: Take a look at your social media feed. For example, when I checked out my YouTube recommendations recently, I found a mix of finance-related content—things like “Is Dave Ramsey Wrong About Paying Off Your Mortgage?”, “Is the ‘4% rule’ dead?”, “Micro-Power Generation” —alongside a surprising amount of cat videos. We don’t even have cats. Beyond the finance and engineering content, these videos reflect a key value of mine: cuddly kittens & curiosity (a dangerous combo for the cat).
Our values aren’t that hard to figure out when we examine what we’re consuming and thinking about during our free time. So, is it possible to build more wealth using a values-based approach? I believe it is, but the first step is getting clear on your own values—not the values others impose on you, especially those whacky cat-people, and even those in the investment industry. We don’t need others to tell us what the most ethical investments are; we should trust our instincts and take responsibility for our own world first!
Once we’re clear on our own values, the next step is to reconsider our definition of wealth itself. If we neglect all our other values in the relentless pursuit of the biggest investment account, are we truly wealthy? Of course not. True wealth is built when your actions align with what you value most—without harming others or yourself in the process. In fact, when your actions are genuinely free from external pressures and align with your core values, you might already be wealthier than you think.
But how do we get to that place? Perhaps it starts with being mindful of what we put into our minds—what we think about, what we obsess over, and even what we fantasize about.
Professionally, most people I work with want to know the strategies and investments that will work best given market conditions. And while many can figure out the basics by reading a book or listening to a podcast, the real challenge—and what actually moves the needle—is understanding their circumstances, how they got there, and how to craft a strategy that will succeed for them. Everyone wants a good return, but not everyone can handle the uncertainty that comes with it. For example, when the property market shifts, some will speculate with high leverage over short timeframes. When Bitcoin hits a new all-time high, many will jump into crypto, even those gambling with money they can’t afford to lose.
It’s not about the tools; it’s about the person using them. You’re the tool. What’s the point of obsessing over the best investments if you can’t handle it when things go wrong?
It can be challenging to provide this kind of advice because it’s difficult for people to accept that they might be part of the problem. The good news, though, is that once they realise this, they also see that they’re part of the solution.
A values-based investment strategy, one grounded in your personal values, may not make you the richest person in your circle of friends, but it will make you truly wealthy. And when you’re living according to your purpose, you likely have all the wealth you need.
Check out my latest conversation with human behavioural specialist Hayden Brown.
