Investing in Firms that Care What Occurs Subsequent

It’s not a brand new remark, however one thing our CEO Brent and I had been speaking about lately was company and the way a lot management one can have over outcomes. Because in messy video games like enterprise and investing, that is actually the most basic query. 

Like numerous our conversations, this one took a flip towards sports activities, and I informed him that on a associated notice, I vacillate between lamenting the quantitative, sole-contributor nature of my son’s swimming and admiring it vis-a-vis the character of my daughter’s soccer expertise, which is nearly the precise reverse (qualitative with numerous cooks within the kitchen). 

See, heading right into a swim meet, all people is aware of all people else’s instances. And whereas there are often higher and worse outcomes, the one who swims the most effective time wins – and that particular person is usually the one who got here in with the most effective time. It doesn’t matter what they seem like, the place they’re from, whether or not or not they greeted the official, acquired a name they didn’t deserve or a fortunate bounce, or how their teammates did. 

In different phrases, on the subject of swimming, my son’s outcomes are virtually at all times what he has earned (although there was that point his goggles got here off). And one thing about that’s energizing.

Soccer, alternatively, is totally different. Because if you happen to’re victimized by a foul name or one thing flukey occurs – I child you not, our wonderful u14 goalie as soon as tripped over her personal shoelace going to choose up a slow-moving ball and it bounced in over her for the opposite crew’s profitable objective – it doesn’t matter how a lot work you’ve put in or how a lot better you may sometimes be. 

While that’s dissatisfying, it’s additionally what makes sports activities on the soccer finish of the size magical. Because on any given day, you may find yourself on the fitting or incorrect aspect of one of many biggest upsets in history. 

And one thing about that is energizing. 

That’s when Brent revealed that on the subject of sports activities, he tries to separate the distinction by solely enjoying singles tennis. Because it’s honest sufficient that effort and accountability largely matter, however with sufficient left to likelihood for one thing magical (or not) to occur.

That seems like enterprise, too.