24/52: Empty barrels make most noise
#CapitalAtRisk
The 2010s was the decade of the Entrepreneur. The 2020s will be the decade of the Investor.
“We are hesitant to fall into “say-something” territory. We are very conscious that investors in the Partnership have reciprocated and allowed us to get on with our job of roaming the globe looking for value. Thank you.”
Nick Sleep & Qais Zakaria
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Never complain, never explain
On a wall outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh there’s a small plaque that reads, “Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e”. That Gaelic proverb translates to, “Say but little but say it well”.
I remember running past it when I lived in Edinburgh in 2000-031. I was working in financial services at the time and, while always inclined to say little, I did wonder whether that was the right approach given how noisy and opinionated some of my colleagues and clients were.
That little sign always gave a little reassurance as I ran past it after a day’s work.
Wrapping tomorrow's fish and chips
So what happens now? It’s a long time since those finTech days. I’ve gained the confidence to say less, I love my work and am proud of the portfolio I’ve built and am building.
However, at times it’s still difficult to sit tight and say little.
When a company in my portfolio comes in for criticism or people just get things plain wrong should I speak up? Should I correct them? Or is it better to let it slide?
My approach is still to say less than necessary. In most cases I say nothing but I may publicly praise and encourage the company being criticised. Occasionally I’ll write privately.
As ever, ask a better question
You may have faced similar. Rather than the “will I or won’t I?” question, I think better questions to ask oneself are the following:
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