The tortoise and the hare

There are 2 types of investors - tortoises and hares.  Nearly everything taught and written about investing these days is written for hares, by hares.  After all, the hares wear the best suits, have the best jobs, drive the fastest cars, etc.  The tortoises, however, have more wealth. 

As the race starts, the hare bolts out of the blocks as fast as he can, and heads where all the other hares are going.  The tortoise, on the other hand, heads for the wall that contains the train timetable, carefully studies it and plans out his route.  He then heads for the station, and sits and waits at the platform.  He realises that, although it doesn't look particularly exciting, waiting at the platform for the train will ultimately lead him to the finish line in the fastest possible time.  There are lots of hares that run past this particular station, and they all laugh at the tortoise - just sitting there.  The tortoise is actually reading while he waits.  He is of course planning out what to do once he gets off the train.

Eventually, after what seems like an eternity, the train arrives, and the tortoise boards.  Even then, however, the hares laugh at him.  For the train takes off so slowly that the hares are still able to run straight passed.  The tortoise doesn't notice though, as he has his head down and is reading some more.

The hares stop laughing as it starts to rain.  The hares don't like the rain.  They turn around and scamper to the last comfortable indoor place they passed to wait out the rain.  If the hare hadn't have been on the train, the rain wouldn't have bothered him anyway.  He always carries an umbrella - just in case.  The hares laugh at him for this too.

Anway, the train that started slowly, has ever so surely been picking up speed as is now moving along very fast.  The tortoise looks out the window and sees that the train is moving faster than any of the hares.  He then looks around the inside of the train.  He notices a few other tortoises on in carriage - some of which he recognises,  and some of which he doesn't.  Those that know each other, give their friends a wry smile, and then they all go back to their reading.

To be continued...