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Early this February, I ran my second postpandemic half-marathon. Unlike my first attempt, which was a major disappointment, I was thrilled with the outcome of this latest run. I crossed the finish line in two hours and eighteen minutes—a pace nearly identical to my speed more than five years ago. This performance placed me within the top 10 percent of all female runners in the race.
Going into it, I wasn’t sure I could perform that well. However, consistent training—intervals, speed sessions, tempo runs and grueling long runs—carried me through. Even on mornings when I would rather stay in bed, I showed up. My coach always insisted I had it in me, but I had my doubts. Ultimately, the result proved a universal truth: in running, discipline and trusting the process matter most.
This experience reminded me of what it takes to succeed in investing. Many of us hesitate to start because we don’t know how to pick the right stocks or when to buy or sell. While those skills can help, they aren’t the primary drivers of success. The truth is that long-term financial security is determined far more by a few high-level decisions than by any individual stock picks. This is precisely why many “passive” investors end up more financially secure than active traders.
