Amol Desai

2024 is my nineteenth year as a professional investor. Boy does time fly! To celebrate here are 19 lessons I wish I had known when I started:

There’s a Tom Brady play nobody talks about. But it sparked the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Not because it was pretty. But because it was courageous. Everyone expected a pass. Instead, he ran — the slowest guy on the field — and got the first down. That tiny moment flipped the energy. Most big wins start with something small: A tough decision. A quiet act of courage. A step outside your comfort zone. The small things unlock the big things.

As a career chartist who has made my living trading into my sixth decade trading, here are the things I disregard: -Complex narratives (if interest rates do X, then stocks should do Y and metals should do Z). I find creating cross asset narratives to be a complete waste of my time -Indicators. These are derivatives of price. Why study a derivative of price when I can study price directly? -Seeking perfection -Thinking that economists know anything useful -Day trading -Pyramiding -Believing that CNBC or Bloomberg or any You Tuber have anything to offer me -Government reports. They simply create volatility, not meaningful direction -Day to day volume. I only pay attention to massive spikes in volume, which are either ENDING or BEGINNING volume -Trendlines -Symmetrical triangles (except every so often) -The idea that charts predict the future -The idea that charts provide a meaningful edge -Win rate as an important metric -ROR as an important metric

Goals don’t create progress, Systems do. I used to think that bigger goals were the answer. Now I know better. The best in any field don’t obsess over goals — They obsess over the systems that make success repeatable. Daily prioritization. Weekly progress checks. Monthly accountability rhythms. These systems compound faster than motivation ever will. “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear

We all wake up with the same 86,400 seconds every day. No matter our background. No matter our circumstances. What separates the best from the rest has a lot less to do with talent or luck. Winners win because they decide and execute—every single day.

The best offers? They often go unheard. Because the owners behind them don’t want to be pushy salespeople. The worst offers? They’re everywhere. Because the people behind them don’t care who they hurt. If you’re an ethical business owner, remember: Sales isn’t manipulation. Sales is a vehicle to serve your customers.

Tesla - another monster breakout! $TSLA

Three things that cannot be bought but can only be earned: 1.A strong body 2. A quiet mind 3. The respect of our peers

@TheJacobTurner Great post, Jacob

“Why did you put rugs on the walls.” A story about the power of perspective. We have lived in our house for a year. One of the last steps was finishing the drapes (see in photo) My wife and I both loved them. My four old wondered what was happening. So much so that she said “Why are there rugs on the wall.” It made me laugh but also made me think. Perspective is a powerful thing. I saw drapes. She saw rugs. We see a problem. Someone else sees an opportunity. We see a setback. Someone else sees a chance to learn. My friends, be more like my four old and provide a unique perspective on things. Remember your greatest superpower is your ability to be you (not someone else). P.S. We are keeping the rugs on the walls. 😂

This week marks Kobe’s anniversary. I keep The Mamba Mentality on my desk as a reminder - no excuses, no shortcuts. Kobe may be gone, but the Mamba lives on—in business, in parenting, in life—the standard is excellence, the mindset is relentless. #MambaLivesOn

Great leaders speak last—because they listen first.

We all dream about the open road—the freedom to go anywhere, do anything, choose every direction. But I’ve realized that sometimes what we really need is a tunnel: fewer choices, less noise, and a path that helps us move forward with focus. Freedom is exciting, but focus is what changes our lives.

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@jsmian Great interview, Jawad.

I recently had the honor of interviewing Steve Cohen live at the Sohn Conference. It wasn’t a typical conversation about markets. We did cover the current environment, of course—how he’s reading it, what matters most right now—but what made this special is where we went beyond that. We talked about what it really takes to last in this business. About pressure, self-doubt, staying sharp, and staying human. After nearly five decades in the business, his perspective is both practical and personal. This was a rare chance to see Steve not just as one of the greatest investors of our time, but as someone who has wrestled with the same questions many of us carry. It felt real, unfiltered, and deeply generous. It was a privilege to be part of the conversation, and I’m grateful to share it with you. youtu.be/o6WeRpuYiyA

@WilsonCompanies It's a different model. It is a non-recurring customer.

The million-dollar question: is roofing harder or easier than HVAC? - Watch this clip - Think it through - Leave your thoughts Am I missing the boat?

Where does confidence come from? We don't wait for it. Confidence isn't found. It is forged. A mistake is waiting for the perfect situation. Maybe you can relate to it. We build it by doing hard things. Being scared but following through anyway. Taking action. Keeping promises to ourselves. Every action we take is a vote for the Confident version of us. Confidence comes after courageous reps.

@thehvacjack Great goal to pursue!

This month I am shooting for the 1000lb X 6 club. Currently in the 1000lb X 7 club. This is the sign of true health, balance and athleticism. Running a sub 6 minute mile is easy if you are a 120lb long distance runner and vice versa 1000 lb club is easy if you are a meatball.

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@drgurner I love #3

1. Be very clear & nonemotional in how you speak to them. 2. Never react to anything, but positives. 3. Speak to them as rarely as possible.

FWIW I think FSD has more or less solved autonomous driving in a practical sense. I am now able to start in my garage let the car back out of the garage, and then do a three point turn to back out of our cul-de-sac and proceed to drive itself to almost any destination in NYC or Westchester without any intervention 95 or maybe 99% of the time. I think we are extremely close to the technology being ready for robotaxi of regulation allows. I honestly didn’t expect us to get here so quickly even just a few months ago. The progress has been nothing less than impressive. Future is here.