“A Brain That Works to Generate Profit” Column Available on TOYOKEIZAI ONLINE

Good morning, this is Matsushita.

In order to profit from investing,

the most important organ is the brain.

Many investors worry about mood and emotional swings,

which are nothing more than the secretion of substances within the body from the brain.

For 16 years I have seen many regrettable investors.

Those regrettable investors are the ones who say

“I know it, I understand it.”

When we learn or understand something

it is not something that can be achieved in a day or two.

I trained in kendo and soft tennis for ten years.

I also worked in sales at a pharmaceutical company for ten years.

Even so, I cannot say I truly understood what those things were.

Come to think of it, I also played golf for ten years,

and only after quitting golf did I realize a little about what it truly was.

To return to the point,

“I know the moving averages.”

“I understand Dow Theory.”

There are surprisingly many investors who use such phrases.

Even after 16 years,

I still have not fully unlocked the power of either moving averages

or Dow Theory.

There are still deep aspects and unknown parts.

This language and consciousness of “knowing” and “understanding” is very dangerous.

Because when you use these words and have that awareness,

your brain stops growing.

When we wonder about something or think hard,

do you know that physically the brain's nerve cells expand?

By stimulating the brain,

nerve cells become active,

and brain cells grow.

However, once you say you “know” or “understand,”

the brain stops growing.

And it literally regresses.

Occasionally at seminars,

an elderly person will smile and say,

“Sir, investing is the best thing for preventing forgetfulness.”

and will speak about it.

This is also true.

Because you stimulate your brain intensely through investing,

your brain cells become active, stop regressing, and

you will grow.

The words and awareness of “knowing” and “understanding”

are very unfortunate.

People like this often disappear from the market a few years later.

To use your brain to achieve profits,

you should ask, “Why is it like this?”

“How can I figure out what○○ is?”

“How can I make ○○ possible?”

and present challenges to your brain.

Then the brain will begin to work.

It will be stimulated, shine,

and start growing nerve cells.

If you continue stimulating your brain for one year, five years, ten years,

you can keep making profits.

And stay healthy.

Please use your brain well.

The brain is a precious lifelong partner for us. (laughs)