Je, Ni Nani Anataka Kupitia Maisha Akitarajia Matata?
Charlie Munger: A different take on "You Only Live Once" (YOLO)
[Scroll down for the English]
KISWAHILI
“Katika miaka ya [19]30, benki ndogo ya mjomba wangu ilifeli na haikuweza kufungua tena bila msaada. Babu yangu aliokoa benki kwa kubadilisha zaidi ya theluthi moja ya mali yake nzuri kwa mali mbaya ya benki. Nimekuwa nikikumbuka tukio hilo kila wakati.
“Inanikumbusha shairi dogo la [A. E.] Housman lililoenda hivi:
Mawazo ya wengine
Yalikuwa kutojali na kupita muda mfupi,
Ya mkutano wa wapendanao
Au bahati na umaarufu.
Mawazo yangu yalikuwa juu ya matata,
Mawazo yangu [juu ya matata] yalibaki thabiti,
Sababu ndiyo nikakuwa tayari
Wakati matata yalikuja.
“Unaweza kusema, ‘Je, ni nani anayetaka kupitia maisha akitarajia matata?’
“Basi, nilifanya hivyo. Nilipata mafunzo [kutoka kuona mjombe wake alikuwa walipitia matatizo ya kifedha]. Nimepitia maisha marefu nikitarajia matata….
“Haikunifanya nikosefu na furaha kutarajia matata wakati wote na kuwa tayari kuitikia kwa kutosha ikiwa matata yalikuja. Haikuniumiza hata kidogo. Kwa kweli, ilinisaidia.
- Charlie Munger (1924-2023) alikuwa mwekezaji bilionea, na rafiki wa muda mrefu na mshirika wa biashara wa Warren Buffett
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
“Along the way, in the [19]30s, my uncle’s tiny bank failed and couldn’t reopen without help. My grandfather saved the bank by exchanging over a third of his good assets for horrible bank assets. I’ve always remembered the event.
“It reminds me of [A. E.] Housman’s little poem that went something like this:
The thoughts of others
Were light and fleeting,
Of lovers’ meeting
Or luck or fame.
Mine were of trouble,
And mine [thoughts] were steady,
And I was ready
When trouble came.
“You may well say, “Who wants to go through life anticipating trouble?”
“Well, I did, trained as I was [from seeing his uncle experience financial hardship]. I’ve gone through a long life anticipating trouble….
“It didn’t make me unhappy to anticipate trouble all the time and be ready to perform adequately if trouble came. It didn’t hurt me at all. In fact, it helped me.
- Charlie Munger (1924-2023) was a billionaire investor, and long-time friend and business partner of Warren Buffett
KISWAHILI: Asante na tutaonana tena,
Mmerikani
ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Thank you and may we see each other again,
Mmerikani
Chanzo (source): Kaufman, Peter D., ed. Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger. 4th ed. San Francisco: Stripe Press, 2023, pages 303-304. Kindle edition.
Maybe there is a difference between anticipating trouble and always worrying about it. One is being prepared. The other is just wastes time and energy.