Everyone is talking about Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and the $128 billion cash pile he’s sitting on. So, we are going to jump right on it to talk about what we can learn from the third richest man in the world.
1. Always look in the long-term; forget those ‘quick-fix’ pain solutions
The market’s latest bout of turbulence stems from uncertainty surrounding the deadly coronavirus, and specifically whether it could hamper global economic growth. While Buffett calls this latest news “scary stuff,” he says it shouldn’t affect how you invest.
Warren Buffett: The long-term success of US stocks is ‘very easy to predict’
This resonates really well with me because I am a firm believer of process over outcomes.
I believe doing what works over and over again will yield the best results.
When you go for your chiropractic adjustments, you do feel an instant pain relief. The neck stiffness or perhaps shoulder ache pretty much miraculously disappeared.
Here is where the problem begins. You just became reliant on some one to feel better. The true end result? Your pain always comes back.
When it comes to your own body, I highly recommend taking a more long-term strategy. Research tells us that exercise and education may be the two best approaches when it comes to chronic pain and aches.
While it is true that exercising take more effort with less improvements in the short-term, the results stay for way longer. Besides symptom relief, exercising can also improve your fitness level, general mood, and physical capacity.
I consider this to be high quality chiropractic care. Not only are you empowered (i.e. not dependent on anyone to feel well), you would have also started your journey towards peak physical wellness.
2. Small changes can make a big difference; focus on effective behaviour change
Just over a month ago, Berkshire managed to get investors to lend it 1 billion euros at 0% interest rate.
How?
By selling five-year notes. Because interest rates in the European bond market is negative, 0% interest rate made sense.
Just last week, Berkshire filed prospectus with the SEC to sell Japanese yen-denominated senior notes.
Why?
Interest rates are between negative to 0% in the Japanese bond market.
Here’s the interesting part: Berkshire Hathaway already has a $128 billion cash pile!
When we think of treatment options to relieve pain, we may have some grand gestures in mind:
- I will start sitting in the “perfect” posture from Monday onwards
- I will sign up for a two-year gym membership
- I will commit to seeing a chiropractor thrice per week
Sounds familiar?
Fortunately for us, focusing on the small changes matter too.
A billion dollars to Warren is ONE cent to the dollar.
He cares. Why aren’t you caring?
Starting small can begin with taking the stairs instead of the lift. It can mean doing air squats or push ups instead of lazing on the couch.
You don’t need a premium gym membership that comes complete with sleeping pods!
Sometimes we tunnel-vision into grand-gesture changes that we forget to start small. We want to take on the goliaths because it makes us feel like we are actually making a difference.
I just want to say that you don’t need that. It’s perfectly okay to start small.
In fact, making little, sustainable adjustments may lead to more desirable outcomes than unsustainable big changes in the long-term.
Take the stairs. It’s free and you can start today.
3. You can’t “time” recovery!
Research tells us improvement in your back pain symptoms after a treatment doesn’t necessarily indicate you are closer to recovery. This is something chiropractors in Singapore don’t talk to you about.
When it comes to your own recovery, we can take a tip or two from Warren Buffett. You see, he usually endures the market declines and – in the long-term – comes out ahead.
Likewise, choosing exercise and lifestyle changes may not be the most comfortable or intuitive pain solution yet it offers return on investment.
It is true that with exercise you may feel a temporary aggravation of symptoms. You may also experience muscle aches and soreness – no different from what you get after a good gym workout. Yet at the end of the day, we know you are most likely to come out ahead with a good exercise program.
Because such changes – exercise and living a healthier lifestyle – are driven by you, you have the ultimate control of your symptoms.
p.s. Warren Buffett thinks you can’t time the market. Interestingly, he bought $45 million worth of Delta airline stocks only to dump them a month later at half the share price.
4. We all have bad days. Breathe
The coronavirus has cost Berkshire Hathaway a $80 billion loss across their 10 biggest investments.
Likewise, covid-19 would have cost all of us some inconvenience.
Schools are closing in a couple of days. Non-essential services would also be shutdown.
People are worried about work logistics, job security, childcare for their children, access to allied health services from chiropractors to physiotherapists to psychologists (all considered non-essential).
It is indeed an unfortunate situation.
Regardless, we can make the best of it. Yes, Square One Active Recovery is going to close (unless our exemption is approved) but here is what I have been working on:
- I have started working with clients on an online video consultation basis since a couple of weeks ago.
- I have started a Facebook group to help some of our clients who are already at the end of their recovery to motivate and support each other.
- I have started a video call series where I talk to people around the world about how they are coping with covid-19.
So, we all have bad days or even bad months. But let’s work on making the best out of the situation. Because this too shall past.
If you need help with anything – anything at a all – during this challenging period, drop us a message via the form below. I’ll try my best to work out a solution for you.
BOOK A CHIROPRACTOR IN SINGAPORE
Based in Singapore, Square One Active Recovery offers treatments with a very big difference. With our evidence-based exercise approach, you can achieve your recovery goals in just 12 weeks. Not getting results from your chiropractor, TCM doctor or physiotherapist? Talk to us and find out how we can take your recovery to the next level.
Our goal? To make our own services redundant to you.
*We do not offer temporary pain relief such as chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, or any form of soft tissue therapy.
