Eat well or sleep well

“You can either sleep well or eat well.” Thus goes a popular saying in Wall Street, our textbook says. If you are wondering what this refers to, it is the classic risk-return tradeoff, a key concept of corporate finance. For any one who has done any kind of investment, this truism stands out the first time you talk about an asset-allocation plan.

My sleep gets troubled not only when I eat more but also when I eat less. But if I want more returns, I have to take more risks. This seems to be a simple enough motto – “No pain, no gain”. There is a twisted way of saying this – You win some, you lose some.” Whenever I hear saying you have to give up something to get something, I tell myself it sounds so hollow. If I have to sacrifice every time to achieve, am I indeed achieving it? One of our batchmates has a status message, “If I have to work hard to reach a goal, it means that I don’t deserve it.”

My expectations have been low. I am content to pluck the grapes hanging low even if they are sour. My efforts have been just enough and I have been trying to factor out risk as much as possible. Risk avoidance and a fear of uncertainty weighs prime to me. Keeping all these in mind, how can I eat and sleep well simultaneously? All the experts believe it cannot be done in the real world for a considerable period.