“Shokunin Spirit” & Trading

Last year, while traveling, I saw a Japanese tour bus driver sitting in front of the wheels, carefully polishing them. He was waiting for his passengers and could have easily stayed on the bus to rest or play on his phone. But instead, he chose to clean the bus. At that moment, I understood why Japanese taxis and buses are always spotless and shining. That’s when I truly understood what “shokunin spirit” is all about—the dedication to excellence.

I used to encourage people to aim for "financial freedom" or "F.I.R.E." as their goal when learning investing and trading. But in recent years, I’ve realized this approach is completely wrong because it puts the cart before the horse.

Investing and trading are not easy. It takes more than just a few years to see results. It’s only those with a craftsman’s mindset—who are willing to constantly learn, refine their skills, and embrace challenges without focusing on immediate rewards—who have the best chance of succeeding. Financial freedom, in reality, is just a byproduct of this mindset.

If your motivation is "financial freedom," it’s easy to feel frustrated and give up when progress is slow. But if you approach investing and trading with the craftsman spirit, you’ll see failures as part of the process and face them calmly, focusing on finding solutions instead of quitting.

Successful traders (or entrepreneurs) don’t see "financial freedom" as their ultimate goal. Even after achieving it, their work and lifestyle often remain the same. What drives them is the craftsman spirit—the desire to keep excelling in the field they love and to push their boundaries.

If you truly love your work and what you do, and you live each day fully, you don’t really need financial freedom. You’ve already found freedom in your mindset.