02 May 2025

Thinking: The Struggle Is Real

Many of you may know that I spent more than a decade refereeing rugby union as seriously as I could. Like many things, refereeing involves lots of hard work (fitness, law knowledge, rapid-fire decision-making under pressure, EQ to manage tempers on and off the field) but also the right mentors to guide and encourage or chastise as needed, and more than a dash of luck (avoiding injuries, being seen on the right day by the right person).

Although I was never going to reach the top, that didn’t stop me trying my best, or enjoying myself. But it’s fascinating to see how many long years even those with seemingly all the attributes can take to make notable progress. When I joined the London Referees Society properly in 2019-20 (arguably the oldest and certainly the biggest rugby union referee society in the world), it was already obvious that there was a particularly talented young man rapidly rising through the system. Fast forward to now in 2025, and he has still only refereed a handful of premiership games, in part due to the interruptions to sport as a result of COVID, and along with it, the reduction in the number of teams in England’s top league from 12 to 10. This, combined with the increased longevity of more experienced referees, has meant far fewer opportunities for young challengers to take up the mantle. Even for those with significant talent, the struggle to keep backing yourself, and making sacrifices in pursuit of your goals, is real.

A similar story can be seen across many areas of sports, performing arts and other achievements. People who rise to fame and recognition first spend time working hard, being persistent, and growing and developing themselves. Whether it be the late basketball player Kobe Bryant’s slow start with the Los Angeles Lakers, golfer Rory McIlroy’s ups and downs that combined both professional and personal challenges, or the many musical artists whose flame burns bright and then sputters – in every case, their struggle is real.

However, sports tends to end up with a single winner or winning team, and only one person can win the Oscar each year, despite many talented entrants. By contrast, in the business world, there are a huge range of different places to fit in, meaning that many different people and companies can succeed at the same time – often in complementary as well as competing ways. A small nimble company can do things that may be difficult for a much larger enterprise, and vice versa.

As an investor, this is a great comfort. Because you don’t need to identify the only company that is going to win. Instead, it is possible to diversify your risks, and gain exposure to a huge range of different organisations with varied approaches, cultures and values, and strengths and weaknesses. As times change, some companies will rise, and others might not grow as quickly, but they may still be very profitable, well-respected businesses, providing a good investment opportunity. And inside each of those businesses are many individuals pursuing their own struggles to make a success of themselves.

The saying goes that overnight success only takes a few decades! The struggle is real for most of us, in spite of the apparent ease that hindsight can give to that success. Indeed, the process, or struggle, is often integral to achieving the outcome. In personal finance, persistence and discipline eventually come to the fore. Starting early, and staying in the game – both much-helped by good mentoring and support combined with a clear plan, can make all the difference to your eventual ‘overnight’ journey to retirement on your terms, or long-term family wealth.

Whatever your struggles: keep working at them, and try your best to listen to your supporters more than your detractors. Enjoy the journey!

If you would like to discuss how I may be able to help you with your journey to financial peace of mind – please book a short informal chat here:

https://calendly.com/duncan-bw-hoebridgewealth/30min

NOTE: None of the above is financial or investment advice and you should speak to me or someone else professionally qualified to give you advice specifically tailored to your circumstances. The value of your investment (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.