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In this episode of The Intentional Investor, Matt Zeigler talks with Grant Williams, a veteran of the finance industry and creator of the popular newsletter “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” Grant shares fascinating stories from his career journey, from trading Japanese equities in the 1980s to founding Real Vision. He discusses his approach to writing and interviewing, emphasizing the importance of building trust with an audience and focusing on quality content rather than chasing numbers. Grant also reflects on his experiences living and working around the world, the challenges of moving his family internationally, and his passion for sports. Throughout the conversation, he offers valuable insights on communication, community-building, and maintaining curiosity in both investing and life.
what a conversation this was - so excited to share it with you all here. The ups and downs of a life near markets, and how what really matters is the company you keep, Grant has stories.
From my notes:
Before Grant Williams was a world renowned investor, interviewer, and writer, he was a latchkey kid going to school with his friends during the day, and hanging out at football games with his dad on evenings and weekends.
There’s something about that in your upbringing. Not just the importance of having friends and family and communal entertainment all cross-stitched together across the patchwork of your young life, but in the symbolism of a housekey around your neck.
It’s a reminder you can always get into your home, if you can only figure out a way to get there.
It’s a reminder you still have a home, hence the weight around your neck.
It’s a reminder you have the option, if not the expectation and obligation, to return to the place where you also belong, where you’re expected to “come home safe,” whenever you’re done with whatever situation you find yourself in at this very moment.
The key is a reminder. literally and symbolically, that “You can always just go home.”
That’s the mentality that got Grant to skip college and jump straight into work.
To move to Japan. To head to Connecticut. And New York. To finish raising his family in Australia.
To join trading desks.
To try different roles.
To start Things That Make You Go Hmmm.
To start Real Vision.
To do the Anthony Deden interview.
You won’t hear another conversation with Grant quite like this one.
There’s no macro, there’s barely any markets, but there’s an hour and twenty minutes of how we make meaning throughout our lifetimes.
In curiosity driven conversation form, but of course (a signature style I’ve learned a lot about from Grant himself, making it all the more fun to turn directly onto him).
And it all ties back to remembering you already have the key around your neck.
The Intentional Investor: Grant Williams, on the Epsilon Theory YouTube channel