Try to Remember Kipling's "If" and Move On
Use Rudyard Kipling's poem 'If' as a mental model to maintain composure, treat success and failure equally, and persevere through difficulties by keeping your head down and doing your best.
THE IDEA
Charlie Munger draws on Rudyard Kipling's poem 'If' as advice for coping with adversity. The poem urges readers to keep their head while others lose theirs, treat success and failure as imposters, and use hardships to build character. The coping approach is to stay calm and keep working through difficult times, doing your best.
When to use it
When facing financial loss or market volatility in investing.
During high-stakes negotiations or career setbacks.
While dealing with personal criticism or rejection.
In any situation where emotional control is critical for long-term success.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Wall Street Trader
A trader who has just lost a large sum can apply the model by keeping calm, not panicking, and continuing to execute their strategy while treating the loss as a temporary setback, just as the poem advises to treat success and failure the same.
Student Facing Exam Stress
A student overwhelmed by exams can use this model to maintain focus, ignore the success or failure of past tests, and simply keep working steadily toward the goal.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Can you recall a situation where you let success or failure define your mood? How might Kipling's advice have helped?
What is one current challenge where you can apply the 'keep your head down and do your best' approach?
How do you treat the 'two imposters' in your own life? Are there ways you can be more balanced?
References
- If— — Rudyard Kipling (1895)
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Art of Being Rational Charlie Munger