Source: Midjourney
A Butterfly’s Thoughts:
Propelled by a primal pull, I flit through the air, the world a mosaic of countless tiny images. I see ahead, behind, to both sides, above and below simultaneously, even capturing the flap of my own wings. The pull, the pull … I thirst. Scanning in all directions for feathered hunters, I descend. There! In the field of yellow shapes, special markings create a pattern that resonates with a shimmer of recognition: nectar. Alighting on a petal, I unfurl my long, coiled tongue, seeking that precious liquid that will fuel my continued journey southward, driven by instincts I cannot name but must obey.
I pity humans and their lifeless world. While they perceive a narrow slice of reality, my compound eyes paint a vastly different picture. What appears as a simple yellow bloom to them explodes in my vision as a complex tapestry of hues beyond their imagination. The sun’s position, the earth’s magnetic field, the subtle changes in air currents all speak to me in a language humans can’t comprehend. We exist in the same world—but theirs looks nothing like mine and mine nothing like theirs.
The Butterfly’s Reality – Midjourney
When people say “perception is reality” they lie. We ‘see’ less than four one millionths of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Our “reality” is limited by our perception, not the other way around. This distinction is crucial in finance, where we use numbers to understand the world. We shouldn’t assume that if we can’t measure something, it doesn’t exist.
Just as the butterfly sees patterns invisible to humans, successful investors must perceive market dynamics beyond traditional metrics. My own journey started with Technical Analysis (the study of chart patterns) and then evolved in studying quantitative finance before landing on machine learning techniques that merge all three as well as sentiment data (read more about my journey here). AI can synthesize vast amounts of data to reveal hidden patterns, acting like the butterfly’s compound eyes for investors. These tools allow us to “see” in ultraviolet—detecting subtle market signals and trends that might otherwise be invisible.
By embracing these advanced analytical tools, investors can expand their perceptual range, moving beyond simplistic valuation models to develop a more nuanced understanding of a company. In my work, it’s like going from still images to video. No technique predicts the future—but I’ll take more data inputs over fewer any day. I chuckle when I hear traditionalist value managers discount these new techniques. Maybe you could make a rocket only using only a slide rule—but why would you? That’s precisely who I want to compete with. We’re perceiving an entirely different financial reality. In this data-rich environment, those who expand their perceptual range will be best positioned to adapt, thrive, and ultimately succeed in their investment journey.
In a world of old school thinking, Briana and I hope to bring “fresh eyes” to the problem of creating bespoke investment solutions. If you’re happy with the service we provide, please consider referring your friends or family members. Together, we can help more investors see the financial world in full color, embracing all the richness and complexity it has to offer.
Glen
