Conviction: It's time to talk about it.
- Zane Bodnar
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
Conviction is not blind faith. It’s a deeply held, well-researched belief in the long-term value and potential of a particular asset or company. It's knowing why you own something and being able to hold it confidently through turbulence.
Conviction gives you:
Clarity in decision-making.
Patience during downturns.
Focus in a world full of distractions.
The Consolidated Approach: High Risk, High Focus
A consolidated strategy means investing in a small number of positions—often fewer than 10. While this approach carries more volatility and risk than traditional diversification, it also offers higher upside if your bets are right.
But here’s the catch: you can’t afford to be wrong often. That’s why every position in a focused portfolio must be backed by extraordinary conviction.
Why Conviction Is So Important in a Concentrated Portfolio
Weathering Volatility
All great assets experience drawdowns. Bitcoin fell 80% multiple times before reaching all-time highs. Amazon lost over 90% in the dot-com crash before becoming a trillion-dollar company.
Conviction helps you hold your position when price alone would tempt you to flee.
Filtering Out Noise
In a consolidated approach, you can’t afford to follow every shiny new trend.
Conviction helps you stay focused on your thesis and ignore short-term headlines.
Letting Winners Run
Many investors cut their winners too early out of fear or impatience.
Conviction allows you to ride the full arc of a growth story, capturing exponential returns rather than incremental ones.
Avoiding Overtrading
Frequent trading kills long-term returns. Conviction replaces FOMO with a plan.
It turns your portfolio into a mission, not a mood.
How to Build Conviction the Right Way
Conviction isn't something you simply feel—it’s something you earn through research and understanding. Here’s how:
Study the fundamentals. Know the business, the team, the market, and the competitive edge.
Understand the risks. Know what could go wrong and why you'd exit.
Follow the macro context. Understand how the asset fits into broader trends (e.g., AI, decentralization, demographics).
Track key metrics over time. Don’t just buy and forget—build conviction with evidence.
“Know what you own, and know why you own it.” – Peter Lynch
The Emotional Edge
When markets tank or a stock drops 30% in a week, most investors panic. But conviction gives you an emotional edge. You don’t just react—you revisit your thesis. Has the story changed, or is it just the price?
If the thesis is intact, conviction allows you to hold—or even buy more.
Final Thoughts
A consolidated portfolio isn’t for everyone. It requires work, patience, and the ability to endure volatility. But for those who can build true conviction, it offers the chance for outsized returns and a deeper connection to your investments.
In the end, conviction is what separates speculation from strategy. It’s the difference between reacting and investing with purpose.
So don’t just buy assets. Build belief. Know your positions like you’d know a business you own. That’s where real wealth—and peace of mind—begin.



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