By Michael Yardney June 9, 2025

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The One Choice That Will Define Your Success (Hint: It’s Not Intelligence)

Michael Yardney's Commentary
The One Choice That Will Define Your Success (Hint: It’s Not Intelligence)

Key takeaways

Acting when others are fearful is emotionally challenging—especially when uncertainty is real, media headlines are bleak, and portfolios are suffering.

Most investors talk a big game during the good times, but in downturns, they freeze, panic, or retreat.

Courage separates successful investors from those who miss out due to hesitation.

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
– Warren Buffett

It’s a quote that gets repeated time and again.

And it sounds clever, almost poetic, especially when markets are calm and your confidence is high.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

It’s one thing to say you’ll be greedy when others are fearful…

It’s another thing entirely to do it when the fear is real—when headlines scream chaos, your portfolio turns red, and uncertainty hangs thick in the air.

Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of investors talk a big game.

But in turbulent times?

Most freeze.

They sit on the sidelines.

They panic.

They revert to safety.

Some sell their investment properties because it all seems too hard.

And that brings me to what I believe is the most underrated, yet most essential, human trait—Courage.

Not the cinematic, Hollywood version of it.

But the quiet kind.

The kind that shows up when nobody’s watching.

Let me explain what I mean…

Life at the testing point

Back in 1942, author C.S. Lewis wrote a profound line in The Screwtape Letters:

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

Think about that for a second.

Courage is what determines whether your values hold under pressure.

It’s easy to say you’re a long-term investor when everything’s going up.

But will you stay the course when the tide turns?

It’s easy to be a good friend when the weather is fair.

But who are you when your mates are in crisis?

It’s easy to be positive, focused, and optimistic when the future looks bright.

But what about when the horizon is dark and cloudy?

Here’s the deal:

You are not defined by what you do on a sunny day.

You are defined by how you show up at the testing point.

Talent is common. Courage is rare.

We live in a world that worships talent and intelligence.

But let’s be honest - those traits are everywhere and will be even easier to achieve with the benefits of AI.

But I’m sure you know some people with raw talent who never quite delivered on their potential.

You’ve seen intelligent individuals paralysed by analysis. (Boy, that had a lot with property investors.)

You’ve met people with great ideas… but no action.

Here’s the difference-maker: Courage.

There’s someone out there living the life you want—not because they’re smarter or more skilled, but because they had the guts to take the leap when you didn’t.

They bought the property.
They started the business.
They made the call.
They acted when you hesitated.

And they realised something powerful: Fear comes from inexperience, not incapability.

You’re not afraid because you’re incapable.

You’re afraid because you haven’t done it yet.

The only solution to inexperience is action.

And that takes courage.

The choice we all have

Let’s be clear: Courage is not genetic.

It’s not gifted.

It’s not reserved for a chosen few.

Courage is a choice.

Every single day.

You don’t wake up with it.

You build it through your decisions.

You choose courage when you:

Invest in uncertain times because your strategy is sound.
Set boundaries in your personal life.
Speak the uncomfortable truth instead of staying silent.
Push through fear to chase the life you know you’re meant for.

You build courage like a muscle—one small rep at a time.

The first rep is shaky.

The second feels unnatural.

But over time?

Courage becomes your default.

Courage now, easy later

The life you want is behind the challenge you’re avoiding.

The testing point you’re sitting at right now, the decision that scares you, the conversation you’re delaying, the risk you’ve been dodging, that’s the doorway.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca put it perfectly:

“It’s not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”

Read that again.

We make life harder by avoiding what’s hard.

Growth doesn’t come from staying comfortable.

Breakthroughs don’t happen on autopilot.

You don’t build a life of meaning, purpose, and wealth by choosing what’s easy at every fork in the road.

You do it by choosing courage.

Over and over again.

The bottom line…

You will face storms in life, both in property and in your personal journey.

There will be downturns, uncertainty, and fear.

But remember this:

Courage isn’t about eliminating fear.

It’s about acting in spite of it.

And that single decision—to act despite fear—can change the trajectory of your entire life.

So the next time you face your testing point, when you’re unsure, unready, or afraid, choose courage.

Because courage now makes for ease later.

About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.