This blog post takes a deep dive into the true meaning of long-termism and what is worth sustaining.

Long-Termism vs. ‘Long-Term’ – On What Truly Endures

“Investing is long-termism. Frequent buying and selling should be avoided. You must hold for the long haul to reap the power of compounding.”
Whether you’re preparing to invest or already started, you’ve likely heard this advice before. Recently, the concept of ‘Long-Termism’ has transcended a simple trend in the investment field, gaining attention as a philosophy and way of life.
Some say:

“Only the long-termist can be time’s friend.”
“Long-Termism is not a methodology but a value. Flowing water does not strive to get ahead. It simply focuses on flowing ceaselessly.”

These are beautiful words. Yet they also feel vague. So what exactly is ‘long-termism’?
Is it about persevering relentlessly until the end? Never giving up? Buying a single stock and holding it for years? Or does it refer to the attitude of starting a business, enduring losses, and steadfastly continuing operations?
To some extent, these are correct.
But let’s reframe the question slightly.
If a stock you’ve held long-term keeps losing value with no sign of recovery, is holding on still ‘long-termism’? Or is cutting your losses the wiser choice?
Or what if the industry you’ve been in for years is now a declining sector, steadily heading downhill? Profits are shrinking, competitiveness is falling—as a ‘long-termist,’ must you just keep enduring?
The simple equation of long-term holding = long-termism is dangerous.
Simply ‘doing something for a long time’ isn’t enough. The real question is ‘what you do for a long time.’

What is Long-Termism? – Becoming an Ally of Time

The simplest definition of ‘long-termism’ is persisting with the right things.
It is a strategy of leveraging the asset of time by steadily continuing work you believe is sufficiently valuable, even if immediate, visible results are absent.
In other words, long-termism is not merely holding something for the long haul; it’s an attitude of immersing oneself in value that shines brighter as time accumulates.
Here are examples of ‘long-termism’ we encounter in daily life:

Planting crops in spring and harvesting in autumn
Growing ornamental and fruit trees for 10, 20 years or more
Cultivating talent that spans generations
Decades-long research, development, and technological innovation
Self-improvement built through daily routines

Let’s take farming as an example

Farming requires repetitive labor: sowing seeds in spring, weeding and watering throughout summer.
During this period, there is no visible harvest. Instead, fertilizer, effort, and sweat keep flowing in, yet the reward is nowhere to be seen.
Only when autumn arrives do the results finally become apparent. Until then, ‘trust’ is the only foundation.
It takes at least 35 years, and up to 1020 years, for a sapling to grow into a mighty tree.
During that time, the only thing one can do is not shout at the tree to “grow faster,” but to protect it with water, sunlight, and patience.

The Power to Rise Again After Failure – The SpaceX Case

When you hear the term ‘long-termism,’ there’s one person you can’t overlook.
That person is Elon Musk.
SpaceX, founded by him in 2002, set the dreamlike goal of “building a human settlement on Mars by 2050.”
Despite facing dozens of failures, crises, and funding shortages since then, Musk never gave up.
Every time a rocket launch failed, he analyzed the cause of the failure, improved the technology, and tried again.
On March 30, 2021, SpaceX attempted a high-altitude flight using the Starship test vehicle.
Once again, the result was a crash and explosion.
This marked the fourth consecutive failure in attempting a 10-kilometer altitude flight.
At that moment, while all employees were plunged into tense silence, Musk said this:

“At least we got the sandpit location right!”

This remark encapsulates the essential attitude of long-termism.
It’s about not being swayed by short-term successes or failures, but instead improving, iterating, and challenging again today to see it through to the end.
Musk doesn’t stop at today’s failure because he trusts that ultimate value.
Thus, long-termism is a belief in sustainability and a commitment to long-term value.

Perseverance and obsession are different – what is the ‘right long term’?

So now we must return to the fundamental question.

“Is it good to just keep going forever?”

The answer is ‘No’.
Long-termism is not stubbornly dragging things out indefinitely.
It is not about ‘enduring’ but about ‘enduring what is valuable and right’.
Even if you’ve invested significant time in a field, if that work no longer has social demand, has low growth potential, and ultimately only harms your life,
it may be something to let go of, not something to persist with.
In other words, long-termism requires direction, judgment, and strategy.
True long-termism must be able to ask these questions:

Can this endeavor create greater value over time?
Even if it yields no immediate profit, is it accumulating fundamental strength?
What is the ultimate goal I ultimately aim to achieve through this work?
Am I maturing as a person through this process?

If you can sincerely answer these questions, that choice is likely ‘long-termism’.
If not, it may be ‘obsession’.

Life also needs ‘long-termism’

‘Long-termism’ isn’t limited to just investment strategies or business philosophies.
In fact, it’s also an attitude toward life.
Good relationships, a solid career, a healthy body, deep knowledge, a mature inner self…
None of these can be obtained in the short term.
They are all rewards given only to those who use the asset of ‘time’ correctly.
In an era overflowing with sensational slogans like ‘Lose 10kg in a Day’ or ‘Master Conversation in 3 Days,’ the value of what truly lasts, what is truly deep, and what is truly meaningful becomes even more precious.
Long-termism says:

“Don’t rush. Do the right things, consistently. In the end, time will be on your side.”

In closing – Your ‘Strategy for Time’

We’ve explored the concept of ‘long-termism,’ its examples, and the truths behind common misconceptions.
Long-termism isn’t merely about holding something long-term; it’s a ‘strategy to make time work for you.’
And this strategy can be applied to every area of life.
Good relationships, healthy habits, consistent learning, stable financial management… all of these are precisely ‘games where time accumulates.’
If you’re currently engaged in something, ask yourself:

“Is this worth the time I’m investing?”
“Am I doing something that truly lasts?”
“If this direction is right, can I sustain it long enough?”

Long-termism is trust.
And that trust stems from belief in ‘what you do’ and ‘yourself’.
To uphold that belief, there’s only one thing you need to do.
‘Take one step in the right direction, today.’