Could You Invest for 100 Years?

Westenberg - A podcast by Joan Westenberg

The Power of Long-Term ThinkingIn this episode, I explore the concept of long-term thinking and its profound impact on civilization. I challenge viewers with hypothetical bets to illustrate how modern society often prioritizes short-term gains over exponential long-term benefits. Highlighting examples from the Catholic Church to the Dutch flood control systems, I discuss how some organizations successfully think centuries ahead. I propose the creation of a '100 Year Lab' where decisions are made with the future in mind, aimed at benefiting generations to come.00:00 The Bet: $1 Billion vs. Manhattan Real Estate00:15 The Penny vs. The Million: A Lesson in Compounding00:24 Modern Society's Short-Term Thinking00:35 The 10,000 Year Clock: A Symbol of Long-Term Vision00:57 Human Blind Spots in Long-Term Planning01:33 Examples of Long-Term Thinking02:06 The Power of Long-Term Decisions02:31 Imagining a Long-Term Future02:55 Survivorship Bias and Building for Permanence03:38 A Modest Proposal: The 100 Year Lab