As we open 2026, David looks backward to get clearer about what really matters going forward. In the eighth installment of Essays From Yesterday, he revisits four Rule Breaker essays written between 2006 and 2014—spanning market sell-offs, forgotten drawdowns, early buyouts, language that shapes behavior, and the enduring power of mindset. Along the way, we’re reminded that sharp declines happen more often than we remember, that short-term scorecards mislead, and that a handful of great winners can overwhelm many mistakes. This lesson-filled episode makes the case for capital “H” History as an investor’s secret weapon—and for why perspective, patience, and precise thinking continue year after year to crush the stock market averages.

• (5:02) Introduction to July 2006 Issue
• (15:55) The Tim Beyers Issue
• (27:42) Greatest Issue Ever
• (37:26) Starter Stocks

Companies mentioned: AKAM, APKT, CRM, GOOG, ISRG, MELI, NILE, PDLI, QLIK

Host: David Gardner
Producer: Bart Shannon

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