Start Small, Think Big: What I’ve Learned About Investing

If you’ve ever thought about investing but weren’t sure where to begin, you’re not alone. Mesuli Maseko didn’t grow up around conversations about building wealth or how the stock market works. In this article, he explains how he got started, what he’s learned along the way, and why investing is something anyone can do - no matter where they’re starting from.

If you’re thinking about investing and don’t know where to start, I want to share what I’ve learned - not as an expert, but as someone who took the first step, kept learning, and is still growing.

I didn’t grow up around investors. I wasn’t taught how to build wealth or how the stock market works. But I was hungry to learn. I wanted to take control of my future, and I realized that saving alone wouldn’t be enough. That’s when I started looking into investing.

I chose to use EasyEquities because it allowed me to begin with whatever I had - even if it was just R50. That changed everything for me. Suddenly, investing wasn’t this big, scary thing for rich people - it was something I could do, right from my phone.

And here’s the first lesson I want to share: Just start. Don’t wait until you have “enough.” Start with what you have and grow from there. Your first investment doesn’t have to be perfect. Mine wasn’t. In fact, I’ve made plenty of mistakes:

• I bought shares without doing proper research.
• I chased trends.
• I got excited when my portfolio was green and stressed when it turned red.

But those moments were my best teachers.

Lesson two: treat investing as a journey, not a quick win. When I stopped trying to get rich quickly, everything changed. I started investing in companies I actually understood. I began reading financial news, watching trends, and thinking long-term. EasyEquities made this easier for me - their platform shows you the basics, and from there, it’s up to you to keep learning and improving.

Another thing I’ve learned: don’t compare your journey to others. Some people will show off huge gains or fancy portfolios. But what matters is that you stay consistent and focused on your goals. Whether I’m investing in local brands I support or global companies I believe in, each investment reflects my vision for the future I want to build.

I’ve also developed emotional discipline. The market goes up and down, that’s normal. I’ve learned to stay calm, stay invested, and trust the process. I’ve watched my confidence grow not just in money matters, but in myself.

To anyone out there wondering if they can do this, yes, you can. I’m proof that you don’t need a finance degree or thousands of rands to begin. You need curiosity, patience, and a platform like EasyEquities that makes investing accessible for everyday people.

This journey is far from over, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’m not just investing in shares,  I’m investing in my mindset, my future, and in the belief that people like me deserve to build wealth too.

So start where you are. Learn. Grow. Stay consistent. That’s how you win.

Investing isn’t just about money; it’s about mindset. It’s about backing yourself, building habits that support your goals, and knowing that every small step counts. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow — but more importantly, the more time you have to grow into the investor you’re meant to be.

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