Uncharted Territory is trending on @Twitter as the government shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history.

Everything about the future is always uncharted territory.

Uncharted is unexplored or unknown. To chart is to map, so uncharted is not yet on the map.

The future is always uncertain, so we must deal with uncharted territory.

Uncharted Territory should not be confused with unchartERed, which means lacking a charter.

The charter, in this case, is something that authorizes someone to work in a specific role.

So, unchartered is unauthorized. It isn’t unchartered territory it’s uncharted territory.

Considering the future is unknowable since it doesn’t exist yet.

We are always in uncharted territory.

We can draw our charts and maps, but future events aren’t like physical places.

We deal with the certainty of uncertainty It’s all we have, so we may as well embrace it.

I don’t know what’s going to happen next to make tactical decisions that result in asymmetric risk/reward. I only need my average gains to be larger than my losses.

Mike Shell is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Shell Capital Management, LLC, and the portfolio manager of ASYMMETRY® Global Tactical.

The observations shared on this website are for general information only and are not specific advice, research, or buy or sell recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal an investor must be willing to bear. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The presence of this website on the Internet shall in no direct or indirect way raise an implication that Shell Capital Management, LLC is offering to sell or soliciting to sell advisory services to residents of any state in which the firm is not registered as an investment advisor. Use of this website is subject to its terms and conditions.