You cannot control the market. You can guard the rate.
01
Think in doublings, not percents. Seventy two divided by your return is roughly the years to double. Twelve percent is six years, eight is nine. A return you can picture is a return you will actually sit still for.
02
A small gap in the rate is a big gap in time. Moving from eight to twelve percent is not a third more money, it is two extra doublings across a working life, and the final doubling is always the largest one. Guard the rate and the doublings take care of the wealth.
03
Fees and exits are paid in doublings, not percents. One percent skimmed off the top, or one sale near a bottom, does not cost you one percent. It costs the compounded growth of every rupee it carried, about Rs 71 lakh here on ten. The rate you keep after costs, tax and your own nerves is the lever you own.
Nobody can hand you a higher market. But the rate you actually keep decides how many times your money doubles. Count in doublings and the whole game gets simple.