A classic anecdote concerning investment manager Robert Kirby perfectly illustrates the concept known as coffee-can investing. Kirby provided financial guidance to a married couple for many years. Following the husband's death, the widow requested Kirby's assistance in organizing her late spouse's portfolio. The discovery Kirby made upon reviewing the assets was both astonishing and humbling.

While the husband had purchased every stock Kirby recommended, just as his wife had, he deviated from the strategy by disregarding every suggestion to sell. Instead, he simply retained every share, figuratively placing them inside a coffee can and ignoring them. Ultimately, the husband's returns exceeded his wife's portfolio by multiples.

The reason for this success was revealing. Although certain holdings plummeted by 50% and others merely broke even, a few multibaggers performed exceptionally well. Specifically, a single investment achieved a staggering 160x return.

Drawing from this experience, Kirby advised investors to emulate the late husband's approach: purchase shares in excellent businesses and subsequently stick them in a proverbial coffee can and bury them. This highlights a fundamental truth that substantial wealth is generated through patience rather than transaction activity. Indeed, the real money is found in the waiting, not in the buying or the selling.