All themes originate from reality but possess a strong "reality distortion power." When amateur investors "see" an oasis in the desert, professional investors view it merely as a backdrop in Hengdian.
Thus, professional investors have two completely different approaches:
1. Deep Value: Avoid participating in the artificially created bubbles that distort consensus reality, and instead seek out opportunities that have been excessively abandoned and undervalued by capital, enduring long periods of undervaluation.
2. Trend Investment: Identify and participate early, regardless of whether this consensus is an artificially created bubble distorting reality. If it is the latter, one needs to withdraw in a timely manner at the peak.
The former aligns with Buffett's theory of the "Mr. Market is irrational," while the latter embodies Soros' typical viewpoint of "buying when the bubble is forming."
I believe that for amateur individual investors, Buffett's philosophy is simpler (though the method is not simple). You just need to avoid things you do not understand or believe in, and remain vigilant in valuing what you do understand and believe in. Moreover, individual investors with pressure-free money can wait.
However, for professional investors who seek to achieve excess returns or are managing pressured money, Soros' viewpoint can help you achieve your investment goals.