I once doubled my money on Netflix.

And it may have cost me dearly.

It was the mid-2000s. Cell phones were still exciting. Surf cams were becoming a thing. I was young, but I had already been through a few heavy years.

After nearly two years completing a master’s in HR and Organizational Development, I landed a job I thought would launch my career. Then a health issue sidelined me. I missed work. When I returned, I wasn’t fully myself.

Eventually, I was let go.

After a few discouraging months, Prudential California Realty took a chance on me. I was hired as an administrative assistant at a branch near my apartment. It wasn’t a dream job, but I was grateful and unexpectedly intrigued by real estate.

That role eventually evolved into copywriting with the company’s corporate marketing department. The firm is now Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, and I still work with many of the same people today. But that’s another story.

At the time, part of my job included covering the front desk when Annette, the receptionist, stepped out for a smoke.

I had just quit because of my health issue. I was irritable. I had gained weight. I was constantly craving nicotine. Watching Annette head outside for a cigarette while I sat there chewing nicotine gum made things worse.

To put it simply, I was jealous.

Meanwhile, she seemed completely unbothered by life and kept encouraging me to invest in the stock market.

“If you’re sitting here anyway,” she’d say, “you might as well learn how money works.”

Annette, if you’re somehow reading this, thank you.

I opened a brokerage account and signed up for a trial of The Motley Fool. Today I use platforms like Schwab, Interactive Brokers, and others (linked below if you’re curious).

One of The Motley Fool’s top picks at the time was Netflix.

I was already a customer. I loved getting DVDs delivered to my tiny apartment. It felt revolutionary.

So I scraped together $190 and bought 10 shares at $19.

It was a huge move for me. Not because $190 is small today, but because at that time it felt enormous. I remember the anxiety of pressing “Buy.”

Buying shares of companies you personally use and understand is an idea popularized by Peter Lynch in One Up On Wall Street. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate the wisdom behind it. I just liked Netflix.

Here’s a link to the Peter Lynch book and a few others:

Anyway, back to the story…which is, of course, an “exciting” tale of research and waiting.

Trades cost $7 back then. Selling wasn’t frictionless like it is today. I didn’t fully understand exit strategies or position sizing. I just knew I didn’t want to pay commissions unless I had to.

Then the stock hit $44.

I had more than doubled my money in a short period of time.

I felt brilliant.

So I sold.

What I didn’t understand then was that volatility feels dangerous in the short term, but it is often the price of admission for extraordinary long-term returns.

If I had simply held those 10 shares through splits and growth, they would be worth a staggering amount today.

That’s the difference between being right and being patient.

It’s been nearly 20 years, and I still think about that trade.

Not because I regret the lesson.

But because I now understand what I was missing: conviction.

This story aligns with others, like XPO Logistics, that can either be framed as incredible wins or painful missteps, depending on your time horizon.

I’m not here to pretend I’ve never made mistakes.

I’m here to show what the mistakes teach.

Anyone who has spent time in markets understands the emotional tension:

It can feel personal.

It isn’t.

The market doesn’t reward comfort.
It rewards conviction and time.

I had one.

I lacked the other.

The market rewards conviction, but we all start somewhere.

Here are platforms I’ve used over the years in case this story resonates:

• Charles Schwab - My go-to for comprehensive research and the powerful thinkorswim trading platform. Great for a "do-it-all" primary account.

• Wealthfront - Perfect for automated, hands-off investing. I love their "Path" tool for long-term planning and their high-yield cash account.

• Interactive Brokers - Great for active traders. They offer access to nearly every global market you can think of and stop-limit orders outside of regular hours!

• Robinhood - The best mobile experience for beginners. They’ve also added a great 3% match for Gold members on IRAs, which is hard to beat for retirement savings.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some links above are referral links; I may receive a bonus if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Always do your own research.

P.S. For those wondering about the $108,000 math: Between 2004 and 2025, Netflix had three stock splits (2-for-1, 7-for-1, and 10-for-1). Those original 10 shares would have multiplied into 1,400 shares today. It's a staggering reminder of the power of compounding.