Many people come to me asking for help then never start
“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.” —Paul Samuelson
The Hardest Part
Like in many things, getting started can be the toughest obstacle. Especially if it’s new to us or unknown.
I knew this 20 years ago when I asked myself, “how can I” become an investor.
The memory is fresh of how daunting it seemed. I did not really understand any of it, all I did know was my desire to create something more from very little.
So, I just keep pushing forward.
Back then, I had a Yahoo account that came with a free email and some other tools. It still does today, but I’ve moved over to Google, same tools only better.
Both platforms have a finance page that looks something like this.
“I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.” — Warren Buffett
Baby Steps
I’ve fielded many comments from people around a lack of money. The thought causing them to stop before ever getting started. That beginning point is actually more perfect than they can imagine.
It’s where I started from 20 years ago.
With a simple and free Google or Yahoo finance page you can create portfolios and track how they grow or drop in value.
I started by watching the markets or business segments familiar to me at the time. Restaurants, Management, Motors, Auto, Motorcycles and Alcohol. Yes, booze makers.
Although no money was put at risk, a starting point was needed to move out of imagined fear and start the learning process.
We all have things that attract us, hobbies, jobs, special knowledge that can assist in a successful investment plan.
“If I’d only followed CNBC’s advice, I’d have a million dollars today. Provided I’d started with a hundred million dollars.” — Jon Stewart
Stalled is Not a Direction
With almost no exception, the excuses offered up to me for why people can’t take action on the stock market, is lack of money.
Usually, when I point to all the money they spend on alcohol or other luxuries, they throw out another road block.
It may be, no internet even though we are conversing on Facebook. Or, some distant relative just had an accident and they had to help with that.
Another irrational fear mentioned has been a mistaken, extremely unlikely belief that all the money invested could be lost. I’ve also heard talk like “I’m not a computer person” or “I hate Wall Street.” Even, “Businessmen are crooks”
It’s currently frustrating for me to be up against these challenges especially when people have come to me for help. The air simply drains from my balloon.
“The stock market is filled with individuals who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.” — Phillip Fisher
Be the Change that You Want
There is a magical quality in taking action.
After doing so, suddenly new options appear that were not there before.
Taking action is a higher vibration than staying in procrastination and fear. You will now instantly see new possibilities.
For me, this meant creating a watch list in Google Finance. A portfolio full of stocks I had interest in, that I could now track their activity in a chart.
“Rule number one: Don’t lose money. Rule number two: Don’t forget rule number one.” — Warren Buffett
The Magic Happens on the Field
After setting up my watch list portfolio, I was finally on the paying field.
Just like at a sporting event, concert, or movie, the activities are very different between the viewers and the players.
A viewer, or watcher has no skin the game.
Even though I had no money in yet, I had moved from the stands out onto the field. I was still on the bench, but soon would enter the game with some of the knowledge needed to begin investing.
After your portfolio is set up, Google will begin feeding you relevant articles on your watch lists stocks performance and data.
Profit and loss statements, earnings releases, competitors in that sector.
Your stock investing university education has finally begun.
“People
don’t like the idea of thinking long term. Many are desperately seeking
short term answers because they have money problems to be solved
today.” —
Robert Kiyosaki
Attracting Needed Information
If we study the screenshot above from Google Finance on Adobe.Inc, the first thing I notice is the stock is up even thought the rest of the market as a whole is down.
Year over Year revenue is up over 21 percent. Net income is also up over last year by a very good margin. They are more profitable than ever and the earnings per share number is on the rise.
One glance at the news section gives me at least one writers take on what is happening with Adobe. These are generally written by authors who are experienced in the market and do in depth analysis of the numbers.
This is all good stuff! If we look at the market news section, the stories are dominated by news of the Coronavirus. Normally there would be more Adobe related stories here, but the take away from that, Adobe is rising even amidst fears by the rest of the market. More good news.
I did research like this for a decade before I put money into the stock market.
Since then, I regularly enjoy very high returns from my stock choices.
Only one thing could make this scenario better. If I would have not waited and started earlier.
Thanks for reading! Good Luck investing, or not.
Cheers!
© Christopher Boswell 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Read the follow up to this story here….
When Christopher isn’t writing from home, he can be found traveling or capturing photographs somewhere in the United States. He loves to generate Graphic Design, process images or video, and flying his Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. More pastimes include wrangling dogs, backpacking and kayaking. He currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Learn more or listen to the audio article version at www.RealWindowCreative.com.
