Use Your Today

Today, reasons and excuses are easy, convenient and cheap. But tomorrow, the only currencies accepted are the solutions and preparations that you did earlier.

Start Young and Wise

It is hard to be a breadwinner. And do you know what's harder? It is the situation of the breadwinner's dependents when suddenly, they are left on their own. 

That's why I'm so glad to have persuaded this 24 yr old IT professional, an eldest in his family, to start with his investment early. He might have just began with his career but he understands fully the gravity of being prepared for anything. Currently, he has to support his two younger siblings in their education and his parents are already in their retiring age yet he's able to budget his salary and make room to what is essential for all of them.

And it's not a bad deal to put up with a Php 2500/month investment for 10 yrs and have 1M pesos life insurance, 500K pesos accident and disability coverage, and more or less 1 Million Pesos withdrawable money at age 50 in return. A bonus well spent? No. But rather, it is a bonus well allotted and utilized.

Are You Ready To Leave?

It's that day again when families and friends troop to the cemeteries to remember and pray for our dearly departed. And because of the season, I remember that saying that we can't bring our treasures buried with us 6 feet under when our lives end. That's true. Yet unfortunately, it's not just material riches but the list of things we can't bring beyond our lives here on earth includes our debts, expenses and responsibilities on which some are even transferred to those whom we left behind.

And we call these people as our loved ones. Loving should be in action and not just in words. So rather than leaving them grieving and burdened with finances, why not prepare them at least in the financial sense? Save, invest, get an insurance. It will give you a peace of mind before you even rest in peace. And there are statistics that say those who prepare for it usually are the ones who live longer. I believe this because the mentality of those people who prepare have safer mindsets, health and situations than those happy go lucky people.

Drive Your Way to Investment Success

Running your business is like driving a car. Motivation is the spark plug, your resources are your fuel and your driving skill is your investment knowledge.

I already met enough people who failed in their businesses by committing that mistake of thinking that motivation and resources are enough ammunitions to start and finish a battle. And it was a personal experience as well. 

Your skill will always be critical. Sometimes, motivation acts like a hallucinating drug that makes you think you are invulnerable. And the danger doubles when you have that enough resources at your hand. You may be able to start the machine and be able to move initially with the momentum. But once you get into that bumpy road, without that necessary skill to get past through it, expect a lot of difficulties on your way or worst, a sudden halt with what you are doing.

Invest in enriching your skills and knowledge. Find your expertise. And when the driver is ready, the perfect car comes.

It's Not The Money

Our problems with money does not come from neither the state of richness nor poverty. It is rooted from materialism and greed. You can be greedy and materialistic while being either poor or rich and they are what create discontent and envy. It is with detachment from material things, not with the proverbial "simple life" nor with affluence where you can achieve happiness and contentment. 

Knowledge on Top

In investing and entrepreneurship, it's not enough that you are inspired. Knowledge is more important. I find it amusing that a lot of would be entrepreneurs and investors spend 90% of their time attending inspirational talks and reading motivational books but put in sporadic efforts sharpening their skills on their chosen field. In the long term, what you do becomes a part of your life. Your inspiration might waive off but your knowledge stays with you and it will be your fuel to continue with what you do.

The Best Investment

Do you know when can you say that you have found the best investment? It is when it puts you in a position to help others and gives you a chance to become a better person.

Online Games and Investing Mentality

Your base was empty. Your command unit was a handful. Your fire power was weak. You could barely attack or defend. That's how it was when you were just beginning to play that addicting online game. But look, now you have a stronger base, powerful defensive weapons and a huge army enough to pulverize a huge enemy camp. So what did you do to arrive at this scenario from almost none at the start?

You managed to do with what you had. You bought only what you need. You utilized your few resources wisely trying not to waste anything. You were most of the time defensive and attacked only when the possibility of winning was big. Though of course, you sometimes gambled with calculated risks. Your first income was spent on things that will gain you more assets and money. 

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's just exactly what you need to do in real life if you want to grow your money. It's just funny that most people treat online golds more delicately than the one they worked hard for in real life. 

What makes online gamers more prudent in handling their money is  their commitment to grow their army and bases. They create their work plan around it. There's that clear ending in mind unlike in real life where most people don't take saving and investing seriously. Most think that all they need to do is to keep more money then that's it. It's a mistake. It may be effective to some but for the majority, it's impossible to save when you don't have a target. To have a clear course of action, you must have a specific and clear goal. 

Sometimes, it makes life easier when you treat things like a game. But don't forget that understanding and love for it are essential to win big. Patience is needed at the beginning. Once you got a hold of it, had installed greater weapons and trained a huge army, then you can start taking larger risks by attacking bigger and richer camps for more mouth-watering loots.

Objective First

You can't get lost driving or walking if you don't have a target destination. But if you do that, don't expect to arrive at a place you desire to go to. And you can't blame your car, your map or the road but you only have yourself to point a finger to.

When you invest, you should always have a goal. Whether it's for your retirement, for buying a house, a phone or a car, whatever it is, there must always be a target. To save money as a goal is also possible, but put a number in there so that you'll know if you're moving towards near it and also to be able to calculate if it's mathematically possible with the way you're doing it at the present. 

Investing is not just an act but a discipline. You just don't do it. With your first peso, you must have an end in mind. Remember that your first steps  are the most important in reaching your destinations. But in case you get lost in the middle, don't be afraid to ask for guidance from those who are more familiar with the directions.

Grab the Guava

Whenever there's a news about our economy doing well, the usual reply you can read in the comments section is "'di naman namin ramdam yan (we don't feel it anyway)". 

That would always be true for someone who doesn't have a job, does not invest nor study about it, does not spend wisely or does not save. I understand that there are limitations brought to us by circumstances like how we feel our government is neglecting us. But for us to feel the effect of a growing economy, we should be the one chasing its effect. 

We can't be Juan Tamad waiting for the guava to fall. Stand up and grab the proverbial guava.

Be Selfless

One of the worst enemies of would be investors is greed. And the best way to combat greediness is by selflessness. By prioritizing what's important in your life, you'll never go wrong with your decisions. You will consider everything before taking any step. You will not make crazy gambles. You will take calculated risks that will most likely ensure the best situations for your loved ones in a future that you may or may not be present at all. So have you asked your self how your loved ones would be if that future is tomorrow?

Bigger Picture

When emotions are catching up on you, always try to view on the bigger picture. Remind yourself of the reasons why you invested into something, why you bought that stock, why you put your money in it. Remember all the factors that made you think that your decision was correct. Check if your your targets are still on view. Consider your time table. If majority of these parameters are still in parallel of what's happening now, then you don't have to worry that much. Breathe. Just keep a watchful eye.

But if you can't articulate any of the considerations above, it might mean that you didn't really put a lot of thinking before acting on your investments.Then you have all the reasons to be that nervous. But it's not too late. You still have time to change track and make better choices in the future. Learning thru experience still gives the best lessons. There's always the time to bounce (pun intended).