Always take the easy path

Life is hard. Who don't want an easy path? Not only we want easy path unconsciously, we are trained and educated to go for the easy path. The commercials tell how easy it is to win a prize and money; to lose weight; to get a free gift by just applying credit card... Also the community now is so result-oriented. If you are a sale, I guess you are fired if you can't close a sale in one month. Students are pushed to get A in paper exam in order to squeeze in the University.

Why do I say something like that? Because an incident happened to me...

A beautiful afternoon, me, my 2 years old daughter Ching Lam, my 4 months baby and my mother went for a walk to the park. Just after we left our home, Lam started to cry as she wanted to sit on his brother stroller. As she knew she can't sit on the stroller, she started to turn on me and cry for holding her. I was quite annoyed by her persistent crying. At that moment, I just wanted to shut her mouth up by holding her. At the time I tried to hold Lam, my mother told me not to do that as she could walk by herself. I thought my mother was right and I was lucky to be open enough to listen to her advice. My mother suggested us to back home if she keep crying.

It has been a struggle for me at that time because the least thing I wanted to do is to go home as it was a very beautiful day and I just wanted to enjoy the sunshine. I tried to stood on the street hoping Lam's emotion would go away. After ten minutes, she was still crying and people was staring at us like a group of monsters. I tried to make some steps to the park. After another ten minutes, we arrived the park, she stopped crying as we started looking the scene in the park. We pointed to the honey bees, flowers and birds. We played slide and swing. We ended up having a lot of giggles. On the way back home, Lam even gave a hand to push her brother's stroller. We did enjoy the wonderful afternoon.

Thinking about this incident, I was the one who want to take the easy path as I just wanted to shut my girl's mouth by holding her. It is always easy to just hold her. I was lucky that I had my mom to remind me.

As a parent, I guess sometimes we have to have the persistence and clear mind to stand on something right but remain flexible. I know it takes tremendous amount of patience and work. But it worths in the long run.

My Investment Principles

I am totally not an expert on investment. I do invest. I set some rules for myself to invest. Please make sure you understand point 10.

1. Basic principle: don't lose money.
2. Point number one.
   
3. If you buy a stock low enough, then you are pretty much safe and you feel more secured.
4. Don't try to have every stocks. Pick a couple of great stocks.
5. Stay away from greed and fear.
   
6. Don't over borrow $.
7. Look for dividend and earning potential of a company.
8. Set financial goals before you invest.
9. Don't pick a stock by only relying on those "experts" opinions.
10. Your friends' opinions are just "reference".
11. Never think you are or there is anyone in the world would predict short term stock price.
    
12. Use your own brain to make decision.
    
13. Keep learning while you invest.
14. Never quit your job to make investment your full time.