Have you ever tried delivering a joke, and nobody laughed? That’s timing (or maybe just a bad joke?). Ever tried kissing a girl/boy, and have the person turn away from you? Timing. Have you noticed that the gas prices go up and down, depending on the week day and the time of day? Timing.

In many aspects of our lives, timing is everything. “It’s just not the right time for me…”. Ever heard people say that?

In my mind, the same applies to investments. Most seasoned investors will tell you that the best time to invest your money, is NOW. And they’re right – to some extent. However, I would argue that you should always use your eyes and ears, before you make any decisions (life or otherwise). The current state of the market is fairly clear to me: We’re at – or close to – the top.  History tells us that the market goes up and down in certain cycles. Some people spend their lives analyzing these cycles, in hopes that they will one day be able to predict- and ultimately beat them.

To me, it’s not a matter of beating the market (because you can’t), it’s just a matter of being smart. If you’re standing on the sideline of the market right now (like I am), with a bag of money, waiting to enter – consider your options thoroughly (no matter where you’re standing actually 😉 ).

I’ve always felt like I was somehow born under a lucky star. My mom used to say that I could piss my pants without getting wet (I’m fairly sure I can’t – but I haven’t tried recently…). I believe that the Universe works for me – not against me.

I realize that not everybody feel that way. In my experience a lot of people feel the exact opposite actually. That they’re somehow destined for failure. If you carry that mindset around, you should see somebody about it! Because if you believe you’re destined to fail – you will fail. If you believe you’re destined to win, you’re going to win (eventually!).

So there you have it. The secret to winning, is all in your mind! We could also translate it into something a little more tangible: Confidence.

Be confident in yourself and your choices, and you will find that most choices you make will end up being the smart ones (in the long run anyway…).

If you’ve made a choice, and you afterwards feel like it might not have been the best choice you could have made short-term, figure out a way to make it the right one long-term.

I’ve set a goal to ultimately have 15-20% stocks in my portfolio (for the sake of diversification). Currently I’m at 0%. I think I’m going to keep it there for a little while 😉