Go With Your Instincts; Don't Always Trust Your Friends

Let me tell you what this asshole did and how he screwed me over...

And, this has happened to me a few times in my life because I've been dumb enough to stop and listen to my family members, friends, and other goofballs, instead of listening to my gut instincts.

Anyway, this is what happened...

Okay, so recently, I've mentioned that I invest in the stock market. I've been doing so for a few years now.

I'm still kind of new to the game since I haven't been studying it like I should, and often, I'll "jump in" and "jump out" of the game from time-to-time to pay bills and other debts. (Bad Luck)

But, I've made thousands of dollars and I've Lost thousands of dollars. (Bad Decisions) And NOW, I'm realizing WHY I'm having such a terrible time with this...It's because I've been listening to assholes who don't practice what they preach and who won't even follow the advice that they'll give to You!

I play the "penny stocks" mostly. Those are stocks that usually sell for less than a dollar a share.

I'll invest in some good quality "blue chip" stocks when I have the money (I missed Apple when it was in the 20s. I wanted some Apple stock. I looked at it. But, my dumbass bought Vonage IPO at $17 a share and got STUCK. I damn near lost my ass... damn Vonage), but for the most part, I like high risk "penny stocks". Anyway...

Last week, my stocks damn near tripled, but I knew they were going to go back down. My plan was to sell my shares while they were UP. And hope and pray that they would drop back down (like I thought they would).

With this strategy, I would (at least) double my share holdings and wait for the stock to rise again. I do this because I really AM trying to hold my investments for the long-term, but sometimes you can tell when the stock is rising on "news hype" rather than legitimacy, so I was going to take a chance it was going to drop again and I could buy back in at a cheaper price.

And, the chance was in my favor.

I could see myself cruising along a winding road in my new Honda Civic or Nissan 350z convertible. Traveling to Vegas. Shopping sprees at the mall. Chillin' with my New Girl in my new phat-ass crib (a house or an apartment), and sipping on some fine wines and champaigne while making love...

Man, I was about to live The Good Life!

I would REALLY have something to blog about!

But that "pipe-dream" went up in a puff of damn smoke...

Man, I listened to this jackass on a financial message board...

You see, a lot of these cats on these financial message boards that invest travel around in packs. Some of them are buddies, I guess. Some of them are trolls. And some of them (I Believe) are investors who try to ruin the good name and value of a stock so that they can make money by "betting" that the stock goes down. They bet against the stock.

It's a dirty game.

And these grown-ass men and women act like damn kids with this crap. They harass each other. Call each names. Troll.... And, these are "Investors". Movers and Shakers. There are teenage investors on those boards that have more class and more sense than some of those jackasses.

Anyway... Let me get back the story.

Okay, so I log on to my trade account and I'm watching the stock go up. It hit it's mark (the price at which I planned to sell), but it went up a little more.... and a little more... When I saw this, I got nervous. I wasn't sure what to do.

I could sell and have my profits. BUT!

The stock could keep rising and I could miss out on thousands and thousands of dollars! AND!

It might not come back down to a price that I could buy back in and double my money.

I said, "Damn..."

I didn't know what to do, so I looked to that crazy-ass message board for guidance, because there are some folks on there with millions of shares of stock that are also investing for the long-term. And, they want to see the stock do well also.

This one guy is always typing messages and arguing in defense of the company and the stock. You would've thought he was damn Jimmy Swaggert in there praying for a windfall and leading our poor little lost asses to the Promised Land.

He kept saying, "We're going to see an increase today! This company is great! They're making money left and right! They're undervalued and have great potential! STAY LONG! STAY LONG! DON'T SELL YOUR SHARES!"

I felt comforted and my mind was at ease. I was tired, so I jumped in bed and fell asleep.

Later on that day...

I woke-up and checked the "Market".

The stock dropped by a third of it's original price. I said, "Dammit, Jimmy! wtf???"

The stocks had gotten too low for me to cash out because now they were just Unpredictable, and I didn't want to take a chance.

I was pissed at myself AND at damn "Jimmy".

My Instincts TOLD me to sell early and I didn't listen.

The next day, the stocks dropped again.

The next day, they dropped again.

Now, I was REALLY pissed because I could've MORE than doubled my shares!

NOW...

The stock is on the rise again. It's back up. And, I've done missed my opportunity.

I went on the message board (although I've promised myself to stay away), and that fool who kept telling everyone how great the company was, and how the stock would explode after the financial reports came out, and how everyone should hold onto their investments and NOT sell, had the nerve to say,

He was NEW to "penny stocks"

He was getting his information from OTHERS

And that he SOLD off his shares when the price got too low because he got nervous

I was pissed off. I could've cut his damn head off. lol.

I said, "This mutha...."

This guy don't know jack-sh*t about "penny stocks" OR the company OR how the financial reports are issued and he's on the friggin' message board cheerleading and trying to coach everybody else - and he don't know jack-sh*t about nuthin'.

What a boat-load of dumbasses. I'm pissed at myself that I fell for that crap. But, here's the message...

This kind of Bullsh*t you will encounter in ALL aspects of your Life.

Whether you're dealing with stocks, salespeople, or Love, there will always be some asshole that will want to give you advice and tell you what you SHOULD or SHOULDN'T do.

It may be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or even an "expert".

They'll talk a good damn game, but when the shoe is on the other foot - when they're in that same situation you're in - see if he or she won't follow his or her OWN advice.

Whatever it is that he or she is trying to convince you to do, that fool might do the OPPOSITE.

So, what should you do???

Listen to your Instincts. Especially when it comes to Love. Don't ruin a good thing or make decisions about your relationship based on somebody else's opinion or suggestions. Weigh it all out and use your Instincts.

If you screw-up your love-life - and lose a good thing - you'll hate the World for it.

Sometimes your instincts will tell you to GO WITH your friend's or family member's recommendations or suggestions. If you feel a good vibe from it, go with it.

But, Sometimes your instincts are showing you the Light and telling you to follow a different path.

When that's the case, listen to your Instincts no matter what other people say!

I know sometimes a situation can be so crucial or the outcome so dramatic that it can make you "freeze up", but you have to face the dilemma. Get a second and third opinion if you have to, but ultimately, you'll still have to rely on your Instincts, Experience, Knowledge, and Personal Observations. So, the decision is still your's no matter WHAT other people say and think.

And, if you screw up, it's your fault. But, you live and you learn, so go for it and get your mind right to deal with the Worst - just in case things don't turn out the way you thought they would.

Sometimes...

Even when the answer (or best solution) is right there in front of our face, we still may have doubts, fear, or plain just can't see it. In that case, all you can is pray about it and go for it.

Just take your time. Don't over-react. And, remember: Usually, it's not the end of the world.

And, most of the time, even when you do make a mistake or bad decision, you can almost always work things out in the long run.

But, use your Instincts. The MAJORITY of the time, they won't let you down.

- loveqna