TAO of the DOW
By Kevin Boyd - Mercury
News Staff
The word Tao is
pronounced the same as the word Dow. Coincidence? Twenty-six centuries ago,
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu espoused a philosophy that could be applied to
everyday life. Borrowing liberally from his book, the Tao Te Ching, here are
10 lighthearted tidbits of real investment advice, with just enough insight
to make you, too, a Taoist financial wizard.
WISDOM IS AN EMPTY
BOWL
The Dow that can be
told is not the eternal Dow. No mind can contain the entire market. By the time
inside information reaches you, the Market has moved on. Wisdom comes not from
facts, but from understanding.
WIN A FEW, LOSE
A FEW
In the Market, there
is no advance without correction, no decrease without increase. Profit comes
when the trend is upward.
LOOK PAST YOUR NOSE
Not focusing on short-term
profit decreases failure. There is wisdom and safety in long-term investment.
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES
The Dow is an empty
vessel. Significance is not found in specific numbers but in change.
DON'T BET THE FARM
The Market is ruthless.
It cares not for your capital gains or losses. As it moves, it also yields.
Hold fast to the center. Do not invest what you cannot afford to lose.
YOUR BAD DAY IS
SOMEONE'S GOOD DAY
The valley is the gateway
to profit. Buy low, sell high. By increments we achieve our goals.
CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL
The Market lasts forever.
Everyone makes mistakes. Errors are your tuition for the school of investment.
GO WITH THE FLOW
The Market flows like
water. Churning causes financial turbulence. Contemplate with intuition as well
as mind. Sensing its direction, move with the Market.
GREED BAD, PROFIT
GOOD
Better to stop short
than to risk all. Limit risks and losses to achieve success. Do not put all
your eggs in one basket. Sell when goals are met. Greed destroys itself.
GET A LIFE
Understand and be open
to all things. The Dow is but one sector of the Market. Success comes not from
data, but from knowing the human heart.