by 1. First Introduction to Investment: From Confusion to Excitement
At that time, I was just like most people who were newly introduced to investing—excited yet confused. When I graduated, I, like many other young people, had a stable job, and my income was enough to maintain a modest lifestyle. But I often felt a sense of dissatisfaction. Life seemed to be repeating itself day after day, and my financial progress felt stagnant. As I started hearing more about investment—stocks, mutual funds, real estate, entrepreneurship—those discussions were often filled with attractive numbers and dreamlike possibilities. These topics stirred my curiosity, and deep down, I wondered if I could change my fate through investment.
I still remember the first time I seriously delved into investment—it was a rainy weekend. I sat on the couch, scrolling through investment articles on my phone. The complicated jargon and graphs seemed intimidating, but I couldn’t resist the urge to learn more. Everyone appeared to be finding opportunities in the market, and behind these opportunities, the potential and risks seemed to hold endless excitement and uncertainty.
2. Stepping In: Exploration and Challenges
After deciding to invest, I didn’t immediately jump into the stock market. The volatility of the stock market felt too high, and the risk of a sudden loss seemed too great. But I knew that if I didn’t start trying, I would never fully understand the intricacies of investing. So, I decided to begin with mutual funds, which appeared to be a more stable entry point.
In the early days, I relied entirely on online articles and forums for information, choosing funds that were commonly recommended, especially those that were marketed as “stable.” I didn’t invest a lot at first, just a few thousand yuan, mainly to gain experience. For the first few months, I was glued to the market’s movements. Every time I saw a small increase in the fund’s net value, I would get excited, feeling like I was sharing in the success.
However, things didn’t stay rosy for long. I quickly encountered my first challenge—the market’s volatility. The value of the funds began to drop, and the numbers in my account followed suit. Watching the account balance shrink brought about a wave of anxiety. After all, I didn’t have a large fortune, and if I lost too much, I might end up with nothing.
Looking back, though, this was one of the most valuable learning experiences in my investment journey. During that period, I spent a lot of time studying the market, analyzing why it fluctuated, and learning how to adapt to different market conditions. I came to realize that investing is a long-term battle, and short-term ups and downs don’t mean much. Over time, I learned how to control my emotions and began to understand market trends more clearly.
3. From Mutual Funds to Stocks: A New Challenge
After a few months of accumulating knowledge, I decided to broaden my horizons and venture into individual stocks. The stock market was still full of unknowns and challenges for me, but I knew that if I didn’t make the effort to understand it, I would never be able to seize the opportunities. I began learning how to analyze stocks, focusing on both fundamental and technical analysis. I immersed myself in financial news, industry trends, and the technical indicators that experts discussed online.
During that time, I dedicated nearly all my free time after work to studying stocks. Every morning, I made it a habit to check the stock market trends, reading the global market news from the previous night and focusing on the performance of the domestic market. During work hours, I’d occasionally glance at financial updates on my phone, and after getting home, I’d spend hours in front of my computer, browsing stock analyses and researching specific companies.
Sometimes, seeing the market surge, I felt an irresistible urge to buy some stocks I thought were good investments. However, after further research and analysis, I came to realize that I couldn’t follow the crowd blindly; I needed to form my own independent judgment. I began to be more careful in selecting stocks, considering factors like industry outlook, the company’s financials, and management quality.
Initially, my stock trades didn’t go well. I remember investing in a promising tech stock, but due to market uncertainty, its value dropped sharply. During that period, my account seemed to shrink almost daily, and I often felt disheartened. But after experiencing a few of these downturns, I learned how to stay calm during a market decline and wait patiently for the stock’s recovery.
4. Deepening Knowledge and Self-Reflection
Through investing, I discovered that my interest in the financial markets was growing stronger. Besides stocks, I also started exploring other investment tools like bonds, futures, and forex. Each investment decision and market fluctuation taught me more about the importance of “risk.” To improve my investment skills, I attended investment seminars, took courses, and sought advice from experienced investors. I even made some friends in online investment groups, where we shared insights and experiences, and I found this networking incredibly beneficial.
As I accumulated more knowledge, my investment mindset began to shift. I went from being a novice who followed the crowd to someone who could make rational decisions based on my own risk tolerance and market conditions. My investment abilities gradually improved, especially in terms of adjusting my strategy according to market cycles and identifying the right time to buy or sell.
However, the road to becoming a more confident investor was not without bumps. Every time the market experienced a large fluctuation, I still felt nervous and uncertain, especially when unpredictable events, such as the pandemic or political upheavals, caused massive disruptions in the market. Each market correction deepened my understanding that investing is not just about achieving financial returns—it’s also a process of personal growth. For me, this growth wasn’t just about accumulating wealth, but also about developing mental resilience and emotional maturity.
5. Breakthroughs and Achievements: Pursuing Higher Goals with Caution
After years of trial and error, I gradually found my rhythm in investing. I was no longer the beginner who lacked experience but had become someone capable of making informed decisions based on market changes. My portfolio expanded beyond mutual funds and stocks to include real estate and private equity, each new area bringing both fresh challenges and opportunities, which pushed me to reevaluate my strategies and mindset.
Particularly in real estate, I experienced a journey from basic understanding to more sophisticated investments. I remember when I bought my first property, the entire process was full of uncertainty. For most ordinary people, buying a home is a huge decision. Especially with my first purchase, I mostly relied on intuition and gut feeling when choosing the property. However, as I gained more experience, I started to understand how to pick the right location, how to analyze price trends, and how to make decisions based on the economic environment.
As I accumulated more investment experience, I came to realize that investing is not something that happens overnight—it’s a continuous process of learning and adjustment. The market is always changing, and as an investor, only by constantly improving one’s judgment and vision can we seize opportunities.
6. The Road Ahead: Steady Progress
As time passed, I accumulated more wealth and experience in my investment journey. But I knew that success wasn’t just about mastering technical skills—it was about persistence and patience. Moving forward, I would continue to invest, but my focus had shifted from simply chasing high returns to prioritizing sustainability and stability in my investments.
I fully understood that investing is a marathon, not a sprint. Behind every successful investment, there was a deeper understanding of the market and continuous self-improvement. On my future investment journey, I would continue to be cautious, constantly reminding myself not to be swayed by short-term market fluctuations. I would stick to rational, well-thought-out strategies, and keep learning and reflecting on my investment practices.
