Exposure to real life conversations and willingness to participate in said conversations are key to learning any foreign language. This is also true for any language associated with an area of specialty, even if the words are in English. If there is unfamiliarity with the concepts, it might as well be foreign. The language has to be learned in order to communicate within that sphere. Its not just a conspiracy. Specific terms are necessary for the adequate communication of ideas, but it is easy to be overwhelmed and paralyzed by this. Which brings me to another key that I find useful in learning anything: Tenaciousness. This I claim as a primary tool in learning the language of the stock market.
A “real life” conversation in the stock market probably means that real money needs to be involved. Sure, you might want to learn some foundational terminology and theory, but sooner rather than later, the hands have to get dirty for the lessons to sink in. If the thought of risk is deterring you from full engagement, I refer you to two previous posts The Moral Superiority of a Wise Investment Strategy and Investitopia. Get ahold of the idea that there is NO use of money that is risk free. If you value the money that you acquire, you will want to manage it somehow, not only how to spend it, but how to save and invest.
I find the learning process is greatly enhanced by having others to talk to about the subject. There are advantages to both having input from those who are ahead of me in the game (my husband, also my father) and having opportunity to pass on what I have learned, however small and fuzzy it is. ( Hi, kids!) You don’t have to thoroughly understand everything to spark the learning of others. This is a good time to recommend an organization that I recently joined, at the counsel of my father, called The American Association of Individual Investors. They have a wealth (ha ha) of information on line that includes very basic explanatory articles. There are also many local chapters that meet. In my group, a large variation of experience is represented. It has been a nice way to get exposure to the phenomena and language of the stock market. I greatly appreciate this group and how they make me feel at home there.
There are a few blogs and books that I have read that I will save to talk about in a later post, because learning any language is an ongoing affair. The more one uses it, the better one is able to express and understand. So, if you are reading this, you are part of my endeavor to gain proficiency in the language of the stock market! Thank you!
