So what was it about her?  She had the head for getting into other kids’ heads.  She knew what they wanted. It was the simplest thing.  But simple or not, it was she, who had the idea.  One day she came to school, and during recess you could see about 10 or 15 kids gathered around her.  Curious as to what the fuss was about, I took a look.  She was selling plastic colored bangles:  pink, orange or black for $1.50 a piece. I had never seen them before but by the time we were packing our backpacks to leave for the day, at least half the class had one or more proudly around their wrists.

That was just the beginning for this girl who I’m sure by now is at the top of some investing firm, advising it on what to buy and what to give a miss.  Over the 3 years I was in the same school as her, it was amazing she had time for lessons.  She must have sold thousands of these bangles.  She brought in a couple of more colors, but the basics of her idea remained.  She just happened to get into the head of the kids at the time.  She was in the right place at the right time and she got off her backside and did something.  Now that’s what I call a cool invention and a great investment; get the head for working out what’s going to be popular.

Here’s a “how to” just to get you started.

1. Invent something cool, that you think other people will just love. If you are not the inventor type, then search the internet, magazines, and newspapers for a really cool invention. Hopefully this blog will help you find just the right item, cause, whatever, for you to get behind with your hard-earned cash, or your inheritance, or your lottery winnings.

2. After you’ve scoured every nook and cranny for the perfect thing to invest in, you should get to know the industry within which this cool investment resides. Maybe it’s a movie, or a broadway show, or a device to make a car run more efficiently, it is crucial to know as much as possible about that marketplace.

3. Always remember that investing is synonymous with “taking a risk.” This is always true, wether we are investing in our children, investing in the stock market, or investing in the number 12 on the roulette wheel. The only difference is how much risk, and if it’s worth the risk. The information you have, the more likely your decision will be correct. But you always must realize you can never know anything for sure. Tomorrow a hurricane might just blow everything away, or an earthquake, or a recession.

4. Get to know the people involved; the inventor; the fund manager; the CEO of the business. One of the keys to success is knowing the most you can about the entire enterprise and situation.

5. Good luck is also important.