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Not a Bad Day
 Even though I am holding only longterm stocks right now, I still keep up with my portfolio for learning purposes.
Today my $8,100 portfolio increased by $231 just today. After owning the stock for only a few days, Fortune Brands ( FO) has given me a 10% return. I am holding it longterm so there will be no selling for now.
Dynegy ( DYN) and Syntel ( SYNT) were both in the red, but have recently both gained back big time, especially Dynegy. General Electric ( GE) has been rising steadily.
How To Get "Stuff" Done
 Sometimes I will find myself with a great business idea and never carry it through. These ideas are put on the back burner when things get busy and then lose their steam. This is common among people who are busy or have other ideas to pursue....and unsuccessful people. I will not let myself land up unsuccessful in the longrun.
I've noticed what happens:
The stages go:
-Great idea pops into my head.
-Getting excited about it.
-Working out the details.
-Only partially following through.
-Putting the project on a temporary hiatus.
-Never completing the project.
-Regretting never completing the project.
What I do now is FORCE myself to get the project done. I should have fully designed Resumite's over 2 weeks ago, but haven't. So on Monday morning I will put up all my flyers around the UT campus, and be "forced" to design the rest of the site so people will not see a shody website.
I also did this to learn about stock. I simply bought some stocks, and since my own money was on the line, I learned VERY quickly how to valuate a company, read financial statements etc.
Writing NevBlog greatly helps. When I post my goals, everyone can see them and question if I have completed them in time. When people mention my name, I want to be known as some who can GET THE JOB DONE.
Labels: Productivity
Desperate for Ca$h?
 College students always need more money. They will do anything for a few bucks. After I've blown all the money I set aside for spending and I need more (without wanting to touch my spending account), I go to the psychology building on campus.
Why you ask? Because they regularly hold experiments there on a daily basis which you can walk into, and an hour later come out $7 - $10 richer! I generally have an hour break each day, so if there is a 45 minute experiment, I can participate and collect my reward ( in cash) just in time for class!
The experiments are generally very easy and sometimes include free food. It's just one easy way of making a few bucks during a break!
Labels: Financial
Risky Business
 I went to my first day of motorcycle safety class today! In two more sessions I will have an 'M' license!
The people you meet at random things like this are amazing. Sitting next to me happened to be a full time lobbyist at the capitol (which is two blocks from my campus) who knows all sorts of senators and congressmen. Powerful contacts can surprise you at any time!
The picture is of me on a Suzuki Hayabusa, the fastest production motorcycle in the world.
As for business progress: I am formatting flyers for Resumite to comply with campus standards, updating my own resume and updating my website: Neville Medhora
University Investors Association
 On Tuesday I joined the UT University Investors Association. I went to the info session, met a lot of intelligent, like-minded people and liked what they do.
I am also a member of Texas Entrepreneurs, a very active entrepreneurial society at UT.
The best part about these organizations is the people they attract. In a university of 50,000+ students, only the most motivated come to these meetings. They are not mandatory like classes, which automatically weeds out non-motivated people and they facilitate real world learning.
Labels: Financial
Stock Portfolio Update
I am at a loss in my longterm portfolio right now. Just a few months ago I had a nice profit, but things went awry for the Syntel ( SYNT) and Dynegy ( DYN) stocks. I'm not worried, because I'm holding all of these (except for Syntel) for 3+ years.
Here is a snapshot as of 01-24-2005 of my longterm portfolio:
Labels: Financial
Bought GE
 I bought 30 shares of General Electric (GE) at $35.50 for my longterm portfolio. This was only a $1,075 purchase of stock, but I've learned to place several smaller orders at different times rather than one big order.
This purchase was slightly before GE reported earnnings, stating an 18% increase in revenue.
Looking back at this post, it is clear why I want this company in my longterm portfolio. GE is involved in everything from MRI machines to jet engines.
I will add to this position as the market dictates.
Fortune Finds Fortune
I bought Fortune Brands (FO) at $76 yesterday, in light of recent earnings, it has jumped to the $79 range.
I plan to hold onto this stock for years to come, and add to my position at times...so far it is off to a great start!
The price will slightly drop after all the earnnings hype goes away, but in the longrun I have a lot of faith in Fortune Brands.
Here is a one week chart of FO:
Labels: Financial
Getting Nothing Done
I'd like it to be publicly known that my 3 hours of work today were COMPLETELY WASTED.
I work the night shift at the UT Law School computer lab for a few reasons:
-Very cool boss (who I only see on Friday)
-At night no one is there, so I have very little actual work to do (basically none).
-All the free computers, scanners, office supplies, printing etc. I ever need.
-Get a couple of rooms to myself with an enclosed office for talking on the phone.
-Flexible hours, but I usually keep them routine so I can work at nights.
-I get to do whatever I want and get paid at the same time. I usually get all my homework done, along with any web design etc. at work.
I get paid a paltry $7.32 an hour, but considering I get to do whatever I want while on the job, it is a perfect job for a student that needs the time!
The point of this post is: I am graduating in 5 months, and I need to UTILIZE EVERY SECOND to be financially stable by then! So these wasted hours need to stop!
Labels: Personal
Stock Update
 Today I woke up to place an order for Fortune Brands (FO), and Ameritrade had changed it's site layout!
I struggled for a few minutes to put in a quick order at a low price, but it didn't happen. NOW I know how to use the system properly.
I ended up buying 20 shares of FO @ $76. This is a long term position I will be holding for several years. I plan to hold FO and GE for 5+ years, adding to the positions if they are strong.
I still have a limit order open to buy 30 shares of GE @ $35.
Server Screwup
 I'm still not sure how or why, but NevBlog DNS entries on my server changed, thus leaving the website inaccessible for a few days.
Since then, school has started, I've spent over $300 on books...grrr.
Some entrepreneurial adventures will start next week for me.
Speaking of entrepreneurship, my old roommate started a small company called Grade-A-Books. He basically buys back old college text books, then sells them cheaper than the University Co-Op (The bookstore which has a complete monopoly in the area). With a decent investment amount and a lot of organizing and time, he has successfully become a book dealer. Congrats to him! Not many other college students will rake in a couple thousand dollars in a few days!
As for now, I have to get back to reading. It seems this last semester will be my most work intensive yet....but there is ALWAYS time for making some more money!
Labels: eCommerce
Time to Start Studying
 My last semester of college starts tommorrow, and I am very excited. I also start working tommorrow. I love when everything is in full swing!
I need to concentrate not only on school, but meeting my $11,000 goal by April. I also need to have at least 3 or 4 steady side incomes by the end of this semester in May.
There is no excuse this semester to mosey around, because there is PLENTY of work ahead for me!
Labels: Productivity
Low Money Inflow
 At the rate I'm going, my goal of generating $11,000 will not be met by May 31st. I need to change something, and fast.
My online business is making money, and I will start working again in two days. I will also start pursuing making some money from Resumite. These three sources of income might cut it, but I need MORE.
I need to get into high gear and start making some more money!
Labels: Financial
How to Present
I came up with an idea recently, and I wish to further pursue it. It seems legal as of now, and I believe has a potentially huge market if properly executed, I also have a contact who works in the industry.
My problem is how to present my idea. As of now I am thinking of:
- Inviting my contact for a quick lunch or visiting his business.
- Give him a 10 second explanation of what I plan to do.
- Show him a prototype (It's actually just a different process of doing something).
- Discuss the legality, cost and consumer appeal of the product.
If the idea has no legal red tape and has the potential to make even a little money, I will pursue it. There is always a lesson in every failure, so I come out ahead either way :)
Crazy Money Making IDEAS
 I am taking some time to just relax and enjoy the beautiful weather in Austin right now before the weekend starts up, and then school. Didn't do much but read today, so I'll just post some crazy money making ideas:
1.) Helicopter Rentals.
I got this idea from New York and the insane traffic. I figured a helicopter charter service that picks you up and takes you directly into the city would be profitable. I wanted to rent a helicopter to pick me and friends up from New Jersey and drop us in New York for a New Year's party, but all I found was helicopter sight-seeing tours.
2.) Handrail Advertising.
I was posting some flyers when I got this idea, then fashioned a crude device to make it work. A week later I found MediaRails.com had taken the idea to the next level. I contacted the company to get my hands on their handrail printing machine, but they were only interested in large, establsihed advertising companies. I still think this is a great opportunity, as it is not being done in the United States...yet. When I spoke to MedialRails, they told me they would hit U.S. shores in mid-2005.
At any one time I have a million ideas written down, those are just two. Feel free to comment on them, I'd love to hear improvements, devil's advocate agruments or any comments!
Labels: business ideas
Business Lunch
 I'd like to thank Murray from Capital Ideas Blog for a great lunch and the kind words he had to say about me in a recent post. At 23 years of age he has just shy of a six-figure savings, now that's impressive! It's refreshing to meet someone so young and financially responsible.
Still young, has a great job, invests, saves and has fun...this guy has a pretty bright future!
Overall this lunch was very successful. It gives me a sort of fiscal role model to look up to (he is a year older than me) and being where he is in one year would be great.
A lot of my best contacts have come through simple lunches like this. If I meet a person with an interesting business, I will ask them to show me how their business runs. Usually they are proud of the business they have built, and are more than willing to show me around.
Errand and Learning Day
 Today I ran a bunch of errands. While dropping some things off to a family friend, I asked him for a quick tour of his business.
Over 20 years ago he invented a cheap method of sand blasting, and turned it into a large business. He sandblasts and metalblasts large and small pieces of equipment for companies.
I plan to learn more about his business as time goes on. It is always good to have plenty of business contacts, especially for someone like me who loves starting businesses.
Buying General Electric
For the last couple of days I've had a limit order to buy General Electric (GE) at $35.00. It is on a downtrend right now, and it looks as if $35.00 will be approched within the next few days. After I buy (if it hits), I plan to hold GE for the next few years. I expect to buy at $35, and take a loss on the stock for a little while.
The downtrend appears it will continue for a few more days before leveling out and possibly going up. Let me know what you think!
Buying Opportunity?
Stocks have been down quite bit the last few days. My unexperienced, non-credible opinion is: Investors have taken their profits from the recent uptrend in the market, and are a little apprehensive to buy at the moment.
I feel the same way. The good thing is, I am starting to feel the next few weeks will be a prime purchase point. I believe this year will be an up year, but much slower than the last.
Right now I have my eye on: ge, agh, axr, brn, bpt, cmbc, crt, nobh
I have put a limit buy order on GE for my longterm portfolio. If the price is right, Ameritrade will trigger my trade automatically. I plan to buy only longterm stocks this year.
On an unrelated topic, I go back to my apartment in Austin on Wednesday or Thursday...for my last semester of college!
Review and Plans
The Kirk Report put out a small list of possible ten-bagger stocks. I've started doing more long-term trading, so I took a good look at some of these:
agh, axr, brn, bpt, cmbc, crt, nobh
I would like a nice steady growth stock to hold for 5 to 10 years. I looked at all of these, and I'm waiting till the price dips on a few of them. I also have General Electric (GE) on my list of possible buys. I am just waiting for a nice dip in the stock for an entry point.
Today I accomplished:
-Setting up a meeting with a fellow investor.
-Web design work.
These slow days need to stop. I must be more productive everyday!
What Have I Done Today?
I think everyday I should post what I have done to improve my fiancial situation or life. My goal here is to not let the days slip by.
Today was a slow day:
-Sent out a letter to all TX Entrepreneurs inviting them to get together and talk business.
-Went to the library to research business advertising.
At this rate, I am going nowhere. This list needs to expand, and quickly.
Labels: Productivity
Post NYC Asset Update
OUCH. New York for two weeks left an $825 dent in my wallet. Not working also threw off my monthly income by a bit, but I made a $913 profit from my online business to counteract that.
Also, I am now only reporting usable, liquid assets of mine. I will still report my business balance account which holds funds I owe, but I will not consider it an asset.
These last few days have been harsh on stocks, so my longterm holdings are not doing so hot. I have also transfered all the money I owe for my business to the business balance account. I like keeping my business 100% debt free, which is not great looking for balance sheets, but I like having no liabilites for now.
General Account: $423
Spending Account: $82
Investment Account: $860
Permanent Savings: $5,300
Stock Portfolio Value: $7,810
Total Assests: $14,475
Credit Card Balance: $0
Business Balance: $4,392
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So far my financial year is not off to the right start, but I am changing that soon!
Labels: Financial
New Year, New Start
I will be posting some New Year's Resolutions soon for 2005. I graduate from college this coming semester, so a lot of important decisions will be made in 2005. Till then, Happy New Year's!
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