Right now, I am working with no experience, but just using instinct and fair knowledge of the companies bottom line and potential. I tried to pick stocks that I feel will mature in a years (or 2) time, regardless of the occasional breakdowns. Imagine you bought Apple before it was a beast and sold it the next day to earn a quick 8%. Would hurt to know that it could have been 25%._Rafa_ said:hope for you that you have great-not-too-risky-long-term stocks.
Still, I think any method is valid, as long as you know your method/risk and stick to it religiously and with persistence.
I look at it like poker. I could go all in with A-Q (like most people suggest you should) before the flop and might catch someone and win... but my principle is to use discipline, play it safe and realize that I only have a high card. If I stick to that principle, in the end I miss out on a lot of winning hands, but I never lose the final game. While I'm always folded, I study the other players habits. Thus, when I do play my cards, I usually win. Meanwhile, the other players drop like flies. I always come in 3rd or better, I never lose in poker with my strategy (unless I break out of my discipline to try something different!)
and don't tell anyone this please!