2. Think in terms of the long haul!

When Rahul Dravid comes out to bat, he comes out for the duration.

Some -– Shahid Afridi is a case in point -– blast away at every ball, and look good when they are doing it, but then in the blink of an eye they are gone.

Not Dravid. He walks out, with the intention of staying a while -- a long while. He is not under the delusion that he has to score big in the first 15 minutes, that he has to hit a four in the first over he faces.

His rationale is simple -- the longer he stays at the wicket, the more runs there will be against his name.

Remember his epic innings of 181 against Australia in 2001, and the splendid partnership with V V S Laxman on the Eden Gardens ground? It was about endurance, about playing through the day -- and it helped seal a win for his team.

Investing in equity is all about staying in for the long haul. It is not about short-term gains and making a quick buck. There is another word for that -- gambling.

Investing in shares is like owning a part of a business without showing up at work. And you know what owning a business entails -- commitment! A decision to stick on in the good times and the bad.

Businesses go through cycles. That is why, to reap the benefits, you must be in for the long-term to tide over these cycles. A good time frame would be three to five years.

Over the years, company profits will rise. These will evidently translate into share prices rising. In the short-term, the stock market may fall drastically. The prices of your shares will move accordingly. Ignore short-term drops. If you have invested in a sound company, you will reap the rewards. Equity promises a good return.

But you cannot make a million in one year. You have to stick around for a while.