3. Play smart!

Dravid knows you cannot score runs off every ball you face -- he has the savvy to pick the deliveries he will score off. He reads each ball on its merit, he picks his shots accordingly, he optimises every ball.

He can defend his position when he has to; aware of the importance of his wicket to his team, he cuts out frivolity and plays the percentages.

You have an obligation to yourself, to protect your hard-earned money. Do yourself a favour -- avoid hot tips and promises of a fast buck. Invest in sound companies and not fly-by-night operators (even if they promise you the moon).

Stock market investing is risky. As far as possible, do your groundwork. To check if a stock is worth buying, read How to spot a good stock.

Check up on the company you invest in. The best way to begin is to read their Profit and Loss statement. To understand how to do that, see How to read a P&L account.

Talk to people and ask questions. Is the management known for its integrity? What are the chances of the company being around for the next 10 years? Will the business show a substantial growth over time?

When investing in a mutual fund, look at consistency of returns -- not just a fund giving a high dividend or a great performance over the past few months.

If you want your money to work for you, make sure you make some right moves.

Photograph: REUTERS/Darren Staples