Why the Perfect Moment to Act Never Comes

I never wanted to grow up. Maybe it was the lightness of youth, that feeling that the world is open to you, that kept me from committing. Tattoos, for example – a symbol of rebellion, freedom, and a decision that lasts forever. When I was 18, I was on the Reeperbahn, a bit reckless and full of ideas, standing in a small studio with my buddy. I was fascinated by the designs on the walls – and yet none of them really seemed to fit me. It all felt so… ordinary. Too mainstream. So I left without getting one.

Years later, I often think back to that moment. Why did I never get a tattoo? Because I didn't want to commit? Because I thought the perfect idea would come along? Maybe it was also hesitation – the fear of making a decision that would be permanently visible. And here lies the parallel to so many things in my life. Not just tattoos, but also something that became a part of my everyday life much later: investing.

Just as I couldn't find a tattoo that truly spoke to me back then, I often hesitated when buying stocks. I thought: "Not now. Maybe later." I waited for the moment when everything would align perfectly, when the stars would be in my favor, and I could be sure that it was the right decision. But the truth is: That moment never comes.

Sometimes I wonder why I hesitated so often to take the first step. Charlie Munger, the legendary investor and partner of Warren Buffett, once said:
"The biggest mistakes in the stock market don't come from ignorance, but from fear and hesitation."

That was exactly my problem. I watched countless stock prices, analyzed companies, studied numbers – only to not make a move. And later, I realized that the opportunity had already passed. It wasn't ignorance that held me back. It was the fear of making a mistake.

But what I know today: There is no perfect moment, neither for a tattoo nor for an investment. There is only the moment when you decide to take action.