Christopher Panagiotu – Go With Your Gut, but Verify

BIO: Christopher Panagiotu hosts the “CAPitalize Your Finances” podcast and is the original CAPitalizer: one who is obsessed with understanding what there is to know about their passion.STORY: Chris was suckered into buying Ford and GameStop shares by the high dividends the companies were offering. However, both companies couldn’t afford to pay those dividends. Chris also started a business to steal customers from his father, whom he despised. The business lasted only seven months, and it was a complete failure.LEARNING: When in doubt, read more. Acknowledge that you made a mistake, and move on. Never invest in a company because of a celebrity CEO, founder, or CFO. “Always keep capitalizing.”Christopher Panagiotu Guest profileChristopher Panagiotu hosts the “CAPitalize Your Finances” podcast and is the original CAPitalizer: one who is absolutely obsessed with profoundly understanding what there is to know about their passion.Worst investment everChris bought the Ford stock, which he admits was a lackluster stock. Alan Mulally had saved Boeing and left the company for Ford. Mulally was the reason Chris invested in Ford. The celebrity CEO turned it around, so Chris hung on to the stock, but for too long. Chris was suckered into Ford’s high dividend, but he soon realized that the company couldn’t afford to pay that dividend.Another poor investment that Chris made was investing in GameStop. He was a gamer growing up, and in the 2000s, Gamestop was it. GameStop hooked Chris with the same thing that Ford did. Their dividend was huge, but they couldn’t afford it.Aside from stocks, Chris’s worst investment ever includes a business that he started to steal customers from his father, whom he despised. The company lasted only seven months, and it was a complete failure.Lessons learnedWhen in doubt, read more.Go with your gut, but verify.Humble yourself, acknowledge that you made a mistake, and move on.Never invest in a company because of a celebrity CEO, founder, or CFO.Don’t try to steal business out of spite.Andrew’s takeawaysTrees don’t grow to the sky, so there are very few stocks that you can hold forever.If you’re not getting trust from your business or personal relationships, walk away and get it elsewhere.Actionable adviceSurround yourself with amazing people and level up with the people in your life.Christopher’s recommendationsIf you want free content, head to Spotify and subscribe to CAPitalize Your Finances. Chris publishes new interviews with celebrities from all walks of life every Monday. They talk about capitalizing on your finances if you pursue that career. He also gives up-to-date, top-of-the-line research.You can also buy Chris’s book on Amazon to learn more from him. If you want to follow Chris on social media, head to Instagram, LinkedIn, or