Sneak Preview: Don't Sweat the Quarter

Editor's note: This is a special sneak preview of Jim Cramer's just-released book, Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer). Look for more sneak previews every day, and get your free copy with your annual subscription to Action Alerts PLUS; click here for details. Catch Cramer in person at his last book signing event: Saturday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. in Westbury, Long Island's Costco.

Missed the first sneak previews? Read the book intro and the rules of getting and staying rich: Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 4 and Rule 5. Know what pros do right and amateurs do wrong: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5. Learn the five mini-bull markets that will stampede for years, starting with aerospace and defense, agriculture, oil and oil service, minerals and mining and infrastructure.

2. Pros learn to start living and stop worrying about the quarterly report. Don't base buys on quarters -- avoid them. And don't buy during earnings season. That's too hard. "Jim," the queries always begin, "do you like Intel(INTC Quote) ahead of the quarter tomorrow?" To which I say now, because I am no longer a hedge fund manager, "I think I like Intel every day but the day before the quarter." The pressure nonprofessionals put themselves under trying to trade quarterly reports is unbelievable. They take these totally unfathomable moments to put the gun to their head and pull the trigger. ...