What's that big suckin' sound?

I have to explore different investment ideas, as the stock market has sucked big time. My retirement funds have gone nowhere in the past ten years, so I have to take actual control of things. To hell with the old adages, "Invest for long-term with dollar-cost averaging" and "Buy and hold". That just hasn't worked, at least not for me. I will directly manage its growth and possibly invest it into my own business. I'm on the fence about the business, or maybe too apprehensive to jump into the fire today. It certainly doesn't look like a good time to go into business for yourself, but then maybe it is the best time.