Erma Bombeck, in her book titled When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home, observes: "You can always tell when vacationers are going or coming. Travelers who are at the beginning of a trip laugh and tell jokes. Their clothes match ... Those returning are impatient. Every plane they board is like the last one out of Baghdad and they are going to be on it." Erma's scintillating wit reminds us that there is a right time for action in all walks of life.

Farmers know a right time exists for planting and harvesting, and they know what will happen if they disregard the opportune moment. Investors in stocks know that there is a right time and not a few of them are turning their eyes right now to the so-called Pacific Rim countries and their booming economic markets. Athletes a…