Is Trading a profession or a hobby?

[Jamie J.]

Trader is a profession.
Most of us are Speculators, Bettors or Gamblers.
But not trader. You can take gambling seriously,
Or just as a hobby, same for the last two.
I myself put my skin & soul in the game.
It's not a hobby. It's a priority.

Cannot such hobby be considered as a priority?

 

[K-Pia]

Cannot such hobby be considered as a priority?

Maybe.
But without savings,
A hobby is doomed to die.
Some may save for a hobby,
But with priority comes transitivity.
If you cannot live from a hobby,
Then it's not the first priority.
Since you got to nurture it.

 

[ironchef]

OP, actually there is an in between even though I am essentially full time now: I trade (mostly equity options now) because it is intellectually very challenging. The statistical analysis and probability theories, the different combinations/permutations challenged my intellect to no end, better than any engineering/biological/science problems. For someone not in finance, I now appreciate why they said economics is the "dismal science".

I also find ET very stimulating and helpful.

 

[i am nobody]

Do you find the trading as an opportunity to develop or improve skills? In what way?

Not an opportunity, it was a necessity to improve my trading to survive.