I'd like to throw some ideas out and see if others have struggled with the same issues.
Like all of us, I have some deep set beliefs that have been ingrained in my psyche since I was just a pup.
Basically I believe that one has to 'earn' their success in life. I believe that hard work, dedication, discipline, personal responsibility will all get rewarded in one way or another over the long term. I also believe that you need to provide something of value in order to receive monetary rewards. I agree with the phrase "You can achieve everything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want".
And there's the rub -- this is where I struggle with my trading beliefs.
In the back of my mind, a little voice keeps nagging at me saying things like: "What does trading actually provide? All you're doing is transferring money from one traders account to another (hopefully in to yours!) But what have you actually accomplished? What value or service do you provide as a trader?"
Since I can't come up with any real perceived 'value' in trading, I think that the little voice keeps trying to hold me back. I've been following the markets since the '87 crash, been trading futures since 1991, but have never been able to achieve the levels that I'd like.
Yes, I know that trading provides liquidity, exchanges risk from commercial hedgers to speculators, etc., etc., but I don't believe that's enough. (hey, maybe that's my problem?)
What real value do we provide? It's a zero sum game for futures, so when you 'win' at trading, someone else 'lost' -- you've taken their money. But what have you provided in exchange? Maybe you just gave them "exactly what they wanted from the markets", to quote Ed Seykota.
I think that some of these same issues are possibly why a Don Bright will post some of his stuff on this board, and why a Linda Bradford Raschke posts charts on the web for free -- they feel that they're 'providing value' and in return they will be rewarded... oh, boy, this last line will probably provoke some replies -- sorry Don! ;-)
Has anyone else battled these same demons? If so, how have you resolved them? Or am I just nuts? (be gentle now....)
Please keep this thread positive -- I'm honestly believe that many others are out there struggling with these same issues, and we'll all benefit from the discussion.
Thanks in advance...