To new traders

Question: in this quest for fulfillment, could you not simply change your attitude/perspective towards money, business, and women and *not* pursue trading?

Or is trading a necessary part of the endeavour?



Quote from xtrhvydty:

Somehow, many traders equate wealth with happiness. I am someone who already had wealth, a thriving personal consulting business, lotsa hot chicks, but no happiness.

I quit the business and dumped the chicks.

Learning about myself and digging deep for courage and honesty has brought me happiness. Giving up my greed and giving back to life has given me happiness.

Learning to trade fulltime for the last 8 months has been a thrill. Trading is chess, science, artform, social psychology, financial archaeology, personal growth, and fishing blended into the ultimate mindsport.

It is the ultimate profession.

If you read 100 books and study every chart ever and make thousands of trades in your first year, you know what that makes you? That's right, a novice.

Nothing really meaningful in life comes quick and easy. Hang on to grow and master yourself and your profession.

I decided a while ago to do just this, trading small beans (1-10 shares), and trading in my stock market wizard fantasies.

I am up $20 for the year. But I'm not in it for the money.

Yet.

; )

X
 
can your borrow me $10000 so that i can start day trading at a prop firm and i can show or teach you profitable day trading:D
 
xtrhvydty,

one of the best post i have read on ET so far.
what you describe stand so perfectly clear to me.

going from making much money as a broker for many years, throwing wild parties with lots of chicks all the time, to now; trading from home, making less money, now i am much more happy, this is what i really want to do, the challenges fullfill me.

respect
syrre
 
Thankyou xtrhvydty for a good post!

To really appreciate it, I think you must have had a similar experience. Going from a well paid job that friends and society saw as very successful, but where you yourself saw that something was missing. Then finding trading and after, in my case three years of struggeling, finding out that it brought a life style as well as cultivates/necessitates a very positive personal development, where money is second but will be a result of doing what you enjoy - i.e. to evolve and aquire the skills as a trader.

That's my story as well. I'm happy that I made the choice to become a trader, even if it means I no longer have any direct use of my previous education (m.sc.). It has forced me lead a better and more balanced life. The money is enough and I'm still evolving, so possibly also a richer life...

So far only Michael B and syrre seem to have understood what you meant, maybe because we all share your experience and have been there? Anyways, thanks for the post and happy trading!
 
Quote from Dustin:

If money isn't important to you then you will have a tough time ever making it. If you need trading to give you happiness then you are trading for the wrong reasons. Don't fall for the trading phsycology crap. This business is about hitting singles all day long grinding out your edge. You gotta want the $...and you gotta have an edge.

Hold On! Not everybody is this one-dimensional. There are plenty of successful traders whose primary focus is not the money. And come to think about it, I couldn't disagree more with your entire premise. Just look around, the act of "wanting" is such a pathetic emotion. Wanting is what wanting will get you. In reality, it DOES boil down to psychology. Success is a state of mind before it can ever become a reality.
 
Quote from fstrader:

Hold On! Not everybody is this one-dimensional. There are plenty of successful traders whose primary focus is not the money. And come to think about it, I couldn't disagree more with your entire premise. Just look around, the act of "wanting" is such a pathetic emotion. Wanting is what wanting will get you. In reality, it DOES boil down to psychology. Success is a state of mind before it can ever become a reality.

There comes a level of trading for a lucky few when money stops being the primary focus and becomes a way to keep score. These are $1M+ traders which most of us will never be. Imo someone who needs trading income to pay the bills has a much better chance of success than someone who is independently wealthy and just wants to try trading as a hobby or sport.
 
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