If the focus really is money then take a careful look at what you, as an individual really need. Not what you want, but what you need. There is usually a difference because most people want money and truly need what has little or no monetary value. This is usually due a misdirected subconscious desire to be sucessful via a "social status" tool like money. Others can see a nice car and a big house but most cannot see personal happiness. T
Money for most people involves ego and pride, two useless ideas IMO.
Money will not make you happy, it will not provide a fullfilling relationship nor will it allow the so called independence many people seem to focus on (I'll even say that in my personal life money has created more problems than it has solved - and no, I am not someone who has had money all my life, in fact I cam from a very poor immigrant background). What money may do is provide security for your family but that sometimes comes at a heavy emotional price.
Whatever value you place on the above ideas, they are simple psychological states of mind as fstrader has mentioned. They are based on a complete picture of personal success rather than a shallow picture that involves expensive cars and big homes (not that there's anything with material posessions, I enjoy nice things as much as anyone).
I guess what I'm saying in a round about way is that the original poster hit on something very important: you have to let go of the love of money. Money is simply a tool that some people are better skilled at using. Trading to me is about the money to a certain extent, I want to be a skilled player. Trading is the most direct way to measure your skills against others. BUT, I will say that there are much easier ways to make money where you do not have to be better than 95% percent of the players. I love the competition and the challenge and I am by no means as successful as I know I could be. Many have said this in the past: the money is just a score.
Mike
