Reflections

Many of you know that I strongly believe
that trading and life offer similar parallels, and that trading will magnify
every strength and weakness one has as an individual. It’s been my personal
experience that the core attribute common in pursuit of both trading and life
goals is that of perseverance and survival. At this end, amidst the long-term
success in the trading business, I’ve dealt with and have publicly shared
painful learning curves, trading blunders, setbacks and slumps. And as a growing
public trading figure over the past few years, much of which accelerated when I
accepted Larry Connors’ request to join the TM team over a year ago, I’ve even
had to deal with the occasional pundit questioning records and motives amidst
all of the wonderful friendships and positive support received.

And on the far more important life side, some of you know my family was just
handed another challenge just a few short days ago when out of the blue my
spouse found herself battling for her life with a badly ruptured appendix which
required immediate and life-saving emergency surgery.

So why am I referencing the “darker sides” in drawing such parallels?  Because I
believe those who are ultimately successful at both trading and life are pure
survivors.  As Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill us, makes us
stronger.”  For it is through these “lesser” experiences — and not the
successes — that those who choose to ultimately survive these games of trading
and life are not weakened or destroyed, but are made stronger. At the risk of
preaching (OK, I’m already way out there but bear with me), I suggest you
embrace your setbacks and critics, for they will serve
you better than you (or they) will ever know.

At my end, I go into the weekend knowing today is Monday, July 8, 2002, my
spouse is alive and recovering, and after a period of reflection and respite I
will enter next week a stronger man and hopefully a stronger trader.