Being a trader or manager of other people’s assets is a hard job. It’s very stressful because there is a lot to lose. You have to find an escape, an oasis away from the job, otherwise you’re gonna burn out. More than 90% of the people I started with in this business are out. They’re not out because they weren’t good enough or because they didn’t want it. They are out because they were unable to see the bigger picture.
What am I talking about?
You know I can see your smug faces just looking at this post, thinking that you know it all. But guess what? You don’t know shit, so why don’t you shut the fuck up and listen to what I am about to tell you.
It’s not enough to go out and drink like an idiot or have sex with every girl/guy that you meet. Those are bad habits and they will literally kill you. When you’re not building your business or stressing out over stocks misbehaving, go read a book. Do not simply read the pages–become entranced by it.
I’ve always found the single best form of communication between the human species to be through cinema. Go see a movie. As a matter of fact, watch a lot of movies, all different genres. It’s not corny to become inspired by a fictional character on the screen. Sometimes a little fiction can go a long way, to break up the monotony of life–offer an escape from the hard realities of competition.
We are all competing against one another, on multiple levels. You are trying to outsmart me (good luck with that) by making the bigger gains, buying the bigger house, the better car, etc. While it’s true, those are all material items and success isn’t simply gauged by possessions. I’d literally rather be dirt poor and happy than rich and miserable. But you know what? I’m just not built like that. I could never, ever, ever be happy without money.
Some of you can fuck off and go live your pathetic little lives without money, eating out of garbage cans. But I can’t do that. I’d rather throw myself into a lit fireplace than go back to poverty–thank you very much.
If your job is such that you are unable to break out and make it big, then save, invest wisely, and do it on your own time.
We are here to help.
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This post came at the right time, let me tell YOU what.
Thanks for the pep talk Dr. Fly. I was sitting around feeling sorry for myself but I am now inspired. It would be interesting to hear more tales from your career.
Great post. What do you think of 1999 (album)?
A post of Fly’s favorite top 10 or 20 movies would be welcomed.
I have so many. I will do a post like that on a Friday or weekend.
Could you recommend some books to please?
I’m re-reading “The World According to Garp”…. well-written, not too heavy, very funny book.
“The intelligent investor” “the success equation” “fooled by randomness” “little book of common sense investing”
blue jasmine was a great recommendation…I also appreciated the reference to iron clad the other day..
best financial blogger, period. end of story.
+1 or 3
The Fly has returned to his roots with the F bombs mixed with some Tony Robbins. Love it.
“garbaged” cans, no?
Although I do not know you personally, Fly, I believe anyone, including you, can be happy without money.
True. That being said, the man may as well after what he wants. It’s desire that keeps us alive– whether desire for money or desire for enlightenment through advanced meditation techniques. Of course if one desire doesn’t work out, we can usually look within us, and/or look around us, to notice what’s available, and come up with some other desire(s).
Interesting point. I’m of the opinion that money is not the best gauge of wealth. Money can only buy you stuff and give you a sense of “security”. The stuff is just stuff, and the security is false.
I should add that I generally don’t give a damn how other people choose to live. If chasing money, sex, excitement, etc makes you happy, do that shit.
I suck at trading much like I suck at golf but I love both.
I find bike riding (miles of trails around here) a nice diversion and once a year (for the last 6 years) for several months I get away from looking at a computer and am employed on a special corporate project.
This year I supervised about 150 people and got the project done on time and without the the workers slashing my tires. As a bonus I rode my bike to the office as much as I could.
I also like to hunt bear and coyote.
Mountain biking or cycling caddy?
Cycling.
I have a road bike and a hybrid.
Do you ride?
I’m thinking about it, too much jogging is bad for the knees. Time to switch it up a bit.
Riding is better for the body IMO plus it’s more enjoyable.
One can enjoy the scenery more without the wear and tear on the body.
Jules and Tradercaddy… think you need to take this conversation over to match.com.
plus you can tear ass, covering way more ground then the feet
What would we do without you Fly?
If you guys haven’t yet read Fly’s “Important Matters” Post about the Series 7 Examination, I’d advise you to do that today.
Sir Fly, let’s say you were starting out today with that same 6k and wanted to buy one stock, as you did with AMER at the time. Could you pick one stock to do that with, or has the landscape changed too much?
You’re fucking back
You’re a grumpy bitch that really needs to get laid.
speaking of cycling, anyone thinking about loading up on shippers before the seasonal/annual run up?? BALT?
Love being told to shut my smug face the fuck up and listen to what the Man has to say. I feel like a pit bull tearing into a tire swing.
Ha ha ha ha, what you gonna do when they shit flys off and the dollar is worth less than Skittles?
People who know how to live poe will rule the Earf, staying nourished off the sod growing in upper-middle class neighborhoods, whist these “rich” jump from their ivory towers and hit the ground like big fat bags of lumpy lard.
Movies? Plenty of time to watch movies after the mass looting and sod covered lard banquets.
Ukraine …SAD! , going to play the movie (at home)…the fly…the original… at the end …in a web…HELP ME ! HELP ME !
“Then save, invest wisely, and do it on your own time. We are here to help”
You’re joking right? This site is incredibly entertaining and is good for enabling trader junkies, but it is certainly doing nothing to help people “invest wisely” based on the conventional definition of investing. You’re helping Uncle Sam and discount brokers, but no one is retiring comfortably off the advice here unless their day job offsets the costs of trading.
Movies, wish they’d make some. Jeez should I run out to see Godzilla or the one about the monkees. What choices!! Do you know in 1974 “Chinatown” didn’t win the Oscar for best picture? That’s because “The Godfather II” did. No special effects needed.
Allegedly, the Peoples Republic of Donetsk read your headline and were inspired indeud..
Think of your top ‘inspirational’ movies. I doubt any one of them had an awful lot to do about making money.
Overcoming adversity, sure, but not making money.
Your last paragraph fits most of us.
Awesome post.
My official job is a CSR for a large water company.
My real job is not a job but fucking up muthafuckin’ retards with simple chart analysis.
We are heading higher, but not right now. 😉
simple chart analysis…..predicting the future based solely on the past…..fucking retarded. no wonder people are all like “oh no Janet Yellen fucked me, my chart analysis history didn’t say nuttin ’bout no Yellen news.”
Stocks are heading higher, some right now. Helps to have a clue about the actual company and not some chart with superimposed lines.
I think JNK has a meaningful move today
(thought the trend finally changed recently)