Racing into 2024

I’m trading defensively to cap off the year, relegating myself to about +60% for the year. I am sure you think that I think it is a great achievement and that I am boasting. But it isn’t true. Although I know +60% is technically a good year and better than most, I feel mediocre and have felt subpar since 2021. I really could have done a lot better, made less mistakes — capture more rallies.

I think it’s fair to say that I made 60% whilst missing out on 80% of the big rallies this year. My gains were milled out — mined with my own hands — subjugated to inclemate weather and poor working conditions. Back in 2020 and 2021 my fastball was unhittable, curve ball broke the legs of people trying to hit it.

Nowadays I am relegated to pedestrian levels of greatness — not superhuman. Do you understand?

As the calendar continues, I am cognizant of the fact that this is a younger man’s game. To be a good trader is to be sharp and to be sharp is to be young, completely aware of your surroundings. I know for sure that I was a better risk applier when I was 25, but also woefully inadequate in managing risk. It is a fair assessment to say that I have never been better, although I’d like very much to enjoy the level of greatness achieved back in 2020-2021.

After all, the NASDAQ was up more than 50% this year. I know ordinary stocks didn’t do much — but with a market up that much — a great trader should be up triple digits this year.

I blame myself, entirely, always on the defensive, schizo, afraid of the fires to come. I had many distractions and it wasn’t a typical year, with geopolitical events truly making things hard to decipher. But I will continue to head out there in FULL BATTLE GARMENTS, sticking swords into people, dropping hot tar and lighting them aflame. For 2024, I intent to introduce a battering ram for my enemies, break into their castles and pillage it.

For the session, I’m +33bps, really just getting into trading for the day right now.