Saturday, April 4, 2015

Memoirs of A High Risk Trader



I'm sure at this point a lot of you know that I don't do things the normal way. Why stick to the norm if you can do something waayy more exciting and thought provoking?

Aside from all the fun and interesting applicants for batch 6, this Subasta has given me a lot of realizations and things to ponder on.

It's not about the money. 

Some people have paid me 0 PHP, some people made me various deals, and yes some paid near a quarter of a million + other deals. I could have made it into a fixed fee. But money isn't what I'm after. 
I find people with the right mindset and those I could be friends with, minus all the bullshit. 

I am an idealist and I always find the good in people. But I have come to understand that I have to keep things realistic as well. For not all people are true to their word, and some stay by you just because of what you can give them. This was made clear to me on one of my recent batches, where one student who I was so sure of, who I thought would make me proud someday, would betray not just me, but his peers as well.

Money is neutral. But your attitude towards it could be lethal. 

One of the reasons why I put out this Subasta for Slots, is to see how people would react. How those who don't know me react. How the public would price the program. 

There are those who have tons of money but are just interested, and so they bid low and ask way too many questions. There are those who have done good in faring the markets but are dissatisfied with their current performance. 

I don't feel pressure when I have clients or students who may be at the 10M-100M (or greater) range in their ports. Whether they learn or take my course seriously is none of my concern. It would make for a good story though. 

But what baffles me the most and and gets my pressure points on edge are those who would be willing to shell out half or more than half of their life savings and portfolio money to learn from a complete stranger. Someone from the internet who, could possibly be a notorious scammer.

I'm no Psych Expert but I do know passion and desperation when I see one.

One other reason why I did this Subasta is to have my previous students remember their promise with me. Have you guys started paying it forward? Some applicants have already begun. And their ports ain't even a quarter of what some of you have. Invicta is living proof that you don't need to be rich before you can help. Being rich is a mindset. Be creative. You can do it.

All of the students I've had were carefully picked, and screened. I make sure I like the people that I teach. And for some reason, I'm attracted to those who are desperate, those whose ports have past that -50% capital loss. Empathy? Perhaps. I'd like to be that turning point in their life, for I too, was in that same predicament before - to have lost 70% of my capital in ignorance and blind faith. The pain to lose that much money is close to unbearable. I cursed myself one time and thought of suicide. I thank God for keeping me sane through those times, for there was no one else I could share my pain and shame with.

I started investing way back 2006 and bought AP to be my first stock. Then I started active trading on the last quarter of 2010 during my college days. I never had someone to teach me. I never was able to read those stock market guru books. I'm too lazy for that. I don't even have a proper 'financial' or 'technical' education. 

I don't care if people would pass judgment on me. I understand that I'm not perfect. Putting up a fake front and feeding my ego won't do me any good nor will it make me any money. I've way passed the boundaries of giving a f*ck.

All I have is Experience as my mentor. And a God with abundant grace.

If an ordinary person like me was able to make it this far, I'm sure you can too.




21 comments:

  1. ZF, a question. Why were you being hateful as of late?

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    1. I won't really call it 'hateful' more like TTT : Trash Talk Trolling. :3

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  2. i don't have as much as other guys who are bidding but what i have now is everything that i will put on the line to learn. i don't care of what others say but i have taken much crap from other 'mentors' and 'gurus' that take much enjoyment in the suffering of others. if the money i pay as tuition goes to schools and hospitals then it is all the more a better investment than ever.

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  3. in addition to my application story, i'm just tired to see my family being "echapwera" and looked down on in some situations. Good thing my family has a positive attitude towards it and they just ignore it. But it burdens me to see that kind of event, that's why i'm doing everything in my effort to save up and provide for them in the future... they don't have an idea that's my main goal...even if i don't get in here i'll look for some other ways... and my lord will always provide..don't pity my story but take this as an encouragement or drive in life. in times of adversity, you grow more mature than other people.

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  4. Zf, we practically have the same beginnings. Lost 50% of capital last 2013 when i first started. Too bad i couldnt catch up to your ytd this year. Awesome as always. It really is possible with the right mindset and attitude. From the way you write, i think we would be great buds....only if you weren't fictional. Anyways, great read zee

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    1. huehuehue... I could do a "fiction meets the people." in the future :3

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  5. After being burned on the 2008 meltdown and liquidated all my holdings, it took me three (3) years to save and open an COL account to start investing again. But there is still that fear that I miss out on several opportunities on hindsight. I even hesitant on investing in blue chips, but little by little I was earning more than the interest in the bank.
    Then I went to a seminar which featured the a lively speaker which explained the virtues of investing in basura stocks, how a million earned at 35 is better earned at 85. Well that did it, i bought his recommended basuras, without the slightest idea on rules of trading is different from the rules of investing. Needless to say, all the basura positions lost me money, only my positions in blue chips saved me.
    I happen to came upon to the facebook page of faceless trader where I discovered the linked to you Zee.
    I am nearing the end of working years (before the merged company kicked me out), I am willing to try anything to be able to retire comfortably with my spouse, affording all the medical care we need. Based on those you mentored, I know I can do it with your help.

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  6. Hi sir, I can't afford to bid 100k for your mentoring program but I'm an avid reader of your blog and I try to utilize these free lessons as much as I can. How did you learn TA? If not by mentor or by books.. Maybe through internet? Or youtube? Just curious. Hoping to follow your footsteps. Hehe. :) God bless sir. :)

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    1. Yes. The internet is one good resource. Just remember that not everything you read can be helpful.

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  7. Yeah, I kind of realized how you started on this path on your own.

    That's why I decided to stop bidding right before phase 3. Aside from the fact that my maximum number has been hit so early in the game. I also realized that it will not be how much money I will pay to learn these things that will determine my success in trading the markets but rather in my willingness to put in the TIME and EFFORT to "see" what the chart is trying to tell me.

    If I can teach myself to do these things, then that would be a whole lot better than to just shell out money for someone to show me something that is right in front of me. Then maybe one day, I would be able to thank you for making it exorbitantly expensive so I will be forced to find the answers on my own.

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  8. You rock, bro! Stumbled upon your blog a few days back, and been reading your blog leisurely, enjoying it a few posts at a time. I'm such a cheapskate so I don't think I'll ever be your student. But I just want you to know that reading that you did it (taking serious money from the market consistently) made me so happy. It reinforced my belief that it can be done as you've done it and continue on doing so. And so shall I, one day..I hope to meet you one day over a few bottles of beer. #thedreamlivesonhaha

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    1. Btw, you made me watch ender's game. And now, I'm reading the book. When I bought a copy from national bookstore, I got surprised, ang dami pala nito! Haha

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    2. And I'm happy that you feel that way about my work.

      Ender's Game - great find huh? :D

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  9. May God bless you more, Sir ZF! I hope to be one of your students someday.

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  10. I've been eyeing this program since November but given my work schedule alam kong di ako makakacommit. And for mentoring to work, both should be very committed diba. Kaya di nako nagtry magapply, alam kong magiging waste of time lang ako nun hehehehe. So when batch 6 was announced the same week I turned in my 1 month notice naisip ko eto na chance ko. I've spent nearly a decade working for the same company, doing something I've become so good at kaya naging comfortable na. Kaya ang hirap iwan. Tapos dati wala ring guts magresign at lumabas sa comfort zone. It didn't matter kahit na nafeel ko na within my first few years there na I didn't belong. Ayan tuloy. Regrets. Pero... biglang AOTS na! :)) May new batch na at pwede na akong magapply at since auction sha sana enough resources ko. Haaay di ko talaga mapagsabay yung work ko at trading eh. Jusme di nga nagloload ticker at chart sa office. Ayoko naman magdala ng laptop baka maholdap pako at masaksak kasi nagcocommute lang ako.

    Bidding this much money might seem stupid and impractical because I'm unemployed, and what I have in my port is pretty much all I can afford to lose without going hungry until magkawork ulit ako. So bakit di nalang ako magselfstudy tutal ang dami ko namang free time ngayon. Pwede rin naman yon, ZF is proof that it can yield great results, but I know myself enough to realize that I learn best with a mentor. Mas gusto ko rin yung probability na di lang puro "how to" ang matututunan ko, kundi pati mga "what not to". Why let yourself make the same mistakes na nagawa na ng iba, kung may magtuturo naman sayo, hence the lower chance of you making that same mistake? If it comes with a price, so be it. Kung libre... teka wait gigising muna ako.

    And that's why I'm still bidding. Learning how to trade ang valuable para sakin ngayon eh. Kasi for me this is not just about improving my trading performance. This is also me giving myself a chance to find out kung san ako nababagay. Kaya para sakin what's stupid is not giving this a try. Kaya din i'll try again sa next batch if I don't make batch 6 (mahihit na bid limit ko). What makes me so sure na this is worth it? Wala. And I won't know unless I give it chance diba? Kung worth it sha, edi yey! If not, edi too bad. Regardless, I'm fine with risking a part of my savings to find out. I'd rather spend the money than spend time kaka"what if" sa utak ko. Kayang kaya naman ulit kitain ang pera.

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  11. of all the posts i've read in this blog.. this is the most interesting for me.. Pay it forward.

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  12. thank you for this ZF. I've this already read this before and it still never fails to push me forward and do the work and learn TA. The second time I read your blogs, I'm slowly seeing the light of day, :) slowly making bawi of all the losses I incurred from the previous months in trying to learn how to trade. Thank you again! May God continue to bless you sir.

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  13. 2018, still the best trading lessons

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  14. Great post! This post really got to me & makes me want to share my story as well.

    I was in sales (Automotive) from 2011-2020. Not to brag, but I was one of the greatest in the industry. In 2013, I was in the Top 10 performers in sales nationwide, 2014 I was no. 3 and 2015 I became no. 1. Got promoted to manage my own team as well.

    I can tell you this much, everybody knows me, everybody wants to be friends with me and everybody wants to be me. I hand picked a few people to take under my wing. Most became successful and is now currently managing their own team in sales.

    When my ship has sunk (2020), I suddenly have only 2-3 friends left. Those who I prioritized during my reign suddenly doesn't seem to know me anymore. I can't disclose to you why my ship has sunk but I can tell you, it has nothing to do with my performance. So now, even though I don't have a lot anymore, I can say I am choosing who I connect myself with wisely.

    So, I just recently signed up to an online workshop (Starts on October) regarding trading and found your blog. I know you know them and I hope I do good in trading because I am really desperate and hungry to take back what is used to be and rightfully mine.

    I hope to meet or even just to talk to you someday ZF! I really love your blogs!

    -A

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