Personal Notes Series 004 : Life of A High Risk Trader

There are days when i wake up in the morning late, like 9AM 

and feel the want to work and dress up like a proper gentlemen 

with a suit and tie, but then i go "what the hell" 

...then end up just wearing the tie.

#buhaytrader

#nakedtrading

Trading is a craft that pays a lot when mastered.

And Full time traders are a mystery to many. Aside from being a

 fraction of a fraction in the general populace, civilians don't see

 them much, and when traders do show up in public, some 

don't talk much about their trading lives. Maybe some people do. 

I don't know.

So what's it like being a full time trader?

I am but one sample. So don't take my word for 

what you are about to read. 

Here are my top pros and cons of going full time in this industry.

(Pros) # 1 

You own your time.

No schedules. No deadlines.

Imagine all the trips! The leaves you can take. And you 

get to decide when to take a break from that break!

Bliss. You get to do what you want, when you want. 

And that is the kind of freedom almost everybody wants. 

(Pros) # 2 

You can work anywhere as long as you have 

internet and your workstation (or smartphone).

Work on the go? No problem! 

PD : I've traded on a public jeep, bus, van, ship, even on a 

plane! (until it took off and cut my internet signal)

#QUEHORROR

And just imagine having a peaceful, non toxic, no traffic to work

 environment. You could even swim and trade at the same time,

 just buy a waterproof smartphone so you can stupidly show off 

how flexible you can be while getting the job done. 

(Pros) # 3 

You set the pace

No constant external and annoying force telling you to finish 

something before the deadline - then adds more load to the pile. 

Of course there's that pressure from within, telling you to earn, 

and to trade. But that's a whole lot better than a naggy, 

bossy boss right?

It even gets awesome when you hit your personal profit 

quota that's good for months or even a year.

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Now for my top Cons of being a full time trader.

(Cons) # 1. 

Too much time on your hands.

Yes you've got the freedom to do whatever you want at any time. 
How is it bad you ask? Well, you get used to it and it gets boring
 after a while. At some point you'll be surprised when one day you
 find out that you actually HATE holidays and moments when the 

markets are closed for some reason.

It's like a love and hate relationship. Like when you were in 

 school and you can't wait for the sem-break. And when that break

 finally arrives, you go... "now what?" and suddenly miss school.

Your friends and family would think you've gone crazy for loving
 Mondays and hating Fridays. But that's just how it is with you. 
It's your passion. You just can't wait to trade.

(Cons) # 2. 

The Temptation of Creative Procrastination.

I've already mentioned in my previous posts how lazy I am. 
That instead of investing or doing something worthwhile, I tend to
 procrastinate. Of course, studying charts, patterns, and back testing
 are all part of my daily routine. But What else are you going to do
 with all that time that's not market related?

Being lazy in this industry can be devastating to 
one's health and lifestyle.

There were times in my trading life when I'd just sleep after 

trading hours. Maybe play one PC game I like. Browse Facebook. 

Unproductively surf the net. Watch a whole set of TV series. 

Then repeat the whole cycle next day.

And as for exercise? 

There was a season In my trading life when the time and effort I 
spent walking from my trading room to the kitchen, to the dining
 area to have my meal, then back to my room was 
my "form" of exercise. 

I wasn't just good at procrastinating. 
I took it to a whole new level.
I was a master of it. 

WAS!

Alright Alright. Sometimes it still is.

And you'll have so much wealth in your port, 

it will spill over to your body as well! 

I tried to gamify my life and at one point, i finally reached

 the "Bio-Armor" achievement - by not taking a bath for 5 days. 

Uhgr. I might say more things I'd regret... The point is, you have to

 pull yourself together and make an effort to develop 
good habits, proper time management and discipline. 

(Cons) # 3. 

Abnormal or Dead social life.

After a while, it gets lonely.

This is my main frustration as a trader. I feel like nobody 

understands me. The experience of gaining and losing in the

 market is just too hard to comprehend for the average person 

who has little to no idea on how the markets work. 

I've got no boss, so I can hardly relate anymore to civilian boss 

related rants and jokes. And if ever I pull one out, they'd just brush

 it off since they've heard it like a thousand times already. 

When I try to reach and hang out with my non-stocks buddies, It's

 different. I've got time. They don't. And this becomes a big issue. 

The trips I want to take, the length, and how I take it has become
so different, you'd instantly become the odd one out. 

I guess it's kind of better because It doesn't kill off your

 relationships the fast way like some networking "businesses" do.

#FRIENDSHIPOVER

Most people think that we create money out of thin air just by

 sitting and clicking some buttons. And that's that. No wonder most 

think it's a Scam. It's sounds too good to be true. A dream. 

--------------------------------------------

Fitting in society would be one heck of a challenge. I have learned 

not to demand from my civilian friends. Because sometimes when I

do, I get that

"Oh I'm sorry we're not like you!" card.

I believe trading the markets is one of the most strenuous things a person can do. Not only will you have to work hard burning the late night candle, but you will also have to sacrifice a lot - even some relationships. It is definitely not for the weak. But to those are brave enough to accept the consequences and challenges of taking this path. The rewards are truly fulfilling - that is, if you survive. 

How about you? What are your Pros and Cons?