Monday, August 22, 2016

Personal Notes Series 010: The 6 Digits Trader



For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?


Everybody has a dream. But dreams are not without cost.


It was the last quarter of 2010, I remember having the typical Filipino dream of going abroad to work, travel and see the world and then retire at a ripe age and come back to build a nice house somewhere near a beach. I also remember that I haven't really figured out what I wanted to do. It would have been nice to be able to do what you want, have fun and get paid for it. DOTA 2 and eGames wasn't that much of a thing that time.




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After some time observing the markets I understood that making +5% to as much as +50% in a day was very possible. But of course I had to be realistic so +10% every month for a year would do. I then began to imagine the possibilities. For sure I'm not the only crazy bastard right?

I was aware that losses can happen as well, but who cared about losses really? When you look for a job or start a business, do you look at the cost or risks first? No. You look at the potential profits. Kaya nga nag hanap ng trabaho or patayo ng business para kumita diba? I was young and foolish.

One reason why people consider going full time in trading is when they experience gaining profits equal or greater than their salaries with lesser time than they would with their jobs. 

My salary or allowance during my practicum abroad (before graduating college) was around 18-21k php. It was a good amount since I was excellent at saving, but it was barely enough for anything extra I wanted to do or have.

...


And then that day came.



In just two days, I was able to gain 3 months worth of my salary. I felt I could conquer the world. It was at that moment when I decided to go full time after I finish my contract and graduate from college. 

I finally found what I wanted to do.

I decided to go full time into trading with a 6-digit port. I didn't know it was a suicide mission. And by full time trading, I mean not getting a job or business and just dedicating my time and energy to the markets as my sole source of income.


You see, there are many traders out there who would say that paper losses are okay; that it is okay to "sit it out" because eventually it will recover. But you see, pain demands to be felt. It demands your immediate attention. If you let a wound go untreated, it gets worse and could eventually turn lethal.





This is the difference between full time traders and those who are just wannabees. A wannabee can commit a mistake or a loss and stick to that loss. They can be wrong as long as they want, until they eventually become right and say "I told you so." They can afford to feed their egos because they have a backup plan - it could be a job or business or maybe they just have a lot of money - a fallout shelter when everything falls apart. 

A full time 6-digits trader however, doesn't have this luxury. Pride and ego won't put food in his table. Every trade will mean life or death to him. There is no backup plan. If he wishes to survive in the face of a grave mistake, he accepts the loss and cuts to trade another day.


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There's this story I've read somewhere. It was about this King going into war with another from a faraway kingdom. He sent his whole army across the continent with their best ships. When the armada reached shore and finished making camp, the lord commander of the king's army immediately ordered the burning of their ships.



As the fire started to consume the shoreline and lit up the dark night, the lord commander announced to the king's army "We have burnt our finest ships. The only way we are going back home is to win this war!"

This was the kind of situation I found myself in. My ship was burning. There was no turning back. The kingdom was the prize. Home was the dream.

It wasn't easy. There were seasons of battles where I lost. I questioned my will and sanity many times. 

"Have I made the right choice?"  




I ventured into this world with my family's blessing. I had to bring them honor. I had to show them I was a warrior. That I could take care of myself amidst all the uncertainties that the market brings. And I failed. Many times. But every single time I fell down to my knees and started to lose hope, I found myself in the presence of the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 

"Do you believe?" 

"I still do. You didn't send me here to fight for a dream and die."

"Get up!" He said. "I will fight for you and bring you to your destiny!" 


The rest was history.

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To the the full time 6-Digit traders out there who have burnt their ships and are fighting for their first seven and their dreams, you have my mad respect! You aren't alone in this war - seek out the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Believe. Receive.


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Let me end with this story... 

In the beginning God created the heavens - the moon, the sun and the stars. He created the earth and everything that lives in it - the huge beasts and the little creepy shits that crawl. And God saw to it that it was good. 

Then God created Man. And in each and every one of them, in the deepest depths of their hearts, He placed dreams.



A soldier with the initials Z.F. found his dream. Now this soldier asks those who read,


"What are your dreams?"






42 comments:

  1. What made you write this at 3AM in the morning? Pure Curiosity.

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    1. I remember starting at 10PM. I was inspired so I had to put together my thoughts and write them before I succumb to my usual laziness...

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    2. Mike Hilado (BIGWIN)August 23, 2016 at 4:58 PM

      Well done ZF! I'm inspired to be better and achieve my dreams. More power to you!

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  2. you inspired me more zee,God Bless!

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  3. I badly need this. Thank you Sir.

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  4. Thank you for this inspiration. We had exactly the same thoughts. I aim to be a full time trader and the only way to achieve that path is to burn the "ships" that lead me to this shore. A cornered beast, wounded and begging for his life becomes aggressive and strong at fighting back.

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  5. Thank you for this boss.
    I'm one of those dreamers. And I will achieve it for sure.

    I too am curious why you wrote this on an ungodly hour.

    Thanks boss.

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  6. sapul ako sa blogpost mo na to boss.I am a six-digit full time trader but not that profitable pa.I just took a leap of faith.I left my job na to pursue full time trading (not recommended sa mga readers).I have been wounded for a long time since I started to go full time but I am not giving up and by God's mercy and guidance I have found my way to "Project Seed".I now have a fighting chance but it is still depends upon me if I am willing to go for the extra mile.I have read that story before if I am not mistaken dun sa book ni Napoleon Hill na "Think and Grow Rich" and to motivate myself I keep saying "I have burned all the bridges behind me, there is no turning back it's either live or perish".God Bless you Boss.

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  7. You the man Sir. May your tribe increase. God bless you more.

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  8. Thanks sir ZeeFreaks God bless your tradea more. I was blessed ending up you blog praising and honoring God with your Success..that's the true success. :)

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  9. This swept me off my feet. Everything is so timely. I am super thankful like super talaga that you found me. My trading life will be so much of a doom without you and my mentor. No amount of THANK YOU is ever enough. Stay cool and healthy boss Zee. -Paftee

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  10. whew.. parang inihahanda ang lupon ng mga mandirigmang sasabak sa gera.. nice motivation boss! you've been always an inspiration.-NeoGambit

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  11. Very nice read! Thanks Zee for such an inspiring post. I think it was God's plan to meet and know you. Very humble yet incredible person. Stay what you are and may God bless you more. :) EA

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  12. Ty for this sir zee. Very inspiring. :) Just a question though... If you were in college back in 2011. How old are you right now if you don't mind me asking?

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    1. I can't disclose my age. Yet. In time.

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    2. Based on your posts. You're around 25-27

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  13. Love the song!
    -KM

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  14. Good read! Nice and let us all be armed and be victorious in the end!

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  15. All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. by T. E. Lawrence

    Boss Zee and the rest of our mentors, maraming salamat at tinanggap nyo kami.The battle ahead will be uphill, but I will never give up on my dreams. -Apollo Immortals

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  16. You inspired me to cut my losses... without fear... to survive... and to reach for my ultimate dream! More power to you sir Zee!

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  17. WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! this read made my blood boil!!! thanks sir ZF! your blog always remind me to chase and execute my dream! thank you so much! may God Bless you always!

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  18. Another one of the signature posts that keep the fire burning in every trader's heart.

    Kudos to you and your blog, boss Zee! I'm currently one of the wannabees that work at night, trade during the day and find sleep anywhere in between. But someday, I'll burn those bridges and fight the same battle that you and your comrades do.

    I may not carry your banner right now, but your teachings will forever remain.
    - Key

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  19. I always wanted to build schools and a village, actually a Gawad Kalinga village. It spurred after Yolanda where houses have been destroyed during the ryphoon. I wanted to earn as much as I can to help more people. I dreamed of giving back 90 percent of my earnings to the church and to the community. And yet living comfortably with the remaining 10 percent.

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  20. seriously? 90%? that's not even practical...

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  21. Inspired!
    I wanted to be one of the best military strategist in the world.
    From the pearl of the orient sea.

    Please don't delete this comment.
    I'll be back soon.
    -10011X

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  22. Thanks for the inspiration! -Trend Lion (Aspiring ZFT)

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  23. You got me at "little creepy shits that crawl". xD

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  24. Sir, I am currently in the shoes you were in before and I want to thank you for such an encouraging blog about it. Most of my trades have not been advantageous and i'm currently at a limbo, having second thoughts of whether I've made the right decision to pursue a full-time trading career.

    Once again, thank you for the encouragement sir. I know i can reach my first 7 digits within this year.

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  25. I've made my decision to take the risk and become a trader. I've reset my port and marked this day as my starting point. To be honest, sometimes I skip your personal notes. But somehow, it is as if someone led me to read this one. Hope someday I will be able to achieve my dreams too. Thank you for all the lessons you've shared.

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  26. very inspiring! thank you sir Zee, i'm currently reading your blogs..

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  27. Boss Zee laro tayo minsan dota 2 :) 482422996

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  28. Inspiring. Made me cry because of hope. I will fight for my dream. :)

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  29. offcially bear market na ngayon. kamusta naman yung nag burn bridges na 6 digit traders since nag start ng post neto? i hope they won. kasi ako starting out palang.

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  30. Sir Zee yung BHI po ba sa first bagger mo 1 day hold? I mean nung July 18, 2011 nyo din binili? Sorry po newbie question tinignan ko kasi yung chart :D

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  31. Super inspiring! Lalo na after ng big reveal kahapon -lalong nakakainspire boss!
    As soon my bridges and ships will be burned and there is no turning back.
    Only option is to WIN!

    Still remember what you said in Rift SG.. kung kinaya ko, kaya nio din =)

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  32. How about a 5 digit port to a 7 digit port?
    -the tiny frog

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  33. thought I was the only one with a 5 digit port...road to 6 digits and beyond :)...thank you sir zee for inspiring us..

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