The definition of success

"Success", like so many other concepts in our culture, is a very difficult concept to grasp mainly because it doesn't mean what it actually means when it's used in a sentence most of the time.

"It doesn't mean what it actually means?!?"?  Have you had your coffee yet this morning?  You might ask yourself that, and I understand (and, yes, I'm on my third cup right now so try to keep up).

Often times we use "success" in ways that it doesn't actually mean, just like we use it's antithesis, "failure".  We say "Oh, Jimbo is such a success", or "Billy never can get a break, he's such a failure."  The fact is it is not possible to "be a failure".    Failure is simply the outcome of an event when contrasted to the preferred outcome of that particular event.  It is not a person.  In fact, all of us are produced by an exceptionally successful swimming endeavor ;-)

So, if failure is just an outcome to an event, then the opposite, success, must also just be an outcome to an event. "Jimbo" isn't "a success" because he has a nice house.  He also isn't "a success" because he has a nice car, or nice clothes.  These "trappings of success" show that Jimbo is quite successful at making money (or, at least, he's good at spending it).  And, most likely, Jimbo is good at making money in one particular way.  If Jimbo is a brain surgeon, he could possibly be a dismal failure as a musician, or a fireman, or an architect.

In fact, since we all get one go around on this place called Earth, and we all only have so many minutes in the day, the fact is that Jimbo actually is "a failure" at all of these other paths.  Imagine that!  I mean, we're talking about Jimbo friggin' McAwesome here!  The guy's a LEGEND.  And I'm sure he is, but he's also "a failure" at many more things than he's successful at.  And you can tell him I said that the next time you see him too ;-)

So, here's the question.  What does "success" look like for you?  Maybe you're not making a million dollars a year, but you'd rather spend your time with your family than "burning the midnight oil" at the office all the time.  Or, perhaps you are particularly good with money and you chose to use that talent for charity work rather than becoming a banker.  You see, "success" is just hitting a goal, and failure is missing the same goal. 

Perhaps your goal is to attend every single one of your children's sporting events.  Succeeding at that goal means you don't work late sometimes and you might miss a goal there.  Perhaps your goal is to invent something great that changes the world for the better, well, you might have to make some sacrifices along the way.

If "success" is just hitting a goal, and "failure" is missing the same goal, then it's simple.  Let's just redefine he status quo and call that "success".  Everybody wants to be "a success" right?  Here, just hit any one of these goals today:

1. open your eyes
2. take at least three breaths before noon (yes, you can be asleep for this)
3. at some point, within earshot of a human being (including yourself), make a noise.

YAY!  Everybody's a success! ...Or, they're dead.

So, you're laughing right now (I hope).  Here's one rule to keep this club of "successful" people somewhat exclusive.  The goal has to be meaningful. 

Perhaps the goal is to make money like Jimbo McAwesome because you've got bills to pay. Go make more money.  Perhaps the goal is to bring beauty to the world through a work of art, a song, or an invention.  Go make something beautiful.  Perhaps the goal is to leave your mark on the world through raising good children, giving to the community, or by standing up for something you believe in.   Go make a bigger impact than you did yesterday.

Your goals are up to you, so "success" is up to you.  Not your friends, not your boss, not your judgmental Aunt Sally that you hide from at every family reunion.  You.  You are in control of your success.

Perhaps you've struggled over the years, and you've tried to hit your goals, but you never seem to hit them.   Try setting smaller goals that lead you in the direction you want to head.  Think of the smallest goal you can that leads you toward your end result, then get to work on that.  The Super Bowl winning team didn't just win the Super Bowl.  They succeeded at winning the playoffs, they succeeded at winning single games, and during each of those games they succeeded at single plays.  They also succeeded at practicing and planning off the field, but that's a whole other post ;-)

One final thought on setting goals.  They should never be a comparison.  You'll never "build the next Facebook" or "be like Jimbo".  There already is a Facebook.  There already is a Jimbo.  There is nothing like what you're about to do - yet.  You could "build an app that becomes a multi-billion dollar company" (and when you do remember me, ok?) or "cut up people's brain better" (or whatever it is that Jimbo does), but your goal is to improve or create something yourself, not to compare against someone else or their accomplishments. 

Competition is good for some things, but not for goals.  Comparative goals only breed resentment, jealousy, and judgment, either for the other person or for yourself.  Also, the fact of the matter is that "the grass is always greener on the other side", and even if you hit your goal and beat the other person, you still won't be happy since they have something else that you want, or someone else has something that you want now.  Goals should always be uniquely self-focused.

So, I've succeeded at posting another post to my blog.  Yay!  Thank you for succeeding at reading it :-)

What's in your blank?

I heard this phrase yesterday, and was inspired by its truth and applicability to many circumstances.  I thought about blogging about it, but like so many ideas it passed through my head and left to be replaced by something more pressing.

Then when I saw the picture today I realized I needed to blog about it :-)

This isn't intended to extoll the virtues of excess drinking and debauchery (although that could be a fun topic too I suppose),  so much as to make you think.  What else can't you "do all day unless you start in the morning"?

Using our powers of abstraction (another blog I've intended to write for a long time, but in the meantime you can simply google it), we can create a sort of "mad lib" from this saying.

"You can't ______ all day... If you don't start in the morning"

What is in your blank?

To play devil's advocate for a moment, perhaps it's quitting drinking, or another vice.  Perhaps it's starting a new habit, changing old ones, getting in shape, eating better, or, maybe, sharing your inane thoughts with the world.

Whatever it is you're trying to do, if it's a life altering change, it has to alter your life.  We can't do the hokey pokey and put one foot in and keep one foot out.  It can't be a choice that we make to change in one area when it benefits us, and not change in others when it doesn't.  It begins in the morning, ends in the evening, and permeates every waking moment in between.  

Do you want to lose weight?  Don't chow down on a dozen doughnuts in the morning and then starve yourself at lunch and dinner to "make up".  Start in the morning.

Do you want to be more productive at work?  Get a cup or two of coffee in, and then start in the morning.

Do you want to break bad habits, start new ones, or change your life in any way?  Find out what actions you take that lead to the desired result, and then start in the morning.  Every morning.  Without fail.

Now, some readers (all two of you!) might say "wow, that's pretty harsh.  Who the hell do you think you are Jerky?  You're not Mr. Friggin' Perfect!", and you'd be right.   Failure is an unfortunate reality that every single one of us will deal with many more times than we care to think about.  The point is to strive.  To work hard.  To give it your everything even, and especially, in the face of knowing that you will fail.  Then when you do, figure out why and how you failed, try hard not to do it again, and move on.  Here's a dirty little secret, life already did move on.  Keep up already! :-)

That being said, another unfortunate reality that we all must deal with is reality.  We are who we are.  We do what we do.  We don't do what we do not do.  If this is to change (preferably for the better), then by necessity we must face the things that scare us, challenge us, embarrass us, and yes, even cause us pain to even think about.  The reality is that our choices have gotten us where we are, good ones and bad ones, and at some point we need to stop taking our own advise if we want things to change.

And, for those of us who are not morning people, "morning" can be whenever you open your eyes, even if it's technically "afternoon" ;-)

Trading bot weeks 6,7,8 and 9

Ok, so I got bored posting "hey look, it won again...", and haven't posted in a couple weeks, but last night's showing was awesome :-D

The bot lodged two more wins, and then took a week off. Last night was a pretty intense battle for a Sunday/Monday session, but the Bot handled it like a champ scoring an additional 10% original equity bringing the overall percentage to 40% in just over 2 months. Check out the image below... it was pretty sweet :-)

Basically, bullish sentiment (in this case strong Euro and weak Pound) over the weekend caused a nice gap in price. This is like a sneak attack in the currency market. Since currency is traded 24/5, the only time that you can sneak up on a currency and spike it without most people noticing is over the weekend. Generally, the market will look for "even ground", and recurse trying to close the gap. This is often caused by the long traders (Euro bulls) taking profits ( and weakening their currency) and the short traders (Pound bulls) pumping more money into the market (strengthening their positions) simultaneously. You can see this in bar 2 above. Notice how the peak of the candle almost perfectly stops at the dashed white line? Many of the sneak traders from over the weekend and a few early adopters probably had their take profits set at 0.7885, and their positions closing coupled with Pound bulls trying to continue the overall short trend of the pair created bar 3. Once the European market opened, and normal weekly activity resumed, we got a very nice 30 pip spike (that closed out the second trade).

Long story short, not only am I bragging about the two wins last night, but I think this may require more research into gapping. There might be a great risk/reward ratio on high probability gap trades. It probably isn't going to get me rich by itself, but it might be an awesome addition to a portfolio.

Oh, and BTW, this bot kicks ass.

Trading Bot Week 5

The trading bot hits the big 2 0 this week.

Five weeks running ver. 1.2, five weeks winning. After a veeerrrry slow session last night, the bot banked another profit, now up 20.5+%.

Although no one's retiring (...yet ;-) ) off of this type of return, It's fun to keep it in perspective. A Google search for "best CD Rates" returns hits between 3.4% and 8%... PER YEAR. A quick peek at Morningstar's top performers shows their highest yield fund at 21.69% YTD, and the granddaddy of investment (and one of my favorite people), Warren Buffet's fund Berksire Hathaway has averaged just over 20% per year. Warren's been in the game for quite a bit longer, so I'll cut him some slack ;-)

Knock on wood, I'll be back for another good report next week. Until then, help me wish the trading bot a happy 20th percent day :-)

Quote - Lao Tzu

Those who have knowledge don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge. - Lao Tzu

Trading Bot Week #4

Another day another dollar for the trading bot :-) 4 weeks and 16.6+%. It almost missed a trade this week, but fortunately it barely met the parameters.

This week looks like a doji so far, but hopefully we'll see some movement by Friday :-)

I've been looking into finding a few brokers that offer level 2 quotes so I can gauge market depth. If there's enough liquidity to run a couple hundred lots on this strategy, things could get really interesting ;-) Otherwise, I'll have to just add it to the portfolio and tone down the aggressiveness after the capital builds up too high :-(

Trading Bot week 3

One more step towards ruling the world (imagine that...) :-D... 12.3% in 3 weeks :-D

On a slightly different note, apparently you can only sell stakes in a hedge fund to accredited investors, and I'm way more interested in helping the general populace have a chance at retirement or not getting foreclosed on than some bank or fund manager trying to up his commissions, so it looks like I need to find a new vehicle. Maybe I'll start a bank lol. NBS, National Bank of Sean ;-)