One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my life was from my Dad.
What is truly amazing about him and the lesson is that he never talked about it per se, he simply lived it and set the example.
Now when I was young, I was a bit shy and introverted.
We moved around the country a bit as Dad was climbing the corporate ladder, and even though I was forced to open up each time we moved, I stayed somewhat reserved.
My Dad however, was totally the opposite.
No matter where he went, he wound up making friends and getting involved.
It drove me nuts.
Heck, even taking the car into the shop to have it worked on, he’d come home having made 3 or 4 life-long friends.
The other part of the lesson my Dad was teaching me was his eager and active pursuit of having fun.
He travelled for his work, so we mostly only saw him on weekends, but when he was home, we were always off to have fun.
Sometimes it was hunting, others it was going water-skiing or taking trips.
He loved social gatherings large and small.
He was a member of the Optimist Club and volunteered his time with the Special Olympics.
And just in case there happened to be a decent golf course on the way to another town when he was working, he kept his golf clubs in the trunk of his car.
So what does any of this have to do with you and / or trading?
My Dad worked hard, but made sure he lived life.
The harder he was working the more emphasis he put on taking time out to enjoy.
Most of all, he genuinely took interest in, loved and cared about people. Everyone.
He was good at what he did in his job, but he always kept sight of the fact that work was about living, and for him, living life was about sharing it with others.
Trading can be a very solitary occupation and it is so easy to get consumed by it.
It is so easy to let trading take your time away from the people that matter that life can get way out of balance, and priorities shifted to an unhealthy and counterproductive point.
Make sure to keep an eye on your time, making sure that trading fits your life, and don’t try to fit your life around trading.
Take time for yourself, for fun and for the people in your life.
Life is short, so live it well and enjoy the journey.
Cheers
Brian
P.S. Because getting to the point of consistent profitability as quickly as possible is so crucial – and for traders, reaching that point requires professional development, this week I’m putting together something special to accelerate the process. Keep an eye out for the announcement!