Stresses are good to have. Diamonds are made in heat. Anyway, Chicks, GF's, Wives, and people you meet in the street generally dig stability. Having a stable job helps, just like having a degree/certification etc. OK Back to the market.
Don't give it up. Take a break. I'll give you a brief summary of my trading career. Started in 1999 and WOW!, what a time to jump in. I made money hand over fist. Quit my job in Jan. of 2000 to trade full time and that decision seemed like pure genius....for a couple of months. From August of 1999 to March of 2000 I had made nearly 200K in profits. Then the market started its decline. My "system" had no play for that, but I kept trading anyway. By the end of 2000 I had given back nearly 60% and was looking for a job again. What I learned is 6 good months don't make a trading guru and it's easy to think you're real smart when all you are is on a lucky streak. I've been in and out of the market(s) ever since because, damn it all, I love this game. Take a breather and some time to study, research the market and your own head. Learn from the experience and come back when your ready. Until then, let the rest of us take our lumps and our rewards as the wicked mistress gives them up. We'll be waiting.
2cents, don't forget collecting bottles & cans or dumpster diving, lol. BooHoo my boss looked at me the wrong way.. totally cancels out the positive aspects such as a steady paycheck & benefits, uh huh. Not to mention decent working conditions, no wonder the USA is still the promised land. For those who have a dream of financial independence - well, who doesn't?? That's why I *pay myself first*, with 1/2 going to savings, the rest to trades, while maintaining a good job. Some may see me *selling out*, compromising or being a drone. Nope. I can achieve more, have peace of mind the bills are paid, with enough time & money left to pursue other goals. Moreover, my path to freedom mainly is a sense of inner well being, superseding the illusion of the ashpalt jungle. It's not all about money folks. It's nice, but you can't take it with you.
Adobian, glad you can appreciate the point. I wanted to take a moment too, for clarification - don't want to seem overly harsh on those who've had negative corporate experiences, in particular if it was a truly unjust one. However, I've known a few corporate haters who contributed as much as management did to the dire situation. There are usually two sides to every story.. Do I enjoy being in the *rat race*? No, but I try to keep things balanced with a right frame of mind. There are days I'm tempted to walk, it's then I'll look at the lessor of two *evils* - financially tapped out, or staying on the job. Adobian you are correct, stability has value, intrinsic as well as money wise. The proper degree or certification is also something that lends to success, including happiness when applicable to what you enjoy doing. To those who are not, do whatever it takes to get there. Work to feed your body, just don't neglect feeding your soul. Best regards to all.
Yikes. If you can find inner well being in corporate life, then so be it. I have found it to be the most soul crushing, life altering, depressing place on earth. There is a reason why so many people want to be their own boss, own a business or do something on their own. Sure, some of the people at the top probably love corporate life with their monster salaries and options but for the vast majority, it is a money making machine without respect to human dignity or humanness at all. This was my life in a nutshell. So accurate it gave me chills when I read it. https://www.maar.us/TEAM/Cassie/cassie_articles_page_one.html
Agreed, I used to, used to that is, make 6 figures in outside sales at a large corp. telecom company. The last year I was just burned out and barely made 60k. I just couldn't kiss anymore corp ass. The worthless sales meetings and BS. This last year in trading I made nothing, yeah that's right nothing, but IMO most importantly I didn't blow up my day trading account. Point being, I look forward to everyday at the screen, I know the money with come, I just need to keep paying my dues and put in my screen time. I actually regret holidays sometimes as it means I can't trade. Even bad days when I lose some money I am still motivated to get up the next morning and log in and punch in trades. I have logged thousands of hours reading posts on ET and learned many good things. Focus on perfect execution and the money will come ( I have a good plan and set ups ). Good trading to all. Dan
Corporates are now structured like MLM companies where they deliberately structure the payout structure so that you have a few people who make a very large amount of money and prove to the others that it can be done. It is deliberately structured that way. You only need one Porsche per X hundred square miles to get hundreds of others to work for virtually nothing. One person is getting paid and everyone else is subsidising the MLM company's distribution and working for a dream (read: not for real money).
You misconstrued my post.. I have absolute empathy for those unhappy in the corporate life. That's why I used the term *rat race* & noted there are days I feel like walking out. Inner well being is the achievement of balance & seeing the entire picture; I remain at my job to ensure stability for now ---- & as a stepping stone toward future goals. Which I never lose sight of, lest I wake up one day in 20 years to stagnation. There are older workers at my job who say they had dreams, then blinked & their youth was spent. Extremes rarely accomplish much, whether it be wasting away at in an environment you don't like; or quitting prematurely, creating other problems for yourself. I make a point to CONCURRENTLY work at this job while working toward goals. I know if I don't take an active role to obtain what I really want, the closest I'll come will be an abstract daydream. That doesn't mean I'm only happy when envisioning my future self. I want to live in & enjoy *today* as well, so I take time to participate in my interests, family & friendships, etc. I take care of my mind, body & soul, thereby I have progression for aspirations - while finding enrichment in venues beyond my job, in the NOW. For those who do not like where they are, make the necessary changes; & sorry, that will take work; maybe in a setting that isn't your ideal for awhile. It's called life. Want a better life? Your free to enact all the improvements you're capable of & willing to put in effort.