Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It is often used in conjunction with convergent thinking, which follows a particular set of logical steps to arrive at one solution, which in some cases is a "correct" solution. Divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner, such that many ideas are generated in an unorganized fashion. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected connections are drawn. After the process of divergent thinking has been completed, ideas and information are organized and structured using convergent thinking. Psychologists have found that a high IQ alone does not guarantee creativity. Instead, personality traits that promote divergent thinking are more important. Divergent thinking is found among people with personalities which have traits such as nonconformity, curiosity, willingness to take risks, and persistence.[2] Additionally, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that musicians are more adept at utilizing both hemispheres and more likely to use divergent thinking in their thought processes.[3] Activities which promote divergent thinking include creating lists of questions, setting aside time for thinking and meditation, brainstorming, subject mapping / "bubble mapping", keeping a journal, creating artwork, and free writing.[1] In free writing, a person will focus on one particular topic and write non-stop about it for a short period of time, in a stream of consciousness fashion.[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergent_thinking
Hello zdreg, I hope I am understanding your reply properly. I kept records in my trusty salt and pepper notebook. And then piece by piece built it out using excel. Not having the capital was the best thing that never happened to me.
Crispy, thanks for the topic. I have been trading since 2004 and I would have to say that I am a fantastic researcher and a terrible trader. As a trader I have failed. I have lost about 60K in total. As a researcher/technican I am very skilled at finding stocks that breakout. Some times it is uncanny how good I am and I'm not bragging. I can find stocks that go up 30 in a week, most recently LLEN I bought at 9.98 and sold at 12.85 in 4 or 5 days. I am currently trying to automate my trading with some software. I am trying to teach myself come coding and it is going pretty slow. I find that as a trader I am consistently overcome by greed and fear. This year has been pretty good over all. I'm up about 25% in my IRA's. This might sound good or bad to some people but on Sept 15th I was actually up about 60%. I fought the market and I lost. I'm pretty devistated by it because from Jan until Sept I was trading very very well. I had weekly and monthly targets and I was doing pretty good. I just got greedy and I have a tentendecy to trade 3x etf's and it is pretty ugly right now. Thanks again for the post.