Since 2011 · Words worth trading on
Quote of the Day
Standing on the shoulders of giants.
Over a decade of quotes on trading, discipline, patience and mindset that I keep coming back to. Some from market legends, some from philosophers, a few from the trail.
Read one before the open. Then go do the work.
“Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.”
“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”
“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”
“It’s far more dangerous to fly too low than too high, because it feels safe to fly low. We settle for low expectations and small dreams and guarantee ourselves less than we are capable of. By flying too low, we shortchange not only ourselves but also those who depend on us or might benefit from our work. We’re so obsessed about the risk of shining brightly that we’ve traded in everything that matters to avoid it.”
“Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either take them or you stay afraid of taking them.”
“Trading is mental. Doubt me? Want to go some other direction instead? You will be broke in no time.”
“Having a bad day? Place your hand over your heart. Feel that? It’s called purpose. You’re alive for a reason. Don’t give up.”
“Observe that the blade of grass that resists the lawnmower gets cut down, while the blade that bends remains uncut.”
“You’ll figure that out. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.”
“When you walk around braced for impact, you’re dramatically decreasing your chances. Your chances to avoid the outcome you fear, your chances to make a difference, and your chances to breathe and connect.”
“Let’s face it, these are the moments we relish. We only realize it in hindsight – mostly because we’re too afraid to put ourselves out on a limb,” he said. “I’ve never been afraid to lose money, and I sometimes dare mother-market to do her worst.”
“We brace for impact way more often than impact actually occurs. All the clenching and imagining and playacting and anxiety — our culture has fooled us into thinking that this is a good thing, that it’s a form of preparation. It’s not. It’s merely experiencing failure in advance, failure that rarely happens.”
“The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”