So I happened by the board of trade this morning and ran into a mentor with whom I lost contact in recent years. A brilliant man, a legendary trader, truly a wonder. In his mid 70's now, he was on a field trip with "at risk" high school kids that wanted to see the trading floor and learn about markets. In his 70's teaching inner city kids real value, for free, because he can, and believes he should.
He asked me to talk with the kids. I told the kids that I learned more value from their teacher in two weeks than in my entire time in college. He responded that he learned at least that much from me as well. He told the kids my "Indian" name...Hototo which means warrior spirit sings....and the hopi word Koyaanisqatsi which means life out of balance. (also see brilliant film fro early 80's) He asked me not about trading, but rather what I was learning from teaching others to trade. Before I could be embarrassed and tell him I was not doing that, he said...yet you seek balance?
So I got a chance to describe a few areas that where not so clear to which the response came...lets get together,wldman, bring your journal.
So here begins a public journal and a regular review of documented trades. I don't set out to "teach", but the process will. That however is not my intention. I know that I will learn and I will benefit more than anyone else from the process. "Life out of Balance"
I'm not going to lay out the "methods", that will naturally come to be if anyone follows what develops. I'm just going to journal each day as I was taught to do and we will see what develops.
I won't talk in dollars, rather in ticks. Size will be "units" as to be both not too arrogant or too humble. We measure trades as effective or ineffective. The emotional context is at least as important as the actions taken. I'm not ever going to entertain automation. I'm a discretionary trader using mostly objective methods based on hierarchy or confluence of non-colinear indicators...of which price action is king. I make money almost every day. I kill losers little.
I have a difficulty judging tone in forum posts. I will respectfully communicate my opinion. I suffer fools with grace, but I am not so well with jerks. I evaluate everything. I retain what is valuable and I let pass without harm that which is not valuable, to me.