Last night’s speech by Sen. Obama inspired me as a trader. Now, this blog post isn’t meant to be a political statement, but as traders we are perpetual learners. We are individuals with a thirst for knowledge, which means we are able to learn from so many non-traders that we observe. So let’s talk about what we can learn from last night’s speech as traders and why it was inspiring.

What most separates America from the rest of the world is our belief that we can make things better. Obama reminded us that “It is that promise that’s always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams.” You can be the son of a poor single mother and stand on a stage in front of 75,000 and accept the Democratic nomination for President. Look, if you’re having some trouble hitting stocks that trade against you, or taking profits too quickly, or finding the best stocks for you, these are not problems that you cannot overcome. Yes, you can!

If you’re reading this right now and are not doing as well as you would like, then you can make things better. Last night reminds us of that. You can work on your craft and get better. You can through hard work and education become the trader of your abilities. As Tiger Woods says, “Everyday is an opportunity to get better.” When I first started trading I struggled. One of the better intraday traders today was an average trader for the first five years of his career. I was reading an article yesterday about one of the better intraday traders who didn’t make a dime in his first year. You can get better. Yes, you can!

As traders we sometimes lose perspective. Let’s face it trading can be a grind at times. The market presents us with numerous negative trading experiences that help us convince ourselves that trading might be too difficult.  But last night helps us remember how fortunate we are. We, at SMB, get to sit around a bunch of great people, who love the markets, talking about what interests us: trading. We have all the capital we need. We have all the resources necessary. We are privileged to trade the U.S.  markets during the most interesting of times. We will be overcompensated for doing all of this well.

All we can ask for is an opportunity. And we have that. So if you are struggling right now enjoy your weekend.  Think of how fortunate you truly are. Spend some time this weekend listing the things that you can do to get better. On Tuesday you have the opportunity to work on your craft. And you must work on your craft. You will have the opportunity to spend time on your passion. You will get the opportunity to compete against the most talented traders in the world. You get to learn and think and improve. You get to trade.

Enjoy your weekend. Very much looking forward to my vacation in the Outerbanks. Talk to you all when I return.