I’m often asked what I most look for in a future trader. I answer, “A passion for the markets.” I advise all who receive an invitation to join our firm to politely decline if you do not have a passion for the markets (they may have tricked us 🙂 ). I implore those considering trading as a profession to spend some time thinking about whether trading truly is your passion. I recommend those who are underperforming to ask yourself if trading is your passion.
How do we know if we have a passion for the markets? Most of us just know. We read about trading, we trade, we talk about trading, we think about trading, we email about trading, IM, text, Gchat. How to trade a set up leaves us consumed in flow for hours. For those wondering if they have or will have a passion for the markets Dan Coyle from The Talent Code offers us a quiz below:
It works like this: put your potential passion in the place of X. In each paired statement, choose whether you agree more with (A) or (B). (Of course, putting “sex” or “eating chocolate” in place of X will work fine, just as it should.)
1.
A) X gives me a feeling of euphoric happiness
B) X gives me a feeling of euphoric happiness plus a deep fascination. I find myself wanting to look deeper. I want to figure out how it’s done.
2.
A) I think about X a lot.
B) I cannot not think/talk/dream about X. My friends and family think I’m a bit nuts.
3.
A) X provides me with enjoyable payoffs — like recognition and pride.
B) I would do X for free, even if nobody were watching.
4.
A) When I’m doing X, I’m happy and engaged.
B) When I’m doing X, it’s as if I’m in a private world. Time flies.
Scoring: If you answered (A) to most questions, you have a mild case of passion for X. If you answered (B), on the other hand, then you might have a serious passion infection. Choose your path accordingly.
How did you do?
Mike Bellafiore
17 Comments on “Is Trading Your Passion? (a Quiz)”
I honestly scored a B on all four questions. I might be beyond repair…
B for #3 too only if there’s no money I’ve put at risk and I’m compensated for transaction fees.
1.b. 2.a. 3.b 4.b
b for 1, 2 & 4. Number 3 I don’t see as realistic. Would I do it for free? No, everyone who trades has a hope for a comfortable salary one day, and at the end of the day you still need to support yourself and your family. That said, the process of learning to trade leaves you not only doing it for free but paying for the privilege through constant loses so maybe the answer is yes! In any case would I do it in place of any other job given the opportunity – hell yea!
We really are a sad bunch, love the comment about your friends think your nuts – ha ha 🙂
Apparently I have a mild case of passion for sex, but a passion infection for trading. Would that end the interview right there, Mike?
Although sex is good Trading is a more long term satisfaction. Ofcourse, i already know im passionate I literally think more about trading then anything else.
Also, time does fly when im learning to trade through books or just trading. it flies whenever im watching the markets even from the sidelines. The allure of trading is one of a kind. Trading it the worlds greatest game the worlds biggest casino only the odds are in your favor.
B for 1,2,3. On 3 – you are doing it for free everytime you are on the simulator or if doing paper trading.
On 4 – neither. Trading can be boring. Some days, like FOMC days, market can get really slow and not go anywhere for 3 hours. On other days, you get in the zone and everything flows and you have no conception of time passing.
Well, I consider myself passionate about the markets but I don’t come close even to the A’s – “euphoric happiness” trading? Honestly, the test is ridiculous.
Im pretty sure if you’ve made your way to this blog you may have some passion. If you read this blog every day, chances are you have the passion. If you read this blog, trade, watch stock twits videos, listen to Bill Tatro while skimming charts every night, then I think you really have the passion. Thank gawd thats just not me. 😉
Strongly agree on that one, the test is not necessary.
Success in 3 Minutes – Just 8 Things Required:
http://www.dump.com/2010/11/10/secrets-of-success-in-8-words-3-minutes-video/
Note # 1 Thing needed for success
B…I frickin love trading
would anyone here trade for free?
i traded baseball cards and collectible cards for years and loved trading them. i trade stocks now but i dont really feel the connection i had with cards.
i have a buddy who is a gambliholic and also one of the best swing traders out there. he trades lvs, mgm and wynn all the time and he loves it.
One of the problems is defining passion. Many people think they are passionate at many activities…and some of those things they are… yet, they still fail. So, I think a few of the less unambiguous qualities that I would look for in someone would be these:
1. Do they like to study markets? By this I mean testing etc. Are they deep in research? (They won’t often do this unless they are interested in markets.)
2. Why are they wanting to trade? Is it for the money? I think when people do things for money they often fail. Hardship and setbacks are inevitable. The only way we get through these is if we like what we are doing. Even if this proves to be wrong … and they don’t fail… they will never be one of the best at what they do.
3. Are they capable of taking calculated risks?
4. Can they get back up after they’ve been knocked down?
I think another important point would be different types of trading require different skill sets. Yes, all require discipline, but some people are more holistic thinkers while others might be more linear thinkers. Holistic thinkers will often do better at a style that requires them to look at a number of different parts…and maybe a longer time-frame. Linear thinkers are often better at smaller times frames and what may seem as direct influences on the instruments they are trading.
I would not look for someone who just has a trading account…nor would I look for someone who just reads trading blogs. Why? Because 80 to 95% of traders fail, and this often why. Because they all have a trading account when they do not know what they are doing, and almost all of them follow everyone else.
I would like to make one more point… I think another quality I would look for is someone who follows the markets regularly and closely. I have no statistics on this, but I believe those who follow the markets on a short-term basis, day-in and day-out, will soon find patterns emerging that will sometimes be hard to explain to others. This is the art of trading…. and I think if you read a book or two with just the basics of trading; supply & demand, candlestick charts etc., and then follow the markets on an intraday basis for a couple months… you will learn more than reading 50 trading books.
But, I don’t think this information… the art or skill part of trading… works good on its own, I think you need to use that in the context of the science. I think they are both nessasary for long term success and to be one of the best.
These are just my opinions, I really don’t know if any of this is true or not.