Suppose your favorite college team recruited a promising forward.  Let’s call him Franchise. Suppose you learned Franchise showed up 20 minutes before game time, dressed, did some light stretching, and then headed for a seat on the bench.

Perhaps your favorite college team is covered by a terrific beat writer, sharing interesting tidbits via a team blog that reported Franchise dogged it in practice.   And that Franchise did not like to watch film, lift weights nor do much during individual workouts.  Further, Franchise ate whatever he wanted leading the team in late night pizzas, stayed out late and didn’t like talking hoops with other teammates.  Franchise got his twenty minutes a game and then went home.  At times he showed flashes of brilliance but at others he demonstrated sloppy ball handling skills, a lack of strength, mediocre touch with his shooting, and poor passing decisions.

As a fan what would your opinion of Franchise be?  Would you recommend relying more on Franchise?  When Franchise entered the game would you rise from your seat and cheer?  Would you buy tickets to watch him play?  Would you point him out to your kids as an athlete to emulate?  Would you expect Franchise to become an All American?

As traders we must work on our game daily always seeking to improve.  If we don’t, then how are we any different than Franchise?