Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
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I'm starting a new contest for March! It will begin March 1st and end March 31st.
The prize will be your choice of one of the following tablets:
Apple iPad
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Viewsonic G-Tablet
Archos Tablet
Dell Streak
Photo of iPad:
Photo of Samsung Galaxy Tab:
Basically, I will pay up to $600 for whatever tablet you want, or if you want a $400 tablet and $200 cash that is fine with me. If you want a $0 tablet and $600 cash that is fine with me. If you want me to donate it to charity, that is fine with me. If you want a $2000 tablet then I can give you $600 and you can chip in the rest and get exactly what you want, etc. I like to list specific prizes because it gets more people interested
Note: I've listed example tablets above that I believe are less than $600. If I've screwed up and listed a $2000 tablet above, it was just a mistake, as the contest max-prize amount is $600. The price is based on US pricing, so if a $600 tablet in the US costs $5000 in Europe, the best I can do is PayPal you $600 USD.
To be eligible for the prize, you must:
Be a current futures.io (formerly BMT) member as of March 1st 2011.
Have a Trading Journal on futures.io (formerly BMT).
Make one post per day, every day, Mon-Fri, in your trading journal for the entire month of March.
That post at minimum must contain one screen shot or video (youtube, etc) of your trades (sim or cash).
That post at minimum must contain a summary of your trading day, like a description of trades and how you did for the day, your strengths and weaknesses, etc. There must be some content in the post.
The post must be made on futures.io (formerly BMT), not a link to your blog or other off-site location. You can post the summary content on futures.io (formerly BMT) but embed a YouTube video, that is fine.
You must post pretty much every single day to the journal. Don't skip a few days and then post all at once.
futures.io (formerly BMT) Admins are excluded, but futures.io (formerly BMT) Moderators can participate if they wish.
As of today, there are approximately 30 journals being updated on a daily basis on futures.io (formerly BMT). That gives you pretty awesome odds to win a $600 tablet!
The winner will be chosen by me, Big Mike. I'll be looking for a complete, quality journal with high quality content posts when deciding the winner. All decisions final. Void where prohibited
If you already have a journal prior to March 1st, feel free to keep posting to it. You don't need to start a new one. If you don't yet have a journal on futures.io (formerly BMT), or you want to use this opportunity for a fresh start, then create your new journal on or before March 1st and start posting!
I'll announce the winner around the first week of April. As for delivering the prize to the winner, we will work it out and find a way. I can buy it for you if you are in the US, or I can just PayPal you the money and you can buy it directly.
You guys are welcome to use this thread to talk about the journals and the contest.
Good luck! I look forward to reading the journals!
Last --- do me a favor, tell all your friends about our contest and encourage them to come to futures.io (formerly BMT) and create their own journal.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
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If you trade 4 out of 5 days, I'm not going to disqualify you. You could make a post every day, and just put "No trades today". But I won't be giving away a $600 tablet to a journal full of "No trades today" posts
I want everyone who maintains a journal to have a chance to win. So Andrew, I encourage you to give it your best shot!
I appreciate it Mike. But, for example, I won't be able to trade any of the 4 days next week due to the day job. And I have streaks like that coming up in March also. So no problem.
Well my exacutions are not from NT...but i take charting guidence from NT feeded by External feed.
In that case will it do to have analysis from NT chart and for trade proof, "contract note" from my India base broker...?
that kick ass post is needed sometimes. I got lazy with my futures.io (formerly BMT) journal, even in my own journal. So I know I should keep it. Hope this challange will help me to come back to track. Even if I don't win the price, I win a lot through writing the journal.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
98,153
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Just look at the two categories I linked to, Trading Journals and Elite Trading Journals. Plenty of examples. Everyone has their own style - I am simply asking that you update it daily, and that you talk about your trades and provide an overview of the day plus at least one screen shot or video in each post.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
98,153
received
If you need help on screen shot software for capturing charts or marking them up, check out either Jing or SnagIt. Jing is free. SnagIt is not. Both are good, SnagIt is better Just depends on your needs.
You can also check out this thread for step-by-step instructions on adding screenshots to your post:
Hi I think its great idea.
You will win anyway if you complete the month
Keeping journal is good thing but it is also important how do you do that. Keep few notes and you may miss important things, keep to much of them and you may overlook the important one.
I used Excel, Onenote and Snagit but found out its too complicated for me to stay organised and effective. I just wanted make it simpler for me to analyze my notes and also access it somewhere else than on my primary trading PC. So I moved to simpler and for me more effectives way to organise my self. I started using Evernote (cloud web app with desktop client). I can go through my note everywhere with my cell or netbook but tablet would suit best for this purpose . + Screenpresso for me best alternative to Snagit. I also started using cloud sync ( Mozzy DropBox SugarSync) aps for backup and Versioning. I can suggest you do the same. Journaling is important part of trading as it help you become better and if you are serious in this bussines you should make it work for you.
How do you organizes yourself in jurnaling and analyzing ?
Up till now I was mainly absorbing information from the forum. Using all the knowledge I just finished developing my first strategy which I'm ready to start sharing. This contest is the final push in the back to start publishing! I will start a Journal in the Elite section.
well good luck to you guys i look foward to some new journals,i wont be in this one as i like to keep a journal and post when i have time,and thats not every day but im really excited to see some new stuff...sharky
Its worth mentioning that "a" journal is "your" journal . The 1st priority should be to help you advance as a trader . The people that are honest with themselves advance because they have nothing to hide and learn to control their weakness' and fortify their strengths .
Journalling is the best way to be honest with yourself . Plenty of people fail because they bs themselves and others to either build an ego or personna but cant walk the walk . You owe it to yourself to succeed and documenting everything you do is the real fast track in trading .
So what are the winning criteria? To see who has the largest gain? Who does the best job of journaling? Who uses the best MM? Who's entries/exits are the most efficient?
I'm not going to be able to trade every single day for another couple months, so hopefully you will continue the trend later and I can participate...
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
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Nothing so absolute. I'm just looking for the best journal -- to me that is well thought out, a good trading plan, detailed charts and posting -- something that is useful to the trader, not just eye candy for the forum. I'm looking for an honest journal where more than just time was put into it -- but heart and conviction
Is that asking too much?
We will have another contest of some sort for our 2-year anniversary in June. I am still working on the details.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
98,153
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BTW on the trading every day thing --- one, it can be sim --- and two, if you trade 4 out of 5 days I am not going to exclude your journal, but I don't want people that are only posting a few times a week, or that do 'catch up' posts all at once.
You should still maintain your journal the way you like. As I've said before, and as others have mentioned, the journal is first and foremost for you. And maybe you win an iPad And maybe you don't. Either way, you've gained something valuable.
So Mike, I noticed today a bunch of new journals were started. Thats a good thing of course but it raises an interesting question. As you mentioned in the announcement, there are about 30 journals currently. If a bunch of new people start one, are you gonna be reading each one of the new ones along with all the old ones every day for a week? It seems like it could get cumbersome and time consuming to reading 50+ journals every day. Especially if several people comment in the journal every day. Just a thought.....
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, Leonardo da Vinci
Most people chose unhappiness over uncertainty, Tim Ferris
You're a better man than I am...no way I could or would want to read so many posts every day....I agree the new journals are great......hopefully they will do for the owners what journals are intended to do......
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, Leonardo da Vinci
Most people chose unhappiness over uncertainty, Tim Ferris
This is my first Journal since a year, and there has been changed a lot for me (in trading) i believe that i have the system to kill the market and the personal power to do this.
I will show all the trades that i took on the day, sometimes that is one …
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
98,153
received
Looks like this contest has been a success so far! I'm glad I've inspired you guys to create journals, I know they will truly help improve your trading. As of now, there are over 50 journals updated daily.
I'll post an official list tomorrow of those journals who existed as of the deadline for entry and had a new update posted on March 1st. This list will serve as the master list of who is eligible to win.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
98,153
received
Here is the list of trading journals eligible to win the contest (meaning journals that existed as of March 1st, and were being updated).
If your journal is not listed and you want to be eligible (I missed it, etc), please contact me ASAP. The journals below are listed in no particular order.
everyone wants to have an IPAD and I am very glad that in this forum they are offering a game with a good or maybe a great reward! just wondering placing a thread about this IPad JOURNAL thing. I have a conclusion why did they do this game, maybe because they want to motivate others to do their best in trading. To make this forum a very great forum, members with cooperation with each other. well, i am one of the members who will benefit on this game. thanks!
The following user says Thank You to imnewtrader for this post:
the thread should say : who wants to win a table from futures.io (formerly BMT)... ... NOT everyone wants an iPAD... at the risk of creating a religous war, the XOOM has better specs, even than the iPAD2.. so iPAD2 are basically hip, while XOOM is much more functional for a techie like me..
Thanks for such an offer on the cool piece of technology. I believe that your objective has been met with increasing the journals along with making them more effective for the contributor as well as the masses. Good idea and I applaud it as that is great for us to all read and enjoy.
The following user says Thank You to bluemele for this post:
Don't qualify myself since my journal isn't that active, though am trying. Must say it's quite a nice gesture for Mike to put this on and encourage those who are struggling like myself to contribute to a journal for their own and others benefit. Thanks Mike!
The following user says Thank You to PushHands for this post:
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
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Guys due to my broken hand, I am really behind. Behind with forum, with my moving / remodeling, lots of things. So want to say thanks very much for all the outstanding journals but give me some time to catch up so a winner can be selected. I am not sure how much time I need to do this, but for sure it won't be next week.
Also feel free to use this thread to discuss who should win.
Thank you again for the awesome journals. We will do this again, I am happy to have encouraged this result.
My vote would go to AZTrader. Posted every day and was a journal of thoughts, mindset and trades. It has been very easy to follow his trading journey this month Just what I think is required of a good journal. Also a thoroughly nice chap. A couple of other good ones, in my opinion, were as previously mentioned, RyanB and Mwinfrey, also Josh and lipton80205 (although he did miss a few days). Just my thoughts on trying to help you seperate the wheat from the chaff.
PS. Thats just an saying. Am not trying to offend anyone I did not mention.
The following user says Thank You to Mickey Caine for this post:
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
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One more time, now that the contest is over, I wanted to say congrats and on a job well done by all participating members!
You've made my job extremely hard --- picking just one winner out of so many excellent journals. If I hadn't just spent almost 9k on emergency surgery on my hand this month, I would have loved to reward you guys with a couple extra iPad's to be given away. You deserve it (and it would have been easier for me to narrow down only 3 winners instead of just 1).
One thing is for sure, we will do this again in the future.
I'll be reviewing everything and will update the thread when I have more info on a winner.
Shodson and Eric J started journals and long time ago and continued to post throughout the contest. Either one gets my vote. They have contributed so much to futures.io (formerly BMT).
The following user says Thank You to Dragon for this post:
I would give a vote to Spartacus journal, clear and very clever journal with many ideas and precise way how to trade..this man inspired me how to look on markets in different way, very complex way. Thanks for that.
The method is simple and clear, also Mike is very nice to help people, he knows futures.io (formerly BMT) is a big family, we love to learn each other, the important qualification of this prize is how the owner of journal help others. Mike is.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
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Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
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I'm a big fat liar.
I am having a very hard time picking just one journal!! I don't want my selection of only one journal discourage all the others who have worked so hard at improving their trading and bearing all to see. This is making me put off this decision.
I'm trying to evaluate impartially -- looking at how things like group participation in the journal, looking at how much info was shared and what avenues used (videos, screen shots, spreadsheets), looking at the popularity based on number of views by futures.io (formerly BMT) members, looking at how the poster evolved over the period and learned from the journey... and so much more.
A very, very tough decision for me. When we do this again I am putting the voting on you guys
I need another day or two. I've been reading threads like crazy but am far behind on my forum duties due to my broken hand, it makes things like typing this reply take 10 minutes instead of only 1.
I'll be back very soon. I know this has to be done -- can't put it off, and hopefully whichever winner is selected you all understand just how proud and amazed I am at everyones contributions!!
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
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Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
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As I said in my last post, this was an incredibly difficult decision! So many fantastic journals, so many great journeys, so much shared, so much learned...
But I had to pick a single winner. And I have.
Before I reveal the winner, I just want to say how awesome it has been reading all of your journals. I am so incredibly impressed with you guys, and I feel really great that this contest has helped encourage you to do something that will almost certainly improve your trading. So a feel good moment for me
We will absolutely do this again. And I plan to award more than one prize next time.
This is a takeoff on what AR01 and TMFT were talking about in FatTails thread All those smart guys inspired me to do something a bit simpler than what I'm currently doing with the LLMA. I'm not giving up the LLMA by any means but exploring another …
MWinfrey's journal is full of great information. He has shared everything about his method, rules, and actual trades along the way. He has learned much from his journey, and I believe he has also educated many others at the same time, giving them the benefit of his knowledge and experience. His journal also had more group participation than any other.
Fantastic job, Mike! Send me a PM and let me know which way you want to go on your $600 prize.
But also, well done to Big Mike. To set up this great forum and encourage those starting out to journal is very generous of you, personally I've been inspired by that and the great spirit of community here. I think I have found a new direction in life as a result of being encouraged to start the journal and also the help available on this forum, and I hope many others have gained as much as I have.
"The primary thing required to obtain what you want from life, is simply the will to pursue it, and the faith to believe it is possible." - Author Unknown
"The ability to maintain discipline and stick to the rules is the hallmark of the experienced successful trader" - Curtis Faith
The following 2 users say Thank You to PositiveDeviant for this post:
@Big Mike, could you make a list of the ranking of the journals? And what missed in your opinion on the other journals? (or is better on Mikes 5 minute odyssey?)
Thank you...I encourage you to spend the few dollars and participate in the elite. I was a holdout and when I got up off that few dollars I saw the value of the elite section. Great stuff in the public part too for sure. Elite membership just opens up to some more wonderful stuff.
@aquarian1, i'd second that encouragement from @MWinfrey ... this board is awesome, but the real gems are found behind the door marked "elite" ... see you on the other side, we hope!
gotta love text-based humor that gets lost in translation ... lol
cheers,
-e
The following 2 users say Thank You to eman for this post:
My goodness...where'd the condescending response come from? I certainly said nothing to elicit that kind of response. However, I apologize that you took it in a way that was so negative. Was not my intention.
I had not meant it as condescending. I apologize that it came across that way.
(Perhaps I focused, incorrectly, on the word 'should'.) Every board needs a healthy balance between the free side and the pay side. (The free side is the feeder for the pay side.)
In any case I would rather drop the topic.
Let me divert this off-topic tangent and go back to the contest.
First congrats again!
(I have deleted my post as I had no intention of being negative)
..........
peace, love and joy to you
.........
The following user says Thank You to aquarian1 for this post:
Congrats MWinfrey! Looking forward to one day reading your journal.
Hopefully I can get things together in order to develop my trading and trading journal. Work just takes so much out of me, always wonder how you guys/gals do it.
The following 2 users say Thank You to PushHands for this post:
Incredible! I am so thankful for Big Mike's generosity. He asked that I let him know when I receive my prize. He said there will be a 2-3 week delay because of incredible demand. However, an unexpected surprise occurred this morning and I'm so excited. My order must've hit the queue just perfectly because I already have the order and tried it out this morning. It wasn't quite what I expected but as you can see in the picture, it's just what the doctor ordered. I can't thank Mike enough. This was a life changing moment and I mean moment in the literal sense. I truly think Mike may have misrepresented the prize a bit but I can't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Thanks again,
Mike
The following 6 users say Thank You to MWinfrey for this post:
Certainly the little fella is easy to use. It's a bit different for an old PC guy, more like using a smartphone. However, it's nice to sit in front of the TV and read futures.io (formerly BMT) forums without causing a meltdown in my lap. However, there are times that I really want to look at charts or do some programming and for that I need a laptop or go to my office in the next room.
Site Administrator Swing Trader Data Scientist & DevOps
Manta, Ecuador
Experience: Advanced
Platform: Custom solution
Trading: Futures & Crypto
Posts: 49,960 since Jun 2009
Thanks: 32,433 given,
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How many of you are ready for me to start another iPad journaling contest? If I started it for June, how many of you would participate (same rules as before, see post #1)?
Trying to gauge if I should do it in June or wait another couple months.
Well, how about the 'most improved'? Or something with a spin?
I think most people voted for who they thought was the most profitable or the most interesting, but not really about the 'journal' input itself. Just me maybe..
The following user says Thank You to bluemele for this post:
. + Screenpresso for me best alternative to Snagit. I also started using cloud sync ( Mozzy DropBox SugarSync) aps for backup and Versioning. I can suggest you do the same. Journaling is important part of trading as it help you become better and if you are serious in this bussines you should make it work for you. 
well, i am one of the members who will benefit on this game. thanks!
)
