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Decisions...Decisions

  #11 (permalink)
 
camsolution's Avatar
 camsolution 
maple, ontario, canada
 
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Michael.H View Post
I hate to say this, but im gonna have to say that your situation will have to play a factor in this one. Every decision you make, you have to asses risk/reward.
If you are much older nearing retirement, and you have to accept that it will take you a while longer to just become profitable, your risk will be too high IMO. I don't know you're marital status either, and if you have kids or not for which you need support. The stock market will always be here, and you can still do swing setups in the ES, since its a 24 hour market....
To be completely honest, even though im profitable, im still finishing up med school because i enjoy trading and medicine. Like i said, the stock market will always be here, so i can always trade whenever i want, thats the beauty of the market.

I guess the point im making is that you can have your cake and eat it too...
You can always quit your job anytime you want later on. And you can use the income to build capital if you decide to ever do that later.


A few people have asked.... so here goes.... I'm married with two young children 7 and 4, and I'm 41 years old. I enjoy what I currently do, and love the fact that it allows me to trade, but you start to wonder if the new opportunity is something you have to do for your familes sake.
Maybe the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

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  #12 (permalink)
 Michael.H 
CA
 
Experience: Master
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Whatever you decide... I wish you the best of luck.

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  #13 (permalink)
 
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 sam028 
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I'll go with the government job, without hesitation.
You've not blown your account in 18 months, that's quite good imho, but here the risk/reward ratio is not good.
If you still want to trade the Eminis, but have less time for it, try to use bigger timeframes, bigger stops and bigger targets.

Sam aka "scary Sam" aka "I don't like bad surprises Sam" aka "family first Sam"

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  #14 (permalink)
 itrade2win 
New York
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: Sierra Charts, TOS
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I think Mike gave the best advice for you to consider. You have to be happy at whatever you decide to do in life. What good is it after six months, a year or even five years later you hate your job so much that you hate getting up in the morning and your whole life is miserable? Money isn't everything, and that is coming from me who owned a marketing company and other small businesses. I dealt with Millions of dollars and made a lavish lifestyle for my family. The vacations, all the expensive toys and clothing and last year I was forced to close a retail store and web business, then sold my marketing company. Needless to say, our lifestyle changed. We made so many changes that my girls constantly complain that their life is ruined....lol. Although we live in the same house, we cut the dinners out to just on the weekends and our weekend trips and shopping expenses had to stop the last 12 months. My wife even bust my bawls about the change in lifestyle. But I keep telling her the kids will appreciate things more instead of taking everything for granted.

I decided to become a day trader for several reasons. The freedom that comes eventually with this business, however I had probably worked 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week the first twelve months or so. Not so much any more. I have found my niche and have been consistent that last four to six weeks and my confidence as grown to the level that I can increase my equity curve. I look forward to every weekday morning and starting to hate the weekends. Most importantly, I could never work for anyone else. Its just not part of my DNA.

I'm happy with being a day trader and will eventually have the income I once had and more. I'm confident because I'll never ever quit and to quit is not in my DNA, never has and never will be.

I spilled this all out to express to you that you have to decide who you are, what makes up your DNA, what makes "YOU" truly happy to get up everyday and hit the ground running and conquer the world if that is your goal and what sacrifices are you willing to make for yourself and your family and are you willing to make those scarifies to achieve success as a trader or whatever venture you decide to take. Maybe you're content going to a corporate day job and trade a little on the side. I don't know only you do. So, take some time and think what is really important to you and what makes you tick and what will make you happy and when you know what the answer is. Don't ever quit no matter what.

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  #15 (permalink)
 AR01 
CA
 
Experience: Beginner
Platform: MT4, Ninja Trader
Trading: EUR/USD
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You are the only person that can answer these questions.

1) You have a passion for eminis. But look over this board and see how many people have changed styles, instruments, and timeframes during their trading careers. Are you saying after eighteen months of trading you know that this is the final stop on your trading career? I'm a beginner so keep that in mind, but I've changed instruments for a couple of reasons lately. Lower the leverage and so I could get more trading in before work. I'm trading Forex now and there are huge moves in Forex from 3AM to 7AM eastern. See the attached chart. You could trade the 6E if you want to stick with futures and trade before your new cushy government job.

2) Let's take the trading out of the decision for a minute and answer a few questions. Would you take the other job? Will you be challenged in it? Will it make you happy? Will it make you happier than you are now? If you wouldn't take this job without trading influencing you then your decision is easy. Don't take the job. Maybe you don't really want the government job and trading eminis is the excuse. Food for thought...

3) Now, if you would take the job let's add the trading back into the equation. Most people I know that have a true passion will give up anything to do it. Where's your line? Are you willing to give up financially for it? Your lifestyle? Your friends? Your family, if it comes to that? What are you willing to give up? You have to decide where you draw your line. I'm not willing to lose my wife for anything. If she told me to quit trading today or she would divorce me then that is an easy decision for me. She is THE most important thing in my life. Bar none. Easy decision for me but everyone is different. (She wouldn't ask me to quit because that's not her style and that's why we are together). Where's your line for your passion?

4) Is your family supportive of you staying with your current job and trading? Easy decision for me if they are supportive.

In the end, you have to be happy in your life and the decision you make. Good luck.

Andrew

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  #16 (permalink)
 vegasfoster 
las vegas
 
Experience: Intermediate
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I would take the job for now and get up two hours early to trade currency futures.

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  #17 (permalink)
 MetalTrade 
 
Posts: 1,055 since May 2010


camsolution View Post
A few people have asked.... so here goes.... I'm married with two young children 7 and 4, and I'm 41 years old. I enjoy what I currently do, and love the fact that it allows me to trade, but you start to wonder if the new opportunity is something you have to do for your familes sake.
Maybe the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

In this case I would go for the gov job. No doubt.

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  #18 (permalink)
 
LukeGeniol's Avatar
 LukeGeniol 
Italy (IT) Italy
 
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camsolution View Post
A few people have asked.... so here goes.... I'm married with two young children 7 and 4, and I'm 41 years old. I enjoy what I currently do, and love the fact that it allows me to trade, but you start to wonder if the new opportunity is something you have to do for your familes sake.
Maybe the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

If u like what currently u do, why change? Will u like the Gov job?
So the points for me is: do what u like and, if u like your job and is a secure job, i.e. u get salary every month, don't leave it for trading. If u think the Gov. job could be better than your actual one, go there, u will find some way to do trading.

Take your Pips, go out and Live.
Luke.
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Last Updated on November 21, 2010


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