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I’m at the beginning of a new day and so will start my “journal”.
Not directly a trading journal as I’m starting to learn, it won’t immediately start with charts sharing and performance agendas… but with an introduction and some context, I hope this isn't a problem @Big Mike
This could have been in presentations but I’d like to keep it together so I can look back easily in the future.
Who am I?
I’m 45, Belgian citizen and English isn’t my mother tongue at all, so sorry if some things aren’t correct.
I’ve been a freelance for about 25 years now in online advertising, in the past I made promotional websites, emailing’s, flash games… but the last 10 years I concentrated on making only online ads, banners, first in Flash but since 2015 exclusively in html5 and JS.
This job is a mix of creativity and technicity, I can work from everywhere with my laptop. I’m very comfortable with computers and software in general.
Some days are really crazy in the advertising industry, but I always keep it calm.
When I really need to evacuate stress, I’ll play video games and I also do CrossFit 2-3 times a week which really helps releasing all tension.
One big problem in my job is that it’s “unstable”, bannering could disappear or change technology suddenly as it happened in 2015. Also, with all that AI stuff I could be replaced at some point and then what will I do…
For some years now I’m searching for a “solution”, a job I could start / learn while still doing my actual job, that could be just a little extra in the beginning but would bring me just enough to live if suddenly my main income stops.
This is some delicate information, but it’s important to understand why I now suddenly decide to “move” in the direction of trading after many years of searching for a solution.
To make it simple I had an accountant who committed huge frauds, and now I have the country’s tax department on my back. This case started 2 years ago, and I still don’t really understand what happened and how, but the result is there: they want me to pay almost 850k which I don’t have, and I never had.
As my lawyers say this case will take years, maybe 10, so that’s a new agenda. I need more than just money to eat if my main job stops, I need to accomplish a miracle, to work hard, to avoid losing my apartment, my roof if the case ends badly… So, with the big 33% Belgian taxes that means that I need 1.200.000 in 10-15 years… crazy just writing that down, impossible? Maybe it would be better to invest in cryptos? Maybe… but way less interesting and exciting.
That situation destroyed me at first, couldn’t sleep anymore, needed medication… but after some months something shifted in my mind, I became calm again, like I’ve always been, logic creative, patient and calm. Nobody around me understands how I can live so peacefully with that situation above my head. The reality is that this situation made me stronger.
I discovered it recently, reading articles, watching videos, interviews of people making crazy amount of money of course… what’s interesting for me is that I could do it on the same computer I already use, from anywhere just like my actual job, doesn’t need to be every day in the beginning, 2-3 times a week. I can keep my actual lifestyle.
Using a new piece of software is something exciting for me, so that’s also a good point.
Most interviews or articles I read talk about the mindset, the psychology, able to stay calm and disciplined… with my situation described above I think I have come to some strong mindset compatible with trading, am I wrong?
Then there’s the possibility of winning more than what I win as a freelance for the last 20 years. I understand it a long path, it’s complex, it takes time to learn, you never really master it, the first year(s) could be a nightmare… Some people here are trading for over 20 years and may be laughing at my objectives, but I need something to hold on to go further, to push myself.
Is it doable to win 120-150k a year? Not the first year for sure, maybe not at all in 10 years.
When talking around me about my interest in trading I got mainly negative reactions: don’t do that, it’s to risky, trading is bad, …
The only person who supports me is my wife, even she knows our tax problems, I thought she would also be against the idea but no, she thinks I can make something out of it (and she’s a psychologist)
But globally I can’t talk about it around me, I can’t share ideas, ask questions, so I searched a community where people won’t judge me, or be against trading and here I am.
I’m a bit overwhelmed with this forum, so much info and I’m not even yet an elite member.
Also, I don’t always understand everything as my English isn’t perfect and my trading vocabulary uncomplete.
I wander between journals, psychology and indicators and need a place to keep it all together, my journal in the large sense of the word, not just trading journal.
As many I think, by watching YouTube videos, some good, some too good to be true, some inspiring.
I came across some webinars of Tom Hougaard (Trader Tom) talking a lot about psychology and the importance of being a good loser. Very interesting.
Then Riley Coleman, which at start seemed nice, talks very clearly for me, non-English native, but everything seems so simple… to easy! And now I know he’s just selling a rebranded version of PATs, shameful, but the videos are well made.
So PATstrading, just starting to watch, more difficult to understand what he says for me, but seems very informative and useful.
Interviews of B The Trader (Alexander Bustos), I don’t really watch his videos with titles like “best strategy, do this, from 20 to 20k… “, but the interviews are inspiring, some big traders, who achieved miracles, you need to dream sometimes!
And finally, a starter video trading course in French of Alti Trading (Alexandre Leclair), very clear, calm rhythm.
I also bought a big book, from a French trader Anthony Busičre: “Le guide complet du trading” (the complete guide to trading), 600 pages that I try to digest slowly but seems to cover a lot of aspects (fundamentals of economy, technical analysis, money management, different trading methods, specs of all type of products…).
I installed Ninjatrader 8 and tried the 2 weeks of free demo account, then added 1000 to continue testing. Looking at different type of charts, trying indicators, configuring auto stop loss/take profits, how strategy builder works… and way to soon I tried some real scalps, but that’s another chapter, another day...
In my experience, when I focused on making money things did not end well. I think you really have to be passionate about the market and trading and want to come back to it every day no matter what happened the day before. Making 120K a year is a fantasy for a new trader and people with 20-30 years of experience still have down years and many do not make money at all. I wish you the best and maybe you will be different and figure this thing out in a couple of years.
Thanks for your feedback, I understand you but let's be honest, if you look for a hobby money doesn't matter, but if you look for a possible job replacement... wel passion doesn't buy food, nor pay your rent or credits...
And maybe that wasn't all clear, I'm sorry, but the focus isn't all about money, what interests me also is the way it works, the way I can do it, the way I could slowly do a transition from my job to that one, how it could be my backup plan, my second professional life.
I'm very happy in front of my computer, usings different softwares, reading news, listening podcasts... and I am totally used to be alone all day, I have this lifestyle for over 10 years already.
Yes it's pure dream/fantasy to think about such high numbers, my situation makes me dream and hope, we're all different in a way, I need some dream to go further, even if I know it could be impossible. Actually I will already be really happy if I consistently win 5-10 $ a day, or let's say even 1000 to 2000 a year, enough to eat and have a roof
I have one question right now: how did some of you find a mentor?
I live in Brussels and would love to see a real trader in action, because reading a lot and looking at charts all day isn't everything,
I need to see someone doing it, do they draw things on charts, what do they really look at,...
I just practiced a lot. About 2.5 years and well over 8000 trades. made money and lost money, learned about psychology (by going through the ups and downs myself), etc...
In terms of finding real mentors - probably impossible, unless you know someone personally and they are willing to give you some advice over coffee or something.
I'm practicing every day, in demo account or in real on MES, as I find the psychology really different once you use real money, but I keep it really low risks with one micro contract at the time, and I know I will continue doing so for at least one year.
I've found some professors/educators in my region, they cost between 50 and 80 € /hour with usually some reductions if you take 10h... why not, can't be totally lost.
