Apr 10, 2014

Peaks and Valleys

Hi Ed,

I hope all is well.

I see a chart that says FRED in an article titled "The normal person's guide to the stock market": http://www.vox.com/2014/4/10/5595258/the-normal-persons-guide-to-the-stock-market.

Above the FRED chart is the caption "Which number should I watch to tell where the stock market is going?"

Below the chart is a caption that reads "A look at 25 years of S&P 500 peaks and valleys."

FRED is "...years of S&P 500 peaks and valleys"! So simple!

I enjoy and laugh.

Years of Peaks and Valleys

Apr 10, 2014

Jademaster

Hi Ed,

We looked through the pictures and sent the best ones.

In our travels in Texas, visiting you and your friends was a highlight (we found ourselves singing "she laid eggshells" on a few occasions).

When I brought up the story of the Jademaster, my wife commented that she thought its about becoming a better listener. And when I asked her what was in his hand, she said "It doesn't matter!". Is she right? Had a great time at the ranch.

S&W .357/.38 Air Lite PD

Apr 10, 2013

Disappointment & Discrimination

Dear Ed,

Thank you for continuing with FAQ. In the post 'Discrimination and Disappointment' (2 Apr) you respond "In TTP we see how disappointment can entrain discrimination". I wonder if you could expand your thoughts on how such a system would work.

Hope you are well,

I read the FAQ and your response. I decide to go with the trend and keep refining my application. I learn much about language and feel joy that I better understand SVOp and SVOpb. Thank you for the suggestion. I attach the revised application.

I wonder about providing information to others and the "to be" verb. I find that, while challenging, communicating without "to be" provides more clarity but requires more thought to erase 40 years of habit.

Kind Regards,

SVOp

The term SVOp refers to communicating in a direct Manner. Constructing sentences in the present tense with a clear subject verb and object allows the speaker to communicate his/her purpose with clear intentions. It also allows the user to avoid direct questions which may be a form of control ...

Apr 9, 2014

Breathwork Application Redux

Ed,

I read the FAQ and see your comment on my application. Initially I feel a bit of disappointment because the instructions did not state that the application should be in SVOp.

I think about your "wonderment" and realize that you are trying to help me. I am happy that you cared enough not only to read my application but to provide some help on the past tense and passive language I use.

I rewrite the application and find myself enjoying the process of improving my communication. I also feel the feeling of seeking approval from you. This is something that I am working on. Thank you for caring.

Regards,

-----

SVOp
The term SVOp refers to communicating in a direct Manner. Constructing sentences in the present tense with a clear subject verb and object allows the speaker to communicate his purpose in a way such that his/her intentions are clear. It also allows the user to avoid direct questions which may be a form of control. The receiver of communications in SVOp receives the communication and responds in a manner that is either controlling or intimate. Releasing control of your intentions using SVOp is a very intimate way of communicating in that you accept the results of communicating your wishes or feelings. Keeping the communication in the present tense focuses the desire or the feeling in the now. Operating in the now is what is in the communicator's control. I find that communicating in the past tense can lead to depressing feeling and communicating about things in the future creates anxiety. Focusing on the now creates comfort.
Control Centric vs Intimacy Centric Relating.

Neither way of building rapport is fundamentally wrong. I find that understanding both provides a tremendous advantage to the individual. Intimacy Centric communicating is particularly suited for trading because it causes the individual to focus on what they control. Specifically you control your own actions. You control what you say and what you do. People who follow the control model tend to try and control others. This can very easily lead to coercion. Coercion can occur not only using physical threats or violence but by trying to control others emotionally. Using judgment or medicinal language can elicit feelings in others and these techniques tend to coerce others into feeling a certain way. This usually devolves into a codependent relationship where one party seeks approval and the other provides it. In the intimacy centric model the focus is on sharing physical feelings. The user shares and receives feelings resulting in relationships built on mutual desire. The user accepts that the other party may have different feelings or goals. Intimate centric rapport often leads to behaviors that produce results, accountability and clear agreements. This also furthers behaviors that are consistent with the intentions=results philosophy.

TTP and Questions
TTP works best without the use of questions. The use of direct questions, especially "why" questions, can lead to judgment. When you ask a question, it implies the receiver should provide you with something. This is either information or justification. Instead of asking someone "what the temperature is?" you could say "I wonder what the temperature is. " Using the latter, you release control of the situation to the other party. They can give you the information willingly or they can choose to ignore your wishes. The person making the statement accepts the fact that they may not receive a response. In the case of a "why" question the receiver avoids the feeling of having to justify an action. Accepting that the other party is in control of this information is intimacy. The results for the person making the statement are generally better than asking a question because the receiver feels empowerment which in fact they are. In most cases, the user gains higher quality information than if he/she uses a question.

The Rocks Process
The tribe uses the Rocks Process to identify emotional rocks that may be part of the hotseat's behavior. The process starts with the hotseat (the person interested in working on an issue) talking about something in their life that they want to change. The process leader encourages the hotseat to focus on a feeling that comes up during the discussion of this barrier to what they want to accomplish. Upon identification of the feeling, the group encourages the hotseat to amp up the feeling to a point that triggers a memory. This memory is usually the formative event for the behavior. The hotseat describes this formative event. A role-playing of this event occurs. The hotseat generally gains an understanding of how intimacy centric relating results in a different outcome. If the hotseat desires to change his/her behavior to be more intimacy-centric model, the hotseat gives the rock back to the rock donors. If the hotseat forgives the rock, he/she replaces the rock with a heart rock. The group then re-role-plays the formative event using the sharing of feelings. Once the hotseat is comfortable either with his/her new tools or wants to go back to the rock, the group does a check out and discusses the feelings of the group regarding the process.

Breathwork
I can only go by my interpretation of Dr Grofs book since I have not experienced breathwork. Breathwork is a holotropic therapy that involves using hyperventilation, music and body work to become more in touch with your primal feelings. It involves a complete release of "thinking" and allows the user to engage in feeling during multiple sessions of breathing music and bodywork. The sessions of intense feelings allows the user to experience a release and achieve a state of relaxation by fully experiencing past sensations.

What I Intend to Accomplish
I am reading the account of the woman's experience with breathwork in Dr Grof's book and I am brought to tears. I think about by wife and my children. I want to provide them a person who is in touch with his feelings similar to what the woman experiences in the account. I struggle with feeling of acceptance, the need to judge and the need for approval. I wish to use my experience to gain insight on these struggles so that I can provide my family with a person whose sense of self is strong and defined.

Declaration
I commit to:
-participate fully in the Breathwork
-report my experiences to FAQ one week later, one month later and 6 months later

April 8, 2014

Emosturbation

Hi Ed,

I read your reply dated 8th April 2014:

I wonder where, in your body, you feel need to communicate.

I have during the meditation observed this. The need is in the throat.

This seems to be there as I feel that I have suppressed my deep feelings.

Page 6 of your book TTT has drawn my attention to these.

My efforts to understand myself are bearing fruits, slowly but surely.

Regards,

Your reply dated 7th April 2014: I = R and Feelings

In TTP, we do not try to control our feelings, or feel "good" feelings or avoid feeling "bad" feelings.

has finally thrown proper light and gives required clarity now to me.

OMG. Wow. Amazing.

Thanks a lot!

Read this just now. Feel like sharing.

"Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to understand and to be understood."

Your guidance has been very helpful.

Regards,

Apr 7, 2014

Breathwork Application

Ed,

SVOp

The term SVOp refers to communicating in a direct Manner. Sentences constructed in the present tense with a clear subject verb and object allows the speaker to communicate his purpose in a way such that his/her intentions are clear. It also allows the user to avoid direct questions which may be a form of control. The receiver of communications in SVOp is allowed to receive the communication and respond in a manner that is either controlling or intimate. Releasing control of your intentions using SVOp is a very intimate way of communicating in that you accept the results of communicating your wishes or feelings. Keeping the communication in the present tense focuses the desire or the feeling in the now. Operating in the now is what is in the communicator's control. I find that communicating in the past tense can lead to depressing feeling and communicating about things in the future creates anxiety. Focusing on the now creates comfort.

Control Centric vs Intimacy Centric Relating

Neither way of building rapport is fundamentally wrong. I find that understanding both provides a tremendous advantage to the individual. Intimacy Centric communicating is particularly suited for trading because is causes the individual to focus on what they control. Specifically you control your own actions. You control what you say and what you do. People who follow the control model tend to try and control others. This can very easily lead to coercion. Coercion can be accomplished not only using physical threats or violence but by trying to control others emotionally. Using judgment or medicinal language can elicit feelings in others and these techniques tend to coerce others into feeling a certain way. This usually devolves into a codependent relationship where one party seeks approval and the other provides it. In the intimacy centric model the focus is on sharing physical feelings. The user shares and receives feelings which allows relationships to be built on mutual desire. The user accepts that the other party may have different feelings or goals. Intimate centric rapport often leads to behaviors that produce results, accountability and clear agreements. This also furthers behaviors that are consistent with the intentions=results philosophy.

TTP and Questions

TTP is best practiced without the use of questions. The use of direct questions, especially "why" questions, can lead to judgment. When you ask a question, it implies the receiver should provide you with something. This is either information or justification. Instead of asking someone "what the temperature is?" you could say "I wonder what the temperature is. " Using the latter, you release control of the situation to the other party. They can give you the information willingly or they can choose to ignore your wishes. The person making the statement accepts the fact that they are not owed a response. In the case of a "why" question the receiver avoids the feeling of having to justify an action. Accepting that the other party is in control of this information is intimacy. The results for the person making the statement are generally better than asking a question because the receiver feels empowered which in fact they are. In most cases the information gained is of a higher quality than if you use a question.

The Rocks Process

The Rocks Process is used by the tribe to identify emotional rocks that may be part of the hotseat's behavior. The process starts with the hotseat (the person interested in working on an issue) talking about something in their life that they want to change. The process leader encourages the hotseat to focus on a feeling that comes up during the discussion of this barrier to what they want to accomplish. Once the feeling is identified then the hotseat is further encouraged to amp up the feeling to a point where a memory is triggered. This memory is usually the formative event for the behavior. Once the formative event is identified, the hotseat is asked to describe the event. This event can then be role-played. Once the hotseat understands how intimacy centric relating can be used to change the behavior in the formative event, the rock can be given back to the rock donors (if the hotseat so chooses). If the rock is forgiven, it is replaced with a heart rock. The formative event is then re-role-played using the sharing of feelings. Once the hotseat is comfortable, either with his/her new tools or wants to go back to the rock the group does a check out and discussed the feelings of the group regarding the process.

Breathwork

Having not experienced breathwork I can only go by my interpretation of Dr Grofs book. Breathwork is a holotropic therapy that involves using hyperventilation, music and body work to become more in touch with your primal feelings. It involves a complete release of "thinking" and allows the user to engage in feeling during multiple sessions of breathing music and bodywork. The sessions of intense feelings allows the user to experience a release and achieve a state of relaxation by fully experiencing past sensations.

What I Intend to Accomplish

I am reading the account of the woman's experience with breathwork in Dr Grof's book and I am brought to tears. I think about by wife and my children. I want to provide them a person who is in touch with his feelings similar to what the woman experienced in the account. I struggle with feeling of acceptance, the need to judge and the need for approval. I wish to use my experience to gain insight on these struggles so that I can provide my family with a person whose sense of self is strong and defined.

Declaration

I commit to:
-participate fully in the Breathwork
-report my experiences to FAQ one week later, one month later and 6 months later

Aptil 7, 2014

Tribe Support

Ed,

I just came from the first [City] Tribe meeting. I'm fortunate to have group of very willing members.

Unfortunately, I receive a call after the meeting about my mom's deteriorating health. I leave early AM to see her.

I feel I could not have better preparation than a tribe meeting to encounter this situation, and send and receive with my mom and family. I know I say it a lot, thank you again for sharing TTP.

April 7, 2014

Red Pill - Blue Pill

Dear Ed,

I feel curiosity (perked-up consciousness) and excitement (quickening of my pulse) when I read your idea of the red and blue pill possibilities of "both and more".

Though I commit to the red pill (painful reality), and know that is where my real life exists, right now I have so much painful reality going on, both physically and emotionally, that I long for a little blue pill every now and then.

Your idea that this might be okay refreshes me and relieves me. I would love for you to expand a bit on the combination and how that might actually create something "more."

In the meantime, I invent a new hobby called "Napping till bedtime".

Best wishes,

Apr 7, 2014

Interface Agreement Fail

Ed,

I am sorry for being late with my Tribe report.

Trading Tribe report for March 27, 2013

The first thing we did was to set goals for this series of tribe meetings. Everyone set goals that were business and personal. There were several weight loss goals. I committed to more activity in the Trading Tribe through e-mail and reading FAQ. I also made several commitments towards starting my fund of managed accounts. I also set some weight loss and fitness goals as well. I also committed to some spiritual and martial art activity goals as well.

Tonight was a great night for realizing the tremendous impact that emotional charged situations can have on our lives. Tribe Member Beta had an issue he wanted to work through that I helped role play in. He wanted to be able to follow through on his goals. Chief used the rocks process, and I role played a bully that took his friends from his as a child. I immediately enjoyed being the bully. This scares me sometimes, since I do tend to use coercion as a coping method with my relationships instead of sharing feelings. This really helped me realize how I need to re-dedicate to right livelihood. It is going to take a deeper commitment than I thought.

Thanks,

Apr 7, 2014

Losing Money and Anger

Hi Ed,

Today I lost some money trading in the markets. Soon after I took my loss and closed out my positions and stopped trading for the day my wife came in and sat down. I wasn't sure why, but I felt mildly annoyed for the intrusion.

We started to talk and when she talked I looked at my phone which I know she doesn't like. She got angry and said some words and walked out.

I notice a pattern, when I loose money I am mean to my wife. Trying to figure this out any thoughts?

Apr 7, 2014

I = R and Feelings

Dear Ed,

I read this: What do you really want to feel?

Does this question have any direct guidance you give to people who visit your site seeking guidance and wisdom?

I wonder about this.

Any guidance or views would be highly appreciated.

As usual,

Lots of regards,

Apr 7, 2014

Completion

Ed --

I am pleased report that I achieved the first goal I set for this series of Tribe meetings -- I replicated the Trading Systems Project Dual EMA System.

My results match to the penny: $2,303,931.25 in profits in 29 trades with matching trade open & close dates.

I also run the 85/325 system and it grows as expected, about 13X.

I run a simple optimization: stepping Long MA from 100 to 400 by 10.

Briefly, sorting by descending MAR ratio, the best results come from longer Long MAs (>=350), longer Short MAs (>=50), nATRstops=2, and %Risk=10.

The top performer is a 400/50 with nATRstops=2 and 10% risk. CAGR = 19.85%, MAR is a bit low at 0.27, Max drawdown is high at 73.6%, longest drawdown is 50.6 months but most other runs with high MARs are at 90+ months, there are seven trades.

Apr 7, 2014

No-Stress Express

Dear Ed,

I find this TED talk very interesting. The speaker cites a Harvard study that suggests re-framing "stressful" feelings as helpful indicators can improve health. She also describes how the hormone oxytocin motivates connection with others.

http://www.ted.com/talks/
kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend

Sincerely,

Apr 7, 2014

Effortless Trading

Ed,

OK since last time of e-mailing you Ed, trading has become stressless , emotionless and dare I say it pretty boring.

No more gambling, hoping, exciting, sad, trades etc Simply manage those positions and that's it.

Thanks for guiding me on this process.

Apr 7, 2014

Wants to Link

Dear Mr. Seykota,

I would like to ask you for permission to place
· The lyrics from your "Whipsaw Song"
· The video of your song
· The essentials of trading
· Together with the link to your website

On my website (going online in a few weeks).

It will be placed in the category: Resources / legendary traders

Best regards

Apr 6, 2014

File the News

Hi Mr. Ed Seykota

Today I was reading The Essentials. Can you please explain the meaning of last one File the News

Thanks and Regards

Apr 6, 2014

Dream

Hi Ed,

After writing to you last night I have a dream. I dream that I am with my mom. We are waiting in line for desert at a fancy hotel. I step out of line and head towards the bathroom. On the way to the bathroom a girl drops her shawl. I pick it up and tie it around her waist. I do not look at her face. I continue to head towards the bathroom.

There is a slope escalator (i don't know what its called but it doesn't have steps). At the bottom of the escalator I see four girls I presume they are robots. Their face is blue. I presume they await something. Deployment or something of the sort. Suddenly the escalator turns into a fast moving conveyor belt.

The conveyor belt transports me to the bottom floor where I see a girl next to me. Her face is not yet blue. I tell her help me get me out of here. Or How do I get out of here. She doesn't answer. I run back up the fast moving conveyor belt. Alarms sound as I try to break free. A metal arm holding a knife chases me. I almost make it out of the factory. The arm chases me and I begin to rip the knife away from the arm. The rubber spreads thin and weakens. Before I completely rip away the knife. I wake up. I remember my body feeling unusually warm.

I know what you say about dreams. Imagine I am each element of my dream and what do I feel as each element. I don know how to do that yet.

Not looking for any answers. I just want to share.

Thanks for reading,

Apr 6, 2014

Bad Intentions

Ed,

Does it follow then that bad or unexpected results imply bad intention? I find that a sad position.

Apr 6, 2014

Yeah I also see my typos and omissions...

Thanks,

Apr 5, 2014

Typo

Hi Chief,

I see a typo in the title of my report, "Austin" becomes the "Sustin"

Thanks,

Apr 5, 2014

Sustin (Austin) Tribe Report:
On Slowing Down and Completing Things Faster


Ed,

This is the first session of this year. We start with checking in feelings and then declaring goals. I tell the tribe my goal is to keep up good balance between good health, family, work and trading research and trading. Ed asks each member what is the measure to decide the achievement of the goal. I find that a clear measure is important. One member says his goal is by the end of this series, he wants to be able to do 50 pushups. I feel interesting for recently I start to resume doing pushups. Several other members also share the same goal.

I want to work on an issue which I notice for a long time and want to have some improvement. I often try to finish things fast and end up with shooting my own foot and have to redo everything and eventually slow myself down. I can't slow down when taking a walk, I can't slow down when I do massage on my son's feet. I seem to have a hasty constant moderate high frequency which I naturally tune into in a subconscious manner, often after a short futile conscious effort to slow down.

I give an example that once I install a reverse osmosis filter at home. I quickly finish it and test the water. It doesn't meet the standards. I check it quite few times and can't figure it out. Eventually I check the instruction again and find that I missed one line in the manual. Then I correct it and fix the problem. I feel frustrated about this situation.

Ed reminds me that I am telling my story too fast and asks me how I feel if I speak slowly. I find it hard for me to slow down. And he asks me how I feel if I do things in a slower pace. I explore it and feel a little out of breath, feel tightness on my skin and want to jump up and run. Tribe help me get into wild forms and then Ed freeze me.

I suddenly see a person in my mind. It's a friend in my elementary school. I recall what he does and what happen between us during that time. We once are good friends and one day he turns against me and asks his followers to bully me. I also have few followers. Our two groups often have street fights. Most time I lose.

I recall an incident that once I write a scroll to two of my followers, and give them the order to "kill them all". The second day when I am playing with one follower, the bully comes to us with all his followers, together with one of my follower. He take a scroll out of his pocket, and I am surprised to see it's my scroll. He read it out loud like a king while his followers shooting BB guns into the sky. I feel humiliated, and betrayed. I don't know what to do and petrified.

I feel confusion about the unclear connection of this incident and my hasty and recklessness behavior. I tell Ed and tribe that I am confused. Another member also feels the same way. Ed tells me that he doesn't want to push me and the only thing he does is to take whatever shows up and follow the trend. He asks me whether I want to go out of control and do the process. I have a fear this might not be the right incident to play on and I might screw the tribe and waste the resource. But I eventually want to take this trade and goes with it.

Tribe start role play this situation. when the bully reads my scroll and other kids mock me, I feel exactly the same feeling as what happens. When the bully says "I have your girl friend, your friends and your scroll", I stand there petrified, hurt and ashamed. My only left follower keeps asking me what we can do. I don't know what to do and just want to get away. I slowly sit down and lower my head. I suddenly realize why I always want to lower my head while I am walking, standing.

When Ed asks me who in my family does the same of shutting down. I recall my dad. Once at the dinner table, my dad makes some not-that-patriotic comment about the government news and my mom immediately scolds him in front of all the kids. We recognize that he is the rock donor. Two members also play this situation.

For several times Ed reminds me that he doesn't want to push me unless I have the willingness to work. I have to earn it. This make me feel I really need to work and make the changes to happen with my own effort, before anyone can help me. It's a feeling like I am alone, away from parents or friends, out in a dark, dangerous, wild place and no one around. I make up my mind and I want to proceed. When reviewing this part of the process, I start to understand the importance of willingness test and it's intention to avoid doctor-patient co-dependency.

Ed ask me how I feel if I put down this rock. I try it and feel void. Ed tells me it's the time if I really want to fore-give this rock. I go to my dad and tell him I want to give back his rock. He ignores me and goes to sleep. I try to ask about his feeling and he clams up. I don't know what to do. Ed tells me I can wake him up by raising my voice. I do it and he wakes up. and I insist to fore-give the rock, and Ed reminds me that the fore-giving doesn't finish until I put the rock back into his hand, not just leaving it on the table.

I also learn from this fore-giving process that sometimes if people refuse to share feeling, I can use a little force to catch their attention. I am not using force to control them to do what I want, but using some force to push them to open their feeling channel or feeling interface, when they are used to clamming up.

Ed hands me the heart rock and then we role play the scroll drama again. Ed asks me to ask how the follower feel about my scroll, and feel about "fight them to death". The "infidel" follower tells me that he doesn't want to fight, he wants to play and stay safe. and the other follower also feel the same. They ask me how I feel, I tell them I feel excited. And then I feel I am pulling them into my own personal vendetta, my own personal business. Now I feel a little lack of consideration. I want to hide my scroll now and no longer want to give it to them.

Ed then shows me how to share feeling with the "bully", during the process, I start to feel good by keeping my head straight and up and look right into his eyes. I ask him how he feels about me. And tell him no matter how he feels about me, I am OK with it. I start to feel less fear and nervous, and more confidence and relaxation, and even a little intimacy with the bully. He is just another man.

Near end of the process before checking out, I start to feel profound relaxation at deep of my mind and it even leads to the curiosity to everything. I start to feel the connection of the incident and my hasty propensity. During the check out, I mention such relaxation a little and decide not to go to detail. I don't want to pursuit logic analysis now. I know if this process works, after this meeting, I am going to see incidents where I "surprise myself" by fully automatic reactions to stress situation in a new way. (This Friday when quite few markets goes sharp against my position. I feel that relaxation, detachment and curiosity again. it's a cool feeling).

Another new thing I pick up from this process is when releasing roles, Ed also asks me to release his role as messenger and PM. This is to avoid doctor-patient codependency. I have such confusion whether we need to do it when I host my local tribe. And after this Autin Tribe meeting, in the local tribe meeting few days later, I also start to incorporate this step in our local tribe rock process.

In the second rock process, the hot seat member has an issue of trading on ambiguous rules. He recalls that his dad often gets excited on a capricious idea and do something whimsical, like asking his staff to rearrange office furnitures and then when get blame by his mom, his dad turns into shutting down and goes to sleep. He also recalls once his dad comes back and asks his mom for money to fund his Nth new business idea. His mom usually gets mad and the dad shuts down. And later he always get the money.

A member volunteer to manage this process. His courage inspires me and I volunteer to play the dad. I start with wanting to help the hot seat and the PM, and end up with realizing that I am perfect fit for the role of the dad. I have exactly the same bi-polar tendency of getting excited by impulsive ideas and shutdown and depression when getting disapproval. It's really a great process and I benefit a lot from the role playing.

It's a great meeting and I am really grateful to the help from the tribe and Ed. The members who play the bully, the followers and my parents perfectly express themselves in the respective roles. I thank you for having me in the tribe and thank all the members for helping me in my process.

The second after I get back home, my son tells me that he feel sore on his muscles. I ask what happens. He tells me that he does 2 groups pushup the day before, total 40. I feel amazing, for last time he does pushups is about half year ago. |-)

The Saturday after the meeting I do a lot of chores in the morning. I find my pool is turning green and I start a major cleaning effort. I open the safety net, scraping the bottom and side wall, test water and applying chemicals, drain the spa, clean the filters and operate the robot. I find that I do all these in a relaxed, organized, enjoyable way and at a slow pace. And I finish them quickly, in less than 2 hours. Then I head to mowing my lawns. There are two blocks for grass with irregular shapes, usually I feel uncomfortable for it slows me down and I have to pull the lawnmower back and forth to reposition. Today I feel easy and naturally find a optimum pattern to finish them quickly.

The weekend I am able to start and finish the contract rollover module smoothly. It's a "intimidating" job I have been thinking for a while. I use double quote on the "intimidating" for I really don't think it's intimidating now. I write the code, review it with bare eyes which I don't usually do, before I start to run and debug them. It comes out very well. I no longer rely on the continuous contracts for back-testing.

Monday at work I stop debugging my software and just sit down reading the source code without a purpose while the management are pushing. I find few bugs with my bare eyes and correct them, even before I run them. During work, several problems pops up. I find myself dealing with them automatically from a system other than my emotion. I find that I am more easygoing when the junior engineer comes to me for help, even my own schedule is tight. Before the Alpha release of the product some problems reported by QA and I feel I am going to breakdown even after work. But I stick to my system to play with my daughter and son, check the markets and place orders, host local tribe meeting and continue my work. And problems go away and settle by themselves. I find that I feel differently when the management pushing me for the schedule. I feel less nervous or scared.

Another interesting thing is that in my local tribe meeting on the next Tuesday, a member raises a issue of not being a good provider for the family and after a form development session, he recalls an early incident that his dad comes back home and ask his mom for money to fund his business plan. We role play this. It's amazing how under-Fred network connecting the local tribe and the Austin tribe.

Thanks,

Apr 4, 2014

Breathwork Application

Ed,

After consulting with my physician and knowing the risks associated with asthma and Breathwork I feel my level of health does not pose a problem. I intend to take adequate precautions to ensure my safety.

I read Grof's 'Adventure of Self Discovery' and study pages 167-219.

I apply for Breathwork Weekend April 11-13, 2014. I include my essays below.

SVO-p

SVO-p also known as Subject, Verb, Object, in present tense keeps me in the now. Speaking and writing in SVO-p clarifies my thoughts and offers no place to hide in either the past or future. SVO-p helps me to feel more and helps me receive others' feelings. I notice I feel more confident and direct when using SVO-p. When I cannot express my thoughts in SVO-p it provides a great indicator that I need more clarity and that feelings are missing in my communication. SVO-p also keeps me in line with the Intentions=Results model which in turn keeps me on my path toward Right Livelihood.

Control-Centric and Intimacy-Centric Relating

Intimacy-Centric relating offers a great alternative to Control-Centric relating in that my feelings as well as the person I communicate with feelings receive respect and celebration. Control-Centric relating works when I repress, exile or manipulate not only my feelings but the feelings of the other person. It feels better to use Intimacy-Centric relating where building rapport and constantly checking for willingness maintain a loving flow of communication. Most drama in my life comes from manipulation and hiding from feelings that I learn to categorize as bad growing up. When using the Intimacy-Centric model I feel my life move towards greater freedom defined to me by a friend as "absence of control". The model helps me keep in line with trend following outside of trading where I accept, respect and love the other individual absent judgment or wanting to fix or change them.

TTP and Questions

TTP offers myself and others a chance at joining an intentional community (Tribe) where feelings and personal growth receive acknowledgement and support. Every tribe member has the opportunity to participate by either "sending" feelings or "receiving" feelings. Typically myself and other members wish to change something and further our journey toward Right Livelihood. We express our issues to our Tribe who use "relentless validation" to help us in experiencing our feelings by amplifying physical forms to the extent we remain willing. Through TTP I find the answers tend to come from within when Fred and CM relay information absent "k-nots". In TTP and life we gain information absent demands or control of questions by expressing our wonder or curiosity about a subject. This seems more in line with the Intimacy-Centric model in that respect and love replace control and force.

Rocks Process

In the Rocks Process I express an issue or willingness to change something. With the help of the Tribe's validation my feelings surrounding the issue show up as physical forms. The PM (Process Manager) guides the process and through more encouragement from the Tribe I reach a maximum intensity level. When the PM senses this he/she asks me to recall an early incident that feels the same. Once identified, the tribe role plays the critical incident to the point of "feeling real". The role play consists of myself, the medicinal rock (emotional response to stress; shutting down), the rock donor (the person who gives the medicinal rock to me so that I may cope with my feelings associated with the stress) and stressor. The role play involves me receiving the medicinal rock(s) from rock donor with instructions. I then have opportunity to "fore-give" medicinal rock back to rock donor in favor of a proactive rock(s). The tribe helps me see how to use the proactive rock(s) in the original situation through role play and gives me the opportunity to use it role plays until I feel a degree of comfort using it. I find after role release and checkout I feel lighter and reprogrammed. I feel at greater ease using the new proactive rock in new situations.

How Breathwork Works

Breathwork works by using accelerated deeper breathing, music and bodywork to induce a non ordinary state of consciousness. In this non ordinary state of consciousness one can access the healing power, wisdom and energy locked away by years of repression. Every individual has a sitter who keeps him or her safe but who does not interfere with the process. Breathwork requires that we give up control and trust the process.

What I Intend to Accomplish

Through Breathwork I intend to accomplish greater freedom and intimacy by exploring my feelings of tightness in my chest, my feelings on deception and my feelings surrounding incidents of past child abuse. I feel that a lot of energy remains diverted on these three areas and I wish to release this energy and continue healing. My goal remains to give and receive more love to myself and my Essential Tribe and continue on the path of Right Livelihood and intimacy.

Commitments

I commit to participate fully in the Breathwork and report my experiences to FAQ one week later, one month later, and six months later.

I read, understand, and sign the hold-harmless disclaimer and produce signed copy at arrival.

Thank You.

Apr 3, 2014

Austin Tribe Report

Dear Ed:

The Austin tribe begins - I feel thankful for another opportunity to work and explore with the support of friends.

We go around the room with our goals for the series and this brings up a number of issues.

Another member starts talking about not having stop losses. I get the sense that he is down a lot in his account.

I feel angry - but I look within myself and discover that I have an issue with stop losses as well. As I write this, I realize that my returns would improve if I used stop & limit orders to enter markets more regularly. I now see that stops and limits to enter and exit positions is form of surrender.

The first TTP session starts. I find myself getting sleepy and loosing track of what is happening.

The person on the hot seat is a leader in school with some followers. There is also a bully with followers. The hot seat person tells his followers he wants to take on the bully. His followers are afraid and uncertain about
this but no one discusses their feelings. They try to act "cool". The uncertain followers make half hearted attempts to confront the bully, but the bully prevails.

Later the process is run with the person in the hot seat sharing his feeling with his followers and asking for their feelings. They all realize that they do not want to confront the bully.

There is a lot more to scene but I miss much of it. I wonder why I miss most of the scene.

In the second session I am on the hot seat dealing with my issue around stop losses. There are several questions that lead me to realize that my trading rules have ambiguity and that I don't really have a system. I see this clearly for the first time - and find that I have no hard rules in my system.

As I go into my form, I get really high. I remember this feeling - when I was taking laughing gas in a dentist chair. I remember my father being always so high and enthusiastic but also making sudden changes with his business. As we go through the process I get a number of AHAs.

As a kid I observed the same sequence of interactions between my father and mother.

My father would be really high about a business venture. Even though he was successful something would go wrong - normally due to another person not keeping their agreement.

He would then go to my mother and ask for some cash. My mother would yell at him for some time. He would shut down. Then he would get the cash and the cycle would repeat again.

When I get the heart rocks - I review my feelings about my rules. I see that they can easily be made precise with no ambiguity. Its actually very easy to do.

This is an immediate change and its effortless. I am thankful to the tribe for helping me see this.

The session concludes. I look forward to the next session.

Apr 3, 2014

Shyness

Hi Ed,

Thank you so much for speaking with me today.

I sent out my March report yesterday, so I wanted to pass it along to you. Please see attached.

I appreciate your feedback on my shyness. You hit the nail on the head with that character trait.

I look forward to the new trader-focused trading tribe. I think it can help us all improve our game.

Thanks again.

Apr 3, 2014

More-ons and Less-Ons

Dear Ed,

Have had many Less-ons and now realize i would like to be a mor-on.

I feel like there is an unperformance boiling up within me. Readying for the leap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XijsnujcFg

Apr 3, 2014

Austin Tribe Report - Dealing With Bullies

HI Ed,

The meeting starts drumming, check in and going over what each members want to accomplish through this 10 session. Ed goes over every member's goals with deep attention and care ending with " How do you measure that?" Each member commit to a methods of measurement to present at each sessions to share their progress.

Next we get right in to Rock Process. I see some difference in the Rock Process from Incline era and Austin Tribe and I see the process is more quick, precise and efficient than before. I see the tribe schedule to end at 11:00PM. I wonder if Ed really means that… To my surprise, meeting ends pretty much exactly at 11:00PM. I also felt that the meeting went very well and accomplished everything that we could have accomplished for that day.

Through the meeting, I learn great deal about the joy of possibilities of going with the flow or the trend. Either good outcome or bad outcome, have no judgment and see what the trend leads you. It may not work out, it may work out. If it doesn't work out, you get stopped out. If it does work out, may be it will leads to something new with big possibilities. Ed shares with us in unique way to implement this in the tribe process or may be this is only through my perception. It doesn't matter, I feel very glad that I sign up for the series. I feel grateful for Ed for many reasons.

After the meeting is over, I have small drama in the bedroom as I try to open the window. This gives me AHA. Glad to have found an entry point.

Next day, I took some new position with mild enthusiasm. I implement trail stops as promised during the meeting. I feel OK about it. I struggle to what stops I should put in, however I figured it out as best as I could.

I decided to call one of my bully client who I have not spoken for 3 months. I notice he has powerful negative mind sets compare to other clients, with talented threatening touch to his tone. I avoid him for long time and relationship is hitting all time low and got even worse. When I called him I instinctively went with the flow. I have no judgment about him and let him say whatever he wanted to say till he got tired, both of us felt good(I hope..). He was on a roll, telling me everything he had in his mind and more and more…. Yet I judge none and let him roll, I began to enjoy his nuance. I found that even he wants me to do well. He told me he was scared. He wanted me to get my groove back. We ended the conversation committing to speak at least once a months to measure the progress.

There is lot to be done, I intend to be clear about the myth surrounding being able to instinctively apply proper stops to all my positions at all time by the end of this Austin tribe session or hopefully early part of the session so that I can work on other, precisely ride the trend until the end.

I feel grateful for Ed and all tribe members for their commitment and their willingness to support and I hope that I could contribute to each and everyone's progress through TTP Process.

Looking forward for the next session.

Apr 3, 2014

Endowing With Liberty

Dear Ed,

I am checking for mismatches of US Companies tickers in two stocks databases as I am looking to establish if financial statements information have any additional value in portfolio selection as compared to price dynamics.

As I am going through the process, I stumble into the corporate details of a Bank and I discover, via its history description, that this financial institution was selling "Liberty Bonds" back in the days.

At first, I feel irate as I see the juxtaposition of the words "Liberty" - "Bonds", used artfully and conveniently by the US Government to recommend debt-financing as a patriotic duty towards citizens freedom.

Then, I dream a day, citizens voluntarily demand to endow with liberty rather than with bonds.

Truly,

Apr 2, 2014

Tribe Report

Ed,

I arrive at Tribe tired from a late night and lack of sleep the night before (2am/6 hours). We now rotate the running of the meeting so <person1> is running it this week. We have a new member. We go around and everyone gives a short account of their journey to tribe by way of introduction.

After drumming and exercises <person1> asks any for the hot seat and <new member> is hottest. I volunteer to go first, thinking that this will help him to learn the ropes before his turn.

I have a few issues: I tend to wind people up, feel sadness and regret at my father's disappointment about me and his chronic absence, my fear of his threatened violence causing nightmares that went away a long time ago but came back on the recent major anniversary of this death, sadness I have to put my dog of 13 years down soon.

I start with my tendency to wind people up, an incident on the plane on the way back from the US. It evolves quickly into the issues with my Dad but it never gets to a very high level of intensity. PM asks for a time I felt his hostility and violence and I recount an incident just before my wedding, a dispute about who would be invited. It is resolved by him threatening violence unless I comply with his wishes. There was an earlier time I don't mention. For some reason I don't feel like proceeding with a rocks process. At the time it seemed obvious that things were not right, but on reflection it would have been perfect. So we stop.

In checkout the PM points out that my Dad used to wind people up all the time and you are mirroring him. Hmm this is 100% true but news to me until now. Not sure how he knows that my Dad does this. A missed opportunity but I gain some insight and a problem not solved remains available for another attempt.

After this underwhelming display of how not to do TTP, <new member> steps up. I am PM.

The issue starts with his public humiliation at a public gathering, where his parents led by his mother announce that he has greatly disappointed the family by failing to get into the course of his mother's choice and will therefore be unable to follow his father into the same profession. In the original situation <new member> originally shut down and then defended himself in a hostile manner.

<new member> reaches a high level of intensity quickly and I ask when he felt like this before. He says the above-mentioned incident is the most vivid. We re-enact that, and <new member> reports that the feelings return. The mother we identify as the perpetrator and the rock donor. We then come up with some proactive resources. A family friend donates the new strategies of receiving the parents and not trying to prove they are mistaken. We re-enact and <new member> decides the old Rock is not for him and accepts the new rock. However he still resorts somewhat to defending his position and proving he is right so we run that bit again with success.

In checkout <new member> says it feels like success and he plans to drop in on his mother the next morning and see how things go.

In checkout we all feel we did it pretty right this time. Let's see how things pan out in the real world.

A couple of days later <new member> reports that during his visit his mother tries several times to create drama with trenchant criticism of <new member>'s sister and later himself. He says ""I sense that you are feeling unappreciated" and she actually talked about her feelings (for once). Later criticism he shrugs off on contrast to the previously deadly "button seeking missiles".

He also comments that it happens without consciously thinking about it, and the button pushing just slides by without any conscious effort to "let it go". And he trades "excellently", without the usual obsessing about positions, early closeouts etc.

I feel very happy when I hear all this.

Also :

Normally you take city names off the posting, except for your own Tribe. I think that taking the names off helps encourage people to file reports, so I urge you to consider removing the city name.

Regards,

Apr 2, 2014

In a Rut

Hi Ed,

These days i am facing a problem in a more amplified manner than before. I am unable to stay on any task. I get immediately distracted from the task at hand by something else. If there is "nothing else" then i choose to distract myself by either watching TV or some other such stuff (maybe web browsing, etc).

The end result of this is that i have trouble staying on any task, all work items pile up (either at office or home). I believe this is leading to more stress as nothing gets done. Either because things have piled up or maybe it is my tendency to take on too much, i feel i have spread myself too thin among lots of things and i am almost at the point of just giving it all up! I feel, whats the point? I am not going to get things done anyway.

I feel my distraction could also be due to an innate inertia/unwillingness to avoid doing anything. Either i fear failure and do not venture to do anything or i just want to completely avoid going out of my comfort zone of not having any feelings challenged. I think i have completely and overly medicated my feelings to the point that i completely avoid any experience that could produce "harmful" feelings.

This is the rut/cycle i am stuck in currently and i don't know how to get out of it. Perhaps an indication of what feelings i should take to tribe here might help.

Thanks,

Apr 2, 2014

Austin Tribe Report

Ed,

Austin Tribe Meeting #1 complete. We drum. We individually report on Statement of Goals for the tribe series. Ed presses for something to measure. My primary goal: develop, back-test and implement a trend following system for a diverse portfolio of highly liquid futures markets.

Hot seat one wants to work on a family issue. He talks fast. He recalls a childhood experience involving a bully and a scroll. We role play the scenario. I volunteer to role play. I like the role play experience. I recall childhood experiences. I experience forms during the role play process. Namely an eye twitch when learning his written instructions on the scroll call for violence. Hot seat peacefully resolves issue with bully. Hot seat now talks slow and clear. I find freedom participating in the role play process.

Hot seat two wants to work on a 'stop' issue in his trading system. It is difficult to follow his description of the problem. Ed tactfully pins him down to his trading rules. The rules seem vague. Ed asks for one trading rule. Ed receives none. A process manager takes over. Hot seat recalls childhood experiences involving his father's numerous business ventures requiring loans from his mother. His mother verbally abuses his father for prior ventures and losses. His father shuts down. We role play the process. I play the mother. I find the role difficult. I find my attempt to increase the abuse 5x my initial attempt difficult. Hot seat's trading process seems to follow his father's business venture process. We complete a Rocks process. Hot seat makes agreement to write down rules for next tribe meeting.

Meeting enjoyed! I will arrive early on 4.10 to assist in the pizza ordering process.

Apr 2, 2014

Easy Does It

Hi Ed,

I am finding your books well written and concepts easy to understand. Thank you for making learning complex ideas easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrNqSLPaZLc&sns=em

Apr 2, 2014

Physics Lite

Hi Ed,

I am watching this series to understand light. I feel relief that this instructor states he does not understand some of the properties of light. And that nobody understands light yet.

Maybe you have figured it out now. I am remembering a conversation we shared regarding the propagation of light and the Two Slit experiment. I wonder if you care to share your current thoughts about the propagation of light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLQ2atfqk2c&sns=em

Apr 2, 2014

Discrimination and Disappointment

Dear Ed,

well, about my response to Pk-4 (Chess) I've used during years many ideas and variant (and with White I often played the same ! ), and I always tried to take the initiative and not only equalizing for a draw :)

But about the particular matter, I stopped playing tournaments simply because I was tired of receiving insults and boos when I had won a tournament : for example, once time during the award ceremony of the championship of my city (Milan) the organizers and the public had applauded the player who won the second prize , and refused to hand me the winner's trophy simply placing it on the table without any handshaking (among other things , violating the international rules of fair play)

But this was only one of many unpleasant facts I've seen for years...

And when later I've started a career as a trainer , after a few months I had created a chess-school composed of thirty children ( from nothing !) , the same happened : my "friends" of the club did their best for distrupting and destroying my initiative ; and they have succeeded, unfortunately for me .

Clearly for me it was a great delusion, but now I think that all what happened was simply unavoidable .

Now I have absolutely no regrets , even if I like playing chess the same .

About my feelings of disappointment : it's harder to crack prejudice than an atom (as Albert Einstein said many years ago ), and so I had only to accept the situation and also removing from me the state of tension and general discomfort .

I know very well this feeling is the reason of the problems I have now .

You tell : "When a feeling dissolve , it ceaese to be your enemy and begins to be one of your allies"

Yes , I know very well that when my disappointment decrease , my life becomes better and results in trading the same.

A woman italian poet of the Renaissance (Veronica Franco) has written in 1585 :

"When we too are armed and trained, we can convince men that we have hands, feet, and a heart like yours; and although we may be delicate and soft, some men who are delicate are also strong; and others, coarse and harsh, are cowards.

Women have not yet realized this, for if they should decide to do so, they would be able to fight you until death; and to prove that I speak the truth, amongst so many women, I will be the first to act, setting an example for them to follow. "

Well, my intention is to act in the same way

Wishing you all the best,

Apr 1, 2014

Breathwork Application

Chief,

Please find my breath-work application bellow.

I can't wait to see you again.

Thank you,

-----

TT Workshop Graduate. YES September 2013

Read Adventure of Self Discovery by Stan Grof. YES

Study pages 167-219: Principles of Holotropic Therapy. YES

SVO-p

The purpose of SVO-p is to keep thinking clear. It stands for Subject Verb Object in the present tense. This type of usage prevents a lot of ambiguity. It prevents the very long and complicated language that people use to hide their feelings. It keeps things real. The Trading Tribe book is written in this manner so, there no ambiguity about it. It also keeps things in the moment of now. I also find that whenever I use SVO-p with my children they understand everything much clearer.

Control-Centric and Intimacy-Centric Relating TTP

Control-Centric relating occurs when one person is seeking control over another by inducing certain feelings. This creates the behavior that the originator of the Control-Centric Relating person is seeking. The most common method of doing this type of control is the use of guilt by one to one or more people. The feelings that are induced in order to control someone are sometimes evoked by physical punishment such as spanking with children. Unfortunately, some persons take this further and use physical abuse to control others as well. The language usually involves some form of blaming others for the emotions they are feeling themselves. These emotional patterns are usually established in childhood, they are continued throughout life.

The Intimacy-Centric model of relating occurs when one person relates by feelings with another; this leads to acknowledgement and honoring of the other people's feelings and Right Livelihood. A large part of what can be practiced in this type of relating this way is receiving others feelings. This helps the other person feel acknowledgement and honor in the way they are feeling. It is important to do this in a non judgmental way. Relating with others a feelings level leads to an intimacy that removes the drama from the relationship.

Questions

Questions often indicate the type of relating a person is involved in with another. A Control-Centric model usually asks questions in blaming and guilt driving intention.

"What are you doing? How can you do that to me?!!" "Do you know how that makes me feel?!" "Do you have any idea of how angry that makes me?!!" These are all questions that examples of what someone who wants to control someone would ask. They are seeking to control the way the other person feels and thus their behavior.

Someone who is using Intimacy-Control Relating responds to feelings by acknowledging and honoring the other's feelings. "Thank you. Tell me more?" is commonly used. Offering to share how you feel can be used as well, "Can I share with you how I feel?".

The use of Intimacy-Centric Relating model reduces the drama as the other person who is upset has their feeling acknowledged by another. This a way that one using the Intimacy-Control can control the situation.

The Rocks Process

Rocks are the ingrained emotional patterns that we use to create dramas in our lives. Most of them are learned during a stressful moment usually in childhood. These emotional patterns are played out repeatedly throughout our lives. One example that I have experienced is the rock of yelling to deal with stressful situation such as small children. My father yelled at me a lot when he was stressed from not being able to work due to a leg in a cast. He yelled at me once, when he was stressed, and I created an emotional pattern that I carried through to my raising kids by yelling at them whenever I am stressed and they are not behaving perfectly. This rock has been something I have used with my children for the last 15 years.

A rock is used when in a vicious cycle, when there is a sensation that creates an emotion. This emotion uses the rock to use the medicinal pattern to deal with the emotion. And the cycle continues to run until the rock is dealt with.

How Breathwork Works

Breathwork is the method of developing a state of altered consciousness with the goal of self-exploration and a personal integration of the emotions well being. The intense breathing leads to bring forth the non-conscious memories and feelings. These memories and feelings often center on some trauma experienced as a child. The goal of the Breathwork is the integration of these feelings to create emotionally whole individual. This usually leads to a further quest for personal growth often in a spiritual quest.

What I intend to accomplish

I intend to develop a better understanding of how my emotions influence my level of productivity. It is also very important to me to create the emotional framework for being a successful trader.

I commit to: participate fully in the Breathwork and report my experiences to FAQ one week later, one month later and 6 months later.

I will bring a singed copy of the disclaimer, since I am unable to e-mail a singed copy.

Apr 1, 2014

Riding the Trend

Hi Ed,

With immense job satisfaction feeling I send you this link. Pl see ... chart.

Pulling the trigger is becoming easy after singing the Whipsaw song.

What do we do when it gets real big, babe
What do we do when it's even bigger ...
We stick to the plan and pull the trigger.

Thanks again!

April 1, 2014

There Egos Again

Dear Ed,

I refer to your reply to my e-mail :

At some level this makes me laugh at the reality and at the same time I feel I should pay a hell lot of attention whether I suffer from this syndrome which has a backing of EGO!

Thank you.

Just for your reference, few of my investor friends no longer want to talk to me like past as they know that I am reading MW regularly.

One close one asked seriously " Are you sure you want to learn trading?!"

When I confirm, I can feel, from his tone that he wants to put the phone down as early as courtesy allows him! He exactly does that.

After so many months he invites me recently to meet James Grant, the publisher of Grant's Interest Rates observer. Meeting with him and with my friend goes just great. We end up spending few hours there.

I notice that hard-core Investors do not want to mix with people who are learning trading. Again I remember you there during the meeting and realize that everybody gets what they want.

This makes life easy and simple.

Thank you.

Apr 1, 2014

Reading

Dear Ed,

Feel sharing this thought with you.

People with fuzzy priorities somehow keep complicating their lives. Their life is full of dramas.

You have stated "When nature gives us true burning desires, she also gives us the means to satisfy them."

We all know about your famous formula I = R.

I found your answer to Jack on page 171 of his MW book quite insightful about winning traders.

I have started reading your interview in MW again as I feel I need to reread it to understand it more correctly.

I know my need to reread is also another feeling that I have in the present moment of now.

Thanks again.

Apr 1, 2014

Perfectionism

Hi Ed,

Page 10 of TTT book. I refer to your statement "I have to simply acknowledge my feelings about wanting it to be perfect" and do it now."

I realize that the need to be 100% perfect has made me miss many important moves in the Stock Market.

Intuition is playing important role. Dreams have played important role. So now rather than being 100% perfect it's OK be to little bit less perfect and my focus is on not missing the big picture.

Just by being in the present moment of now, I am able to play TT much better.

My wanting to know about your theories, methods and success is I realize just another strong feeling!

Thank you

With lots of love and regards,

Apr 1, 2014

Humans and Bees

Hi Ed,

I think you might find this book to be interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Physics-Spread%C2%97The-Lessons-Science/dp/1594205655

If the Big Data revolution has a presiding genius, it is MIT's Alex "Sandy" Pentland. Over years of ground-breaking experiments, he has distilled remarkable discoveries significant enough to become the bedrock of a whole new scientific field: social physics. Humans have more in common with bees than we like to admit: We're social creatures first and foremost. Our most important habits of action—and most basic notions of common sense—are wired into us through our coordination in social groups.