Ed's FAQ Jan 01-31 2020

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Ed Says

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Jan 10, 2020

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
Checking In and Out with the Kids

Hello everyone!

I find myself making baby steps into formalizing a daily routine. I notice mixed emotions as I follow my top tasks of trading on a regular basis. I want to move faster. I want to be more productive. I want to get more done.

I accept that the 'what is' is perfect (from Byron Katie) and that wanting to rushing through the tasks simply delays the intention. I welcome the feelings, accept them and release them. I feel liberated and empowered to progress through my trading plan.

The NOW is bright as I accept to enjoy the process. I feel sense of fulfillment and camaraderie as I write this email. I am grateful for Ed and the rest of the group for who you are and what you do. I learn from all of you.

p.s. I find myself using the check-in / check-out process with my children!

Thank you for checking in and for sharing your process.

Jan 10, 2020

Wants The Trading Tribe as an eBook

Hi,

Do you intend to publish an ebook version of The Trading Tribe?

Thanks and regards

Thank you for raising this issue.

I wonder if can educate me as to how eBook publishing works.

Jan 10, 2020

Wants it Smooth

I share at 61, I find myself wishing for a new career. One that has fewer political camouflage or over-eager, adversarial lawyers. I speculate I can find more happiness, accomplish more, with less wave amplitude or bump distractions.

So my radar is operating. I cannot predict what it can find.

It seems to be signaling to me things that I don’t need a computer to back test to figure out.

I just begin to know - like on a big spike up do you lighten up or do you stay fully loaded and only get out after a retracement?

I realize this isn’t a math question, but you might let math fool you. Rather, this is a choice for how to enjoy your trading more.

I appreciate our friendship, And hope we can get together and share a few thoughts and stories.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

You pose an intriguing question about exiting on up spikes.

Mostly, on smaller up-spikes in a major bull market, you merely risk losing your position.

Near the end of a mania market, the last few days can provide a unique opportunity to save your bacon.

I do not know how to state rules for top picking. Tops happen infrequently, now and again.

For grins, giggles and gasps, you might consider looking up the day of the very tip-top of the Bitcoin market - and then look up that date on FAQ.

Jan 10, 2020

Performance for 2019

Ed,

I enclose my Performance Graph for 2019.

Thank you for sending me your Performance Graph - and for following your system, both during draw downs and draw ups as well.

Jan 8, 2002

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
Back Testing and Back Therapy

Hi,

For last 3 weeks I have been traveling.

I spend some effort by practicing a technique, visceral massage to treat my back condition.

It’s a technique originated in France. I received such treatment from some local practitioners in my local area several years ago. I started to do it by myself and I find it helps.

The technique comprises applying very gentle hand movement on the skin of belly and adjust the internal organ position, specially colon. to restore the natural relative position of internal organs. Many back pain relate to such disorder of fluid dynamics.

The force is less than the weight of a quarter. For my case, or even no direct touch to the skin.

I find that my colon responds to the hand movement / guidance and start to adjust it’s position. It starts to relive the pressure on my back muscle and have very good result.

It takes patience. It requires very light position. I need to be delicate, focused, precise and patient. I notice my urge of wanting instant result and wanting to over exert.

I feel good about starting to love myself and taking care of myself, be patient and stop over drafting my health.

I am changing my medical benefit of this year to PPO so I can see professionals to get more treatments.

Thanks,

Thank you for checking in.

Jan 7, 2020

Developing the Perfect System

I have just finished reading "Reminisces of a Stock Operator" per Ed Seykota's mention at the TTP trading workshop and learned so much from it. It was about Jesse Livemore, a trader that found his own system from his own judgement without outside interference; and was one of the most successful traders ever to live.

I learn from him that in any trade "the last 2 eighths are the most expensive eights in the world" - meaning that we cannot and should not try to extract every last penny from the market. I am seeing less is more in trading.

I also learn from Baron Rothschild in his own words about the secret of being the wealthiest man ever and he said that he simply "never buys at the bottom and always sells too early".

I understand this to mean that you never know its the bottom until it proves itself as the bottom, and that he never tries to wait for a top and sells while there is a willing market to absorb his line there.

I learn about how market markers engineer and manipulate the market to create the market. These realizations rock my core and help focus me.

I am also letting Ed Seykota's wisdom sitting in that "the best system is the system that you are most compatible with."

I am learning I prefer a system that is a consistent winner in any market condition, even if it means not having as huge swings. Consistent money I can depend on is finding more importance to me than trying to strike huge winnings quickly. That will come anyways through simple exponential compounding.

My desire for maximum Risk Control has gained enormously. One of my trusted mentors once told me- It is more important to not lose money than it is to make money. I have seen this personally in the markets where taking big swings over time will eventually strike you hard, even if you are right the majority of the time. I will not allow such risk to my capital ever again.

These elements I will want to pay close attention to as I develop my own "perfect" system, one that is perfect for me.

I am feeling more and more confidence in my own conclusions on the market and anticipating price from pattern recognition. I have been calling big moves very accurately.

The next book I am about to read was a recommendation from a friends called "building winning algorithmic trading systems" and I can see it will answer and guide me to the answers for the majority if not all my back testing questions.

After reading this book I plan to spend some time back testing and simulating different trading systems I have built and tweak them to fit my emotional parameters.

I feel I am getting closer to my goals and I will have achieved them possibly even before March 30, 2020.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for sharing your feelings and insights.

Jan 7, 2020

Pondering Long Gold

Ed,

Pondering long gold, you came to my mind.

All the best to you and yours.

Thank you for informing me of your pondering.

Jan 7, 2020

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
From Nodding to Knowing

Firstly, thank you all for the opportunity to share my developments.

Secondly, as I am cultivating my skill of being vulnerable, I am experiencing several new insights about who I choice to be.

For example, how exactly I experience vulnerability.

Vulnerability is the capacity to disable all defense mechanisms in exchange for the present knowing that nothing can truly harm me that I do not allow.

I am recognizing that I often have a tendency to talk instead of speak, and in recognizing that I am becoming more excepting of the fact that sometimes it is OK to sit in silence as long as we do it together (sender and receiver).

Thirdly, as I develop my proficiency in TTP, the very simple practice of recognizing and writing down my judgments helps me realize that many of them are not mine.

That is to say that they do not belong to me, the judgments are simply things I hear others say and I assume their ideas are correct instead of LISTENING for the FEELING!

My proficiency is increasing as I am decreasing my amount of head nodding and smiling.

Thank you for checking in and for allowing vulnerability.

Jan 7, 2020

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
Riding Winners and Cutting Losers

Ed,

I am experiencing an incredible transformation.

My trading is evolving beyond recognition.

I am letting my winners run and cutting losses short.

I am absorbing a continuous stream of information from the Market Wizards and implementing these ideas into live portfolios.

I am aware that it may take time to become a SYSTEMATIC TREND FOLLOWER as per my bumper sticker, but the responsibility for managing other people’s money already rests on my shoulders, and

I am approaching each day with a brightened awareness.

I am noticing improved, honest communications with friends, family and clients, and an enhanced sensitivity to the market.

The significance of the Trading Tribe experience increases day by day.

Thank you.

Thank you for checking in and for implementing your learnings.

Jan 7, 2020

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
Using TTP at the Office

Dear Ed,

Thank you again for the Workshop. It was a life-changing experience for me. I was able to see clearly that thinking is how I have operated my life to this point, and that feeling is how I now operate my life. It has been a significant change.

In the individual Tribal groups I was able to be in the hot seat and we role-played a scenario with two of my employees.

One who gave notice to leave, and the other the one who was contributing to the emotional tension in the situation.

Shortly after I returned from the Workshop, I had an employee meeting where I provided a field of acknowledgment for my staff, as well as describing where drama comes from and where emotional safety comes from.

It has changed the atmosphere in my business and will continue to do so as I further develop these principles.

Separately, but also in the same vein, I have had opportunity to repair a couple of family relationships that have been difficult for several years.

As well as severing a financial relationship that was destructive for me. I believe that these things have all happened in my life as a result of the Workshop.

So, much has happened in the three weeks following my experience.

Thank you, Ed and my fellow workshop participants,

Thank you for checking and for sharing the joy with your friends, family and employees.

Jan 7, 2020

Workshop 3-Week Check In:
Flowing in the Now

My appointment with my mold doctor is tomorrow so I plan to work with her to develop a strategy to meet my bumper sticker goal: Mold toxins below .2 ng/g creatinine by 6-15-20

Regarding a three week post workshop follow up in general I find that so far my driving needs remain but my awareness of them is heightened and I am less susceptible to indulging them.

Looking forward this year to the Rocks Process as a method of changing in such a way that I am effective in meeting needs and desires that are reflective of what is most important to me in my life today rather than that of many many years ago.

If it’s any indication that this type of change might be occurring, that I might be leaving living in the past behind, I changed my Facebook cover photo and profile picture last night from those dating back to 1973 and 2009 to two pictures taken just before leaving for Texas last month. It seems a coincidence, but maybe not.

So, a quote from a favorite book of mine: “You want to know how to paint a perfect painting? It’s easy. Make yourself perfect and then just paint naturally. That’s the way all the experts do it.”

I’m not requiring or expecting perfection but the idea of “painting naturally” with a positive outcome remains what I’m after.

Thank you for checking in.

Jan 7, 2020

Workshop Check In:
Selecting Important / Riding the Wave

Ed,

I find that I follow my Trading Rules in 2020.

I find that a number of activities / behaviours that I would normally place in the Not-important / Not-urgent Quadrant drop away from my life over the past weeks.

This frees up more quality time for family, health, rest, relaxation and reading select works (which I discover a new sense of enjoyment in).

In general, I feel like I’m riding the wave of life with less attachment to how things “should” be.

Thank you for checking in and for increasing your attention to health and family.

Jan 6, 2020

Workshop Bumper Sticker Check In:
State Representative 2022

I reach out to friends in the Workshop and outside who have experience running for office. I get introductions to and speak with a number of individuals who have served in state legislatures. One common thread in their reflections is the importance of building coalitions: setting aside disagreements and finding points of alignment.

I have a series of business meetings in a city famous for its politics. Citizens there are quick to cancel anyone who strays. I always dread alienating people there.

On this trip, I discover that I can connect easier with my counterparts. I seek out the (political) issues on which we agree. While their conclusions are often different from mine, I find that on many issues we share the underlying concerns. I can genuinely agree with anyone, for instance, on how painfully rent has gone up in the last decade -- without tooting my pet solutions.

It may be a stretch goal to get these people to vote for me, but the exercise of looking for alignment sure makes the business meetings flow smoother.

Thank you for checking in.

I wonder how you might address the topic of escalating rents in front of a group including both tenants and landlords.

Jan 6, 2010

Wants Mentoring

Hi Ed,

Please may I call you so I can explain further?

I appreciate my approach is rather speculative but my goal from you mentoring me is to learn from you as you have experienced great success so I want to seek your guidance/advice both personally and professionally.

I hope that answers your question but I am at a stage in my life where I think I would really benefit from having a mentor. I fully appreciate I would be the one mostly benefiting but I hope you would also gain from the experience by sharing your own advice.

As for a process for success that is something I would seek guidance from you but my first real goal is to establish a mentoring relationship.

My goal is purely personal as I want to be proactive and do all I can to succeed for my family.

Thanks again

Thank you for following up.

You may recall my asking you to clarify your intentions, per: "I wonder if you can tell me what kind of business you mean what kind of goals you have for yourself and what kind of process you plan to follow to succeed."

You might consider our current relationship in which I attempt to mentor you and you continue to ignore /resist my suggestions.

If you would like to chat by phone, you may hire me to listen to you, per the terms at Ground Rules, above.

Alternatively, you can continue by email, for free.

Jan 6, 2020

TTP Workshop Report
Heart Stoned

Ed,

The snow globe analogy is finished. Everything has settled and what little was gained has thawed away.

The new foundation of snow that I once was standing has melted and that familiar conditioning is supporting my present stance.

I do have a golden ray of hope, and that is my heart stone.

Funny, I viewed it as a keep sake keeping it safe and tucked away like a valued gem.

But only, NOW, realizing the value of the heart stone is to use it. I can only start now.

Sincerely,

Thank you for checking in.

Jan 5, 2020

TTP Workshop Report
Embarrassment

Ed,

I make mistakes. I feel the embarrassment. I'm starting to like the feeling. The positive intent of embarrassment is feedback that I have a gap between the way that I want to be and the way that I am (I'm slick and can speak Spanish easily - I'm clumsy and fall over the few words that I know). I don't see a way to start speaking without feeling the embarrassment - I re-frame the feeling to let me know that I'm making progress and trying.

I notice that I don't have the overly talky explanations and apologies for not speaking Spanish. I just feel the embarrassment and move on.

In other aspects of my life I start to notice the rub of embarrassment letting me know that I'm not quite fitting with the consensus. I work on liking or expanding it. It seems that parroting the consensus is a great way to be a sheep and never move forward in any meaningful way. Some embarrassment might be a good indicator that I'm taking some risks. I take action faster and move on.

Thank you,

Thank you for checking in.

In TTP, I hold embarrassment as a feeling associating with a delta between (1) my condition and (2) the condition that others around me expect me to have.

In the TTP Feelings Feedback Model, I can deal with embarrassment (and other feelings) in various ways:

1. Medicate the feeling or simply ignore it. This may result in maintaining, even increasing the delta - and an elevation of the embarrassment.

2. Change my condition to conform with other's expectations.

3. Help others to reset their expectation of my condition.

4. Move to a different location where other's expectation more closely match my condition.

5. Do nothing and continue to use the feeling of embarrassment to justify my inaction in other areas.

Jan 5, 2020

Workshop Bumper Sticker Report
From 213 to 185 Pounds in 8 Months

Ed,

I now have my weight at 198 pounds, down from 213 at the Workshop, for a 15 pound loss in three weeks.

I do not expect this rate to persist much longer as I attribute most of it to setting a daily calorie budget at 1650 and using a cellphone app to monitor my intake. At first I notice, with considerable amazement, I historically consume about twice the budget amount.

The target and budget both have the the support of various advisors and physicians.

At this point, I have about 28 weeks in which to lose the remaining 13 pounds, or about half a pound per week. That seems workable.

I also take regular exercise, in the form of walks (50 minutes) and / or elliptical workouts in the gym (25 minutes) to get my heart into the cardio zone.

Sticking to the plan enables me to see how I previously use food to suppress feelings such as boredom, loneliness and insomnia.

As I engage and learn to celebrate my feelings, I ironically feel less boredom, loneliness - and I sleep better. I also now have an app to monitor my heart rate during sleep and exercise.

My previous attempts to force my weight down with trainers, heavy workouts and low-carb diets generally blow out when I can no longer stand excruciating leg cramps and gout.

With my new lower-calorie-balance diet, I seem ok, even below the critical 200-pound physical-pain point. I like my current position and enjoy riding the gentle downtrend.

I wish to thank my Support team for encouraging me along this path and for holding me accountable for getting results.

Thank you for checking in.

Jan 5, 2020

Blood Glucose Tests

Dear Ed

Hope you are well and Happy New Year to you.

I have done some blood glucose tests and got a few surprises just as the man said in the video name "What is the best diet for humans"

One point which is of vital importance is that the calibration of the machines is very varied as my machine reads 2 points above that of my friend and if you buy the fluid to calibrate your tester it will only guarantee plus or minus 2.

When the normal range is about 4 to 8 this is pretty inaccurate although they do seem to be accurate relative to the previous tests.

My bad foods are potatoes and sweet potatoes and granola which give me a mild spike up to 10.90 mmols.

The interesting test was with my salad as I usually put a table spoon of humus and a teaspoon of Thai red curry sauce on it to give it some flavour which gave a shocking reading of 9.60 and when I washed off the above from the salad in a colander and retested later the reading dropped to 6.50.

If nothing else it taught me to be more careful what I add to my salads!

I noticed also the quantity eaten affects results as a large portion of white rice and pork chops game me a 10 reading but much less if a moderate portion.

Readers interested to test themselves would be advised to buy 2 or 3 testers and take the average reading to be more accurate.

My basic conclusion is that any meat, fish, salad, fruit will not raise my glucose to bad levels only carbs seem to do that.

See excel sheet for graph and results but note that probably 1.5 points can be knocked off all results.

Regards

Thank you for sending me your report.

I wonder how you determine when you have "good" and "bad" levels.

In dynamic systems, such as the markets and the human body, variables swing back and forth and occasionally have large excursions as part of the normal homeostatic process.

Jan 5, 2020

TTP Workshop Report:
Embracing Uncertainty

Hi Ed,

3 week after TTP workshop, I start to reach out to my support team on emails for my Goals “I Follow My Trading System 31/3/2020” and send them my trade order done. 2 stock cut loss trade and 1 stock buy follow my trading system. I also sent an excel sheet with written rules I need to follow, checking them with a “Yes” to show my support team that I am following my system now and this will be updated weekly. I feel good selling the stocks even with a loss because I am focusing on my goal.

After the class I am more aware of the “should” or “should have” I have in my daily conversation, I notice I have lesser “should” and I also share this with my wife so now I get additional support to stop myself for saying “should”

It is the beginning of 2020, there is a lot of market outlook seminars from different "expert". This year my outlook for the market is much clearer, which is ... the market is going to be uncertain and all the news, judgement, other people's opinions is irrelevant to my trading.

Now I love the market to be uncertain.

Best regards

Thank you for sending me your report.

Jan 5, 2020

Workshop Report:
Clarifying Trading System

Dear Ed,

I am writing to you 3 weeks after the workshop.

Over the last 3 weeks I have:

Re defined my trading rules to make them clearer and easier to understand.

Created a way of measuring how well I stick to my rules.

I seem to create more dramas recently whereby I wind up feeling rejection, the very feeling I seek to avoid.

The London tribe admits two new members, and a previous regular commits to frequent attendance. We will work on the Rocks process at all forthcoming meetings.

Best,

Thank you for sending me your report.

TTP Principle: The feelings you resist elevate your delinquencies until you have to feel them.

Jan 3, 2020

Composing and Recording
Bumper Sticker Complete

I use just one instrument, a Korg PA4X which is an arranger keyboard to compose, record, mix, master, and export out to an mp3.

Austin Waltz

Thank you for sending me a link to your tune.

Jan 2, 2020

Drumming Works

Happy New Year, Ed,

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0151136

best regards,

Thank you for sending me the link.

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