How long does it take? Ask Bob from Beulah
Hi Jeff;
When I first talked to you I remember you saying that the best trader you have known took 9 months to become profitable. Like, I’m sure everyone that heard the best took 9 months set that as a target to meet. Most people that are successful and start a new venture believe that should and will compete with the best.
When I didn’t make it in 9 months, or 10 months, ….., or 16 months, I felt I had failed to meet my expectation and that I was never going to be the best because I couldn’t come close to the best ever.
What I learned is that trading is very much like learning a craft and apprenticeships take time so that the apprentice can become a skilled craftsman. The time is more like 2 years for most of us.
I also have come to understand that what I ultimately achieve in trading is not dependent on how fast I became successful. I may yet become a great trader. That’s up to me at my own pace.
I appreciate your support, guidance and above all your friendship.
Bob
December 13th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Yes, we need to grow at our own pace. Can you imagine one tree saying to another : “How come you can grow so fast and I don’t?” and putting itself under extra pressure? That certainly can’t help him grow faster. And nature doesn’t do that by the way. It “allows” ….
Or if you ask yourself woud you go to a doctor that has only a quick 9 month education class?
This trader may not be bad in 9 months and it makes you think like that is achieveable to rest of us. Well, if you have all the right beliefs and trading attitudes from the beginnig, overall balance in life, you are healthy and have no money worries etc. and on top of that you get a great mentor, well, of course your path to trading success accelerates.
But if you don’t have those essentials in play you first need to make them and that takes time. So you realy cannot force a flower to grow… you can only provide what she need to grow and then… wait for a miracle that happens.