Ok, today I saw the link about Paul Tudor Jones. Thanks to Fugly for posting it, I've wanted to see it since 2004 when my mentor told me about it, but I never found it in my cursory searches.
After watching it, I started thinking about my mentor. I worked with him for 1.5 years starting in 2004. I haven't communicated with him for over two years now. He's a recluse and I understand him.
I came into contact with him through a post he made on a forum. He was looking for two people to mentor. I sent off an email to him. He sent back a questionnaire and asked if I would be willing to take a Myers-Briggs test. At first I ignored it, then a week later I answered his questions and sent them back along with the results of the Myers-Briggs I had done 6 months earlier during marriage counseling.
He got in touch with me and we chatted a few times. He then sent me a bio and told me he had traded for PTJ in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He was the youngest full-time trader in the history of TIC, which was saying something considering how young they all were. After 5 years he retired due to burnout, but he left with a bundle, more than enough to last a lifetime. I asked how I could verify his claims; after all he could be nut case. He gave me a name and told me to call TIC in Greenwich. One of his friends was still trading there.
So, I looked up the number and called one day. I asked to speak with this man and I got him on the phone. I told him why I was calling, to verify my mentor’s credentials. He did so. I then asked him one question which was, what would make X a good mentor. To my surprise he talked for about 20 minutes going into what it’s like trading for a place like TIC. I was surprised because even though I called right after 12:00, I really expected he’d want me off the phone in a minute or two. Instead he seemed genuinely interested in talking to me. My question was designed to elicit the most information I could get without leading him into any pat or stock answers, and it worked. At the end of the conversation he told me to feel free to call him again if I had any questions. I never did, of course, but I was 100% satisfied with my quest to verify the bona fides of my mentor.
Anyway, today I started looking through all of my stuff I accumulated while working with my mentor. I’ve actually posted something before about Intentional Stance, which is very valuable if you understand it and how to use it. I’ve decided to share some more stuff. I’ve helped a number of people over the years through forums. I’ve only mentored one guy and I’ve been working with him over the past 2 years and we stay in touch frequently. He’s doing very well now and the best part is that he trades very differently than I do.
Trading is hard, no doubt about it, but is doable for some, but certainly not for all. But if I can share something that helps one person, then that’s great. I’m not interested in debating or defending anything of his I post. I’m not going to get into a discussion of what I do precisely because that’s not important (besides what I do can be found on this forum, it's not a mystery or great secret). I trade differently than my mentor traded, just as my mentee does from me. You don’t pass on trading systems; you pass on the knowledge that allows one to make himself into a trader.
To make things easier to find, I’ll post separate threads with relevant titles.
After watching it, I started thinking about my mentor. I worked with him for 1.5 years starting in 2004. I haven't communicated with him for over two years now. He's a recluse and I understand him.
I came into contact with him through a post he made on a forum. He was looking for two people to mentor. I sent off an email to him. He sent back a questionnaire and asked if I would be willing to take a Myers-Briggs test. At first I ignored it, then a week later I answered his questions and sent them back along with the results of the Myers-Briggs I had done 6 months earlier during marriage counseling.
He got in touch with me and we chatted a few times. He then sent me a bio and told me he had traded for PTJ in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He was the youngest full-time trader in the history of TIC, which was saying something considering how young they all were. After 5 years he retired due to burnout, but he left with a bundle, more than enough to last a lifetime. I asked how I could verify his claims; after all he could be nut case. He gave me a name and told me to call TIC in Greenwich. One of his friends was still trading there.
So, I looked up the number and called one day. I asked to speak with this man and I got him on the phone. I told him why I was calling, to verify my mentor’s credentials. He did so. I then asked him one question which was, what would make X a good mentor. To my surprise he talked for about 20 minutes going into what it’s like trading for a place like TIC. I was surprised because even though I called right after 12:00, I really expected he’d want me off the phone in a minute or two. Instead he seemed genuinely interested in talking to me. My question was designed to elicit the most information I could get without leading him into any pat or stock answers, and it worked. At the end of the conversation he told me to feel free to call him again if I had any questions. I never did, of course, but I was 100% satisfied with my quest to verify the bona fides of my mentor.
Anyway, today I started looking through all of my stuff I accumulated while working with my mentor. I’ve actually posted something before about Intentional Stance, which is very valuable if you understand it and how to use it. I’ve decided to share some more stuff. I’ve helped a number of people over the years through forums. I’ve only mentored one guy and I’ve been working with him over the past 2 years and we stay in touch frequently. He’s doing very well now and the best part is that he trades very differently than I do.
Trading is hard, no doubt about it, but is doable for some, but certainly not for all. But if I can share something that helps one person, then that’s great. I’m not interested in debating or defending anything of his I post. I’m not going to get into a discussion of what I do precisely because that’s not important (besides what I do can be found on this forum, it's not a mystery or great secret). I trade differently than my mentor traded, just as my mentee does from me. You don’t pass on trading systems; you pass on the knowledge that allows one to make himself into a trader.
To make things easier to find, I’ll post separate threads with relevant titles.