Personal Development

  • Tough Week?

    Last week I wrote that trading is often stressful; and learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.


    This week the markets were at their manic-depressive best, which can be tough for traders.  Investors were like hyperactive first graders playing musical chairs.


    Here are some funny videos of how some people handle their tough week.


    The first video shows a man beating his computer.  There is something primal about it that makes it memorable.  I saw this many years ago.  Yet I find myself thinking about this one from time-to-time.  So, I put it first.





    Here is the direct link.


    I saw this one on on the Huffington Post.  It has a lot going on; way too much to describe.  It is more fun to just watch, anyway.





    Here is the direct link.


    Finally, this one shows a man in a coffee shop freaking-out after his computer hangs, apparently he has a presentation to give in ten-minutes, so getting arrested seemed like a good idea.





    Here is the direct link.  (Hat-Tip to Gelflog)

  • Tough Week?

    Last week I wrote that trading is often stressful; and learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.


    This week the markets were at their manic-depressive best, which can be tough for traders.  Investors were like hyperactive first graders playing musical chairs.


    Here are some funny videos of how some people handle their tough week.


    The first video shows a man beating his computer.  There is something primal about it that makes it memorable.  I saw this many years ago.  Yet I find myself thinking about this one from time-to-time.  So, I put it first.





    Here is the direct link.


    I saw this one on on the Huffington Post.  It has a lot going on; way too much to describe.  It is more fun to just watch, anyway.





    Here is the direct link.


    Finally, this one shows a man in a coffee shop freaking-out after his computer hangs, apparently he has a presentation to give in ten-minutes, so getting arrested seemed like a good idea.





    Here is the direct link.  (Hat-Tip to Gelflog)

  • Help Your Body to Calm Down – And Your Mind Will Follow

     

    Trading is often stressful. Learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.

    During market turmoil, sometimes I notice the seeds of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in my body. Rather than succumbing to this, I have developed a number of coping practices and techniques.

    • The first is simply to follow our trading rules and trust in the process;
    • The second is to rely on automation as much as possible;  and
    • The third is to recognize that my body's cues are an important signal for me to take action.


    Man and Dog Running - istock_000003768984xsmall One of the best ways of coping with stress, for me, is to exercise regularly.

    Have you ever noticed how animals shake or tremble when they are traumatized? These physical activities may be nature's way of helping discharge stress hormones, purge excess energy and release muscle tension.

    For humans, exercise is a pretty close analog to this. I know that I feel better after an hour of brisk activity to get my heart rate up, to sweat, and then to calm down. Somehow this tells my body that the agitation was expected; and now the relaxation is a good and appropriate response, too.

    Another technique that works for me is to use music enhanced with tones to help me meditate or relax.  An example of this is the Centerpointe Holosync package.  Another set that I enjoy is Hemi-Sync music from the Monroe Institute.

    When I get really stressed, though, my wife tells me that it's time for me to use my "light and sound machine." I think my using it helps her as much as me.

    As the name implies, it combines visual and audio stimulation.   So, how does it work?  The short answer is that brain activity naturally falls in-sync with lights flashing at a certain frequencies. And you can encourage certain brain wave patterns by controlling the frequency, color and intensity of the pulses.  Supplementing this with a similar technique based on sound compounds the effect. 

    Procyon Kit Most of these devices include small LED lights mounted in a pair of eye glasses and headphones. The lights and sounds synchronized by a small control unit.  The mind machine that I use, called a Procyon, includes 50 unique, pre-programmed light and sound stimulation sequences within its internal memory, each designed with a specific goal in mind (for example, relaxation, concentration, accelerated learning, creativity, or rejuvenation). Procyon also has the ability to synchronize with audio material on a CD or MP3 – or with AudioStrobe programs.

    Screensaver Example Behind your closed eyelids you will see a kaleidoscope of color, layers of fractals and a variety of screensaver-like imagery. Once you get used to it, the experience is quite pleasant. 

    It's pretty foo-foo; so I'm not going to pretend that this is 100% scientific and logical. Nonetheless, I believe that it is a lot more than a placebo.  Why? Because I have empirical evidence that it works.

    Most importantly, I feel better after I do it. In addition, a biofeedback machine (which measures brain waves, pulse, galvanic skin response and other stress indicators) confirms that the light and sound machine works dramatically and quickly.

    It works on almost everyone I've watched try it (and I've done this with CEOs, programmers, traders, staff members, and a bunch of others). However, it does not work on people who fight it.  And I am amazed at how many people fight it, initially.  After a few minutes, most simply let go and let the technology un-ruffle their feathers.

     The possibilities are great, and the technology is effective. However, the only way to truly appreciate the light sound experience is to try a mind machine for yourself.

  • Help Your Body to Calm Down – And Your Mind Will Follow

     

    Trading is often stressful. Learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.

    During market turmoil, sometimes I notice the seeds of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in my body. Rather than succumbing to this, I have developed a number of coping practices and techniques.

    • The first is simply to follow our trading rules and trust in the process;
    • The second is to rely on automation as much as possible;  and
    • The third is to recognize that my body's cues are an important signal for me to take action.


    Man and Dog Running - istock_000003768984xsmall One of the best ways of coping with stress, for me, is to exercise regularly.

    Have you ever noticed how animals shake or tremble when they are traumatized? These physical activities may be nature's way of helping discharge stress hormones, purge excess energy and release muscle tension.

    For humans, exercise is a pretty close analog to this. I know that I feel better after an hour of brisk activity to get my heart rate up, to sweat, and then to calm down. Somehow this tells my body that the agitation was expected; and now the relaxation is a good and appropriate response, too.

    Another technique that works for me is to use music enhanced with tones to help me meditate or relax.  An example of this is the Centerpointe Holosync package.  Another set that I enjoy is Hemi-Sync music from the Monroe Institute.

    When I get really stressed, though, my wife tells me that it's time for me to use my "light and sound machine." I think my using it helps her as much as me.

    As the name implies, it combines visual and audio stimulation.   So, how does it work?  The short answer is that brain activity naturally falls in-sync with lights flashing at a certain frequencies. And you can encourage certain brain wave patterns by controlling the frequency, color and intensity of the pulses.  Supplementing this with a similar technique based on sound compounds the effect. 

    Procyon Kit Most of these devices include small LED lights mounted in a pair of eye glasses and headphones. The lights and sounds synchronized by a small control unit.  The mind machine that I use, called a Procyon, includes 50 unique, pre-programmed light and sound stimulation sequences within its internal memory, each designed with a specific goal in mind (for example, relaxation, concentration, accelerated learning, creativity, or rejuvenation). Procyon also has the ability to synchronize with audio material on a CD or MP3 – or with AudioStrobe programs.

    Screensaver Example Behind your closed eyelids you will see a kaleidoscope of color, layers of fractals and a variety of screensaver-like imagery. Once you get used to it, the experience is quite pleasant. 

    It's pretty foo-foo; so I'm not going to pretend that this is 100% scientific and logical. Nonetheless, I believe that it is a lot more than a placebo.  Why? Because I have empirical evidence that it works.

    Most importantly, I feel better after I do it. In addition, a biofeedback machine (which measures brain waves, pulse, galvanic skin response and other stress indicators) confirms that the light and sound machine works dramatically and quickly.

    It works on almost everyone I've watched try it (and I've done this with CEOs, programmers, traders, staff members, and a bunch of others). However, it does not work on people who fight it.  And I am amazed at how many people fight it, initially.  After a few minutes, most simply let go and let the technology un-ruffle their feathers.

     The possibilities are great, and the technology is effective. However, the only way to truly appreciate the light sound experience is to try a mind machine for yourself.

  • Doing What Works – Insight Happens in an Instant

    080829 kung fu panda poster 200p
    Colin Powell said that "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." 

    On the other hand, I've found that insight often happens in an instant. 

    In Kung Fu Panda,
    an overweight,  seemingly uncoordinated panda transforms into the
    unlikely hero of the story who battles evil and saves his village.  The
    turning point?  His teacher recognized that during a quest for a snack,
    nothing could keep our hero from his food.  By integrating that in the
    training routine, a star was born.

    OK, that was a Disney movie.  Maybe you want a real-life example?

    My
    youngest son, Zach, is learning to drive.  Currently, I am working on
    improving his mental map of where he is, where he is going, and how to
    get there.

    My early assessment was that he did not have much of
    a sense of direction.  This was making our time in the car together
    either existentially funny – or stressful – depending on my mood.

    "What
    comes next?" was often followed by a blank look or a head shake. The
    answer to "Which way do we turn?" was a seemingly random "north,"
    "south," "east," "west," "right," or "left" — or sometimes several of
    them.

    Apparently, I was asking the wrong questions.  He has an
    encyclopedic knowledge of where restaurants are, and an uncanny ability
    to get there.  We just have to plot his course with the right
    milestones (fast-food, pizza and ice cream).

    He explained to me, "hey, I just do what works."  And that makes a lot of sense; I'm just glad he found something that works.

  • Doing What Works – Insight Happens in an Instant

    080829 kung fu panda poster 200p
    Colin Powell said that "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." 

    On the other hand, I've found that insight often happens in an instant. 

    In Kung Fu Panda,
    an overweight,  seemingly uncoordinated panda transforms into the
    unlikely hero of the story who battles evil and saves his village.  The
    turning point?  His teacher recognized that during a quest for a snack,
    nothing could keep our hero from his food.  By integrating that in the
    training routine, a star was born.

    OK, that was a Disney movie.  Maybe you want a real-life example?

    My
    youngest son, Zach, is learning to drive.  Currently, I am working on
    improving his mental map of where he is, where he is going, and how to
    get there.

    My early assessment was that he did not have much of
    a sense of direction.  This was making our time in the car together
    either existentially funny – or stressful – depending on my mood.

    "What
    comes next?" was often followed by a blank look or a head shake. The
    answer to "Which way do we turn?" was a seemingly random "north,"
    "south," "east," "west," "right," or "left" — or sometimes several of
    them.

    Apparently, I was asking the wrong questions.  He has an
    encyclopedic knowledge of where restaurants are, and an uncanny ability
    to get there.  We just have to plot his course with the right
    milestones (fast-food, pizza and ice cream).

    He explained to me, "hey, I just do what works."  And that makes a lot of sense; I'm just glad he found something that works.

  • Innovating is Thought Leadership

    080801 Innovation 250p
    I’ve been thinking a lot about innovation lately. It is a form of “thought leadership” … intuitively
    identifying the underlying issues and figuring-out the best things
    to do, now, to transform the situation and create new possibilities.

    To paraphrase Peter Drucker, innovation is a tool that transforms challenge into an opportunity for a different business or service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced. 

    Learning and innovation go hand in hand. It is often folly to think that what
    you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. This is a close
    cousin to the idea that “you are either growing or dying.”

  • Innovating is Thought Leadership

    080801 Innovation 250p
    I’ve been thinking a lot about innovation lately. It is a form of “thought leadership” … intuitively
    identifying the underlying issues and figuring-out the best things
    to do, now, to transform the situation and create new possibilities.

    To paraphrase Peter Drucker, innovation is a tool that transforms challenge into an opportunity for a different business or service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced. 

    Learning and innovation go hand in hand. It is often folly to think that what
    you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. This is a close
    cousin to the idea that “you are either growing or dying.”

  • “Shining Eyes” – One Buttock Classical Music and Awakening Possibility

    Here is a video from the Ted Conference. 
    Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, expounds on
    “one-buttock” classical music, awakening possibility and being someone
    who creates “shining eyes”. It was inspirational and funny. 

    He is also
    the author of “The Art of Possibility“.

    I didn’t post this when I first watched the video.  Yet, for some reason, I’ve thought about this video many times since then.  So, here it is.  Hopefully, you’ll like it too.

  • “Shining Eyes” – One Buttock Classical Music and Awakening Possibility

    Here is a video from the Ted Conference. 
    Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, expounds on
    “one-buttock” classical music, awakening possibility and being someone
    who creates “shining eyes”. It was inspirational and funny. 

    He is also
    the author of “The Art of Possibility“.

    I didn’t post this when I first watched the video.  Yet, for some reason, I’ve thought about this video many times since then.  So, here it is.  Hopefully, you’ll like it too.