Originally Posted by small_island:
Hi and thanks, I think you make a good point.
Regarding technical skills, I am confident in my experiences in what I do (trader), and I know that I am good at what I do and need to do etc.
The firm I currently work for, although I say is a local investment firm, its more along the lines of our office/trade desk being located in HK but most of our clientele is from China. We specialize in trading metals, and FX. As a trader (soon to be prop), market maker/dealer, my responsibilities include providing liquidity to our clients while in the same time managing RISK for my firm, as I'm actively taking on risk on a per trade basis etc. For example, if the market drops rather quickly and our clients are looking to get out, exit their long positions, I MUST/HAVE to provide that liquidity and buy their exiting positions as the market is dropping and vice versa.
I am good at what I do as I am very passionate about being a trader, plus I have years of experience honing my craft etc. Although we are not a very big firm, (our company actually also owns and operates another sister investment firm), but we 'average' something like $1.5 - 2MM+ USD net gains from trading activities per month. As a matter of fact I personally handled a night where our net profit was around 500k USD. >>Night of flash crash in Comex gold futures; I built up a net short position somewhere in the ball park of 150-200 lots in another security as the market went into mayhem. Regardless after the fact, that night resulted in 500k USD net gains for my firm (best day of the month). But comparing that with my current base salary, I easily bring in/generate/save my firm etc 10-30+ times more in revenues/gains.. Although.. if things go well the end of year bonus "should" make up for things a bit, but then again its not a "guarantee" etc.
I've been a trader for a few years now, and all I do day in and day out is face/sit in front of a wall of monitors at work and another wall of monitors at home, so naturally I may be quite
'rusty' in client facing roles or to new people whom I have just met etc. As for traders >> results and bottom line matter more than anything.
On the other hand, as a person, I may be a bit shy? at times.. or just slow to 'ease up' (maybe job related as stress levels are constantly through the roof so to speak) More or less I am a pretty genuine person (well I try my best to treat people how I want to be treated myself etc) and I tend to gravitate towards more genuine people that I can see/ sense the 'good' in them etc and can be good long term friends, down the road etc.
Just like my mind set (fairly entrepreneurial), I favor quality over quantity, in work, life, and in people etc. I am INTx, borderline "I" at 50-60 with the rest "E" and 50/50 on "T" and "P". Whatever that means, but in short there are times where I am pretty extroverted and social and then there are also times where I may just want some 'alone' time to get things done, recharge, work out, catch up on reading whatever. I do enjoy good company, good people and good times though. I'm not that 'old' (still in my 20's) but I am much less materialistic/plastic?.. or whatever than I was before/ previously.
Anyway, I'm quite unique...well just like everyone else. Creative, entrepreneurial, genuine, and trader. But when I switch modes into 'Trader', I become military/samurai warrior/ F-22 Raptor /predator and ready to battle the BEAST (the markets). Maybe that's why away from all that I prefer a more human touch to things and life etc. Because there's just no room for emotions etc in battle/war or work.. LOL..
Anyways, I'm EXHAUSTED for the week, and perhaps out of things to blabber about right now.. have a nice evening and take it easy, PEACE!
FTJ
PS: Happy mother's day as well... gotta think of something for my mama!!