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Hi. I’m sure there are many better answers than what I’ll try to provide, but here are a few humble perspectives & thoughts from this end on a cold January evening.

Using a business analogy, running a wholesaling trading business is no different than any other business dealing with inventory, and as long as one isn’t trying to manipulate markets or other traders (God and you will of course know your true intent), running such a business should be quite honorable as we provide the service of market liquidity by taking the other side of transactions from people who desire to buy or sell the market at any given point in time.

With respect to the competitive aspect of the business, I imagine Christian athletes face a similar dilemna in their endeavors, as do Christians in other professions who may “beat out” someone for an employment opportunity, job promotion, etc., or run a business so well that it adversely affects a similar business down the street.

Perhaps ultimately it comes down to what we do with the varied talents that God has given us in terms of sharing them and/or using them to enhance or compliment the skills of others. Such is likely why many Christian athletes run camps and why successful Christian businessmen run seminars so as to share their gifts.

It’s likely why many generations of my family have decided to teach at various times in their lives. For me, it’s partly why I began accepting requests to provide trader education in this industry years ago, is one of the reasons we created the Jellie effort (some may remember that part of the Jellyfish genesis was spiritual in nature as we adopted the company name used by Phil Vischer of VeggieTales fame … meaning we’re pretty uselss by ourselves and simply try to drift where God leads us), and probably why I tend to babble in this ongoing journal. For if I can pass on what I’ve learned through my own pain using parables, etc., then hopefully others who heed the words can avoid it.

Then there’s of course the issue of what we do with the rewards of our labor in terms of furthering the Kingdom (again, something I know I can do a LOT better at despite donating a percentage of the educational tuition proceeds to the American Diabetes Association and GrowUganda.org).

Ultimately, we of course all fall short … which is something I’m still working on .

Don

Such is of course also why the SAME poker players are often seen at the final tables time after time, as is the case in the trading world (short AND long-term trading/investing … the ONLY difference is timeframe) where there’s a transfer of wealth from those uneducated or naive (who we can teach) to the other side, or from people trading different timeframes or with different intentions (e.g. hedging) to those providing immediate liquidity, or from “programs” (run by humans) that have simply run their course and result in market inefficiencies.

Having said that, will some people incorrectly APPROACH the fields of financial trading/investing, poker, starting any business (per Harry’s note), or life in general as GAMBLING?

Of course … that, we can’t control.

But what those of us who have figured more than a few things out CAN control is not burying our heads and instead doing our darndest to help that NOT to happen and HELP others through the open & transparent sharing of experience & education to get people to take this business seriously … and most importantly, get them on the RIGHT SIDE!

For it they don’t take it seriously, like every aspect of life, they’ll unfortunately end up getting run over as they “gamble” crossing the street.

As I look down the streets of my own town, I see a variety of small stores, larger stores, franchises, independently owned, some that are open year-round, others just for the season, a few restaurants that just serve dinner, while others cater to larger crowds all day long.

Such is the benefit of freedom and choice in a free world, and I so often wonder why we as a world don’t spend more time supporting & encouraging each other’s choices and improving conditions vs. tearing them down.

As we all know, just because one person prefers a red coat of paint doesn’t make someone else’s choice of wallpaper or paneling dumb!! .

Yet perhaps trading and the web where people can post anonymously combine to bring out the best — and worst — of the world.

I suppose all one can do is stand by their principles and strive to take the higher road. As I’ve said before, I screw up with the best of them … yet clearly the strength and unity of 1+1 will always outweigh 1 minus 1.

While we’ve been down this road many times over the past ten years, I’ll respect this person’s question and try to save him time in researching the 850+ posts and comments.

First, as I’ve said on the public scene for ten years, I’ll never “persuade” or “encourage” anyone to pursue trading as a career, just as many actors, athletes, and others in competitive skill-based professions often do similarly. (Such is why I’ve refused to do mass mailings or otherwise mass-market the education.)

Yet I WILL most certainly provide help to those who have previously made a conscious decision to do so, just as I would for my kids if they chose to pursue this honorable business. And since quality education continues to be sorely lacking (clearly evident by the myth of “gambling”), paying it forward by increasing the probability of success from industry norms as we’ve done is the best way to do so.

To those who truly understand the business of providing intraday wholesale liqudity which helps to provide liquid markets for others – as floor locals have done for decades – “daytrading” – or more appropriately – “intraday trading” – isn’t, has never been, nor will it ever be any form of “gambling” for those properly educated and schooled. (Who do people think investors/traders buy from or sell to?)

As I said in New York and throughout the last decade, wholesale trading essentially makes one the business “house” and not the “speculator”, and there is absolutely no difference between short and long timeframes when defining “risk”. (As an aside, long-term buy and mold philosophies have crushed far too many over the years.)

As for aging “ten years”, as I said in last week’s preisthood post, I instead have more energy now than I’ve had in years, my back is the best it’s been during my entire lifetime, I’ve lost 30 pounds over the last two years the right way to get to my target weight, which along with now being an empty nester, is enabling me to step up our education and mission efforts even further.

As for faith-related issues, please re-read the last several posts — including the comments in the January link from Sunday’s post — which along with all of the industry public speaking, speaks for itself. Helping others by providing markets & education, while at the same time helping our ADA and Uganda missions, continues to be our Christian-driven target mission.

Wishing you success in your endeavors,

Don

Soros and Buffett made billions over the same time you’ve been day trading. Neither are day traders or do they rely on faith to guide their investments. Why should someone risk the odds day trading when much larger rewards and much less emotional anguish can come from a longer term approach.

You’ve aged on this blog 10 years since I first came here last year. Day trading is an emotional train wreck tied to financial ruin for most people. I can only imagine Jesus does not approve of gambling in any form, and day trading is gambling by any measure.

I think TAD should be seen by all who follow you.

Have a great week!!