Contributors Say

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Workshop Follow-Up

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Commitments

Dear Ed,

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Krumping

Ed -

I notice in the Boston Globe an article describing a form of dance that dispels anger and reduces street crime.

I recall reading your book and identify something in this dance that appears similar in form and effect to the tribe's hot seat.

So, I include in this e-mail a link to the video that appears in the Boston Globe. I hope you find it useful.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/

articles/2009/12/31/krumping_diverts_teens_

from_street_life_to_dance_life/

Krumping and jogging and punching a bag can all help to vent anger.

In TTP we sometimes excite forms as a way to locate emotions and then to work with them in a way to link them to pro-active resources.

In this work we normally arrest the development of the abreaction before it fully vents so we can work with the sender while s/he is active.

You can also take various TTP Forms Processes "to term" and achieve substantial abreaction and a blissful state.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Jib Jab's Year in Review

Dear Ed,

Here is a salute to 2009

http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/

Thank you for the video clip.

Hindsight

When driving Your investment vehicles

into the Yew Year

you might do well to appreciate

the positive intentions

of a clear rear view.

Clip: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/

archives/HappyNewYear.jpg

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Red and Blue Pills

Dear Ed,

Monday, December 28, 2009

Happiness Equation

See Previous

Monday, December 28, 2009

Building Clear Models

Ed,

I hope you are having a great time with the holiday season, your family and all of your interests. I have a quick question now on SD diagramming.

My preference and current standard for depicting a rate is to a) summarize all increases to flow rate into one variable, and b) summarize all decreases in flow rate into another variable. I then connect each to the pump symbol to produce the rate integration. I do this to simplify the diagram and clearly depict the influences on increasing and decreasing the rate of flow.

For any other variables that do not connect directly to the pump, I get more elaborate as I move away from the stocks and flows. This is depicted in the variable [influencing variable] which has an effect on the two summary variables [increasing] and [decreasing]. Here is an example diagram:

You might consider making sure all your elements make sense and that they have:

1. Clear definitions.

2. Clear units of measure.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Dear Ed,

I read this article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-

retirement/article/108055/increase-your-

retirement-income?mod=fidelity-readytoretire

I wonder:

Monday, December 28, 2009

Wish to Model

Hi Ed,

I am interested in what you think about this tool. The tool appears a bit more advanced than Vensim and the others.

Apparently there are some problems with 'causal loops'

http://www.systems-thinking.org/

intst/d-3312.pdf

Found it here:
http://www.systems-thinking.org/intst/int.htm

You might consider defining the behavior you wish to model before trying to formalize a structure.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Wants to Join

Monday, December 28, 2009

Breathwork Weekend Feedback

Dear Ed,

I read the feedback FAQs reporting from the Breathwork Weekend.

I feel calm and relate to the writers' experiences.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

North Chicago Tribe

Hi!

I am engrossed in the TTP ideas and have been working on techniques with the local Tribe leader.

Welcome

North Chicago

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Status Report

Ed,

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Bringing the Abstract to Reality

Chief of Chiefs,

First, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

In the Dec. 1-10 FAQ, and in response to my Dec. 1 e-mail to the gang regarding his progress toward his objective you write:

"Ok. I wonder what specific thing (s) you are currently bringing across from abstract to real."

In the last 2.5 years, I move from being $177.5K in non-mortgage debt to $140K cash in the bank (working two jobs after sitting home for 4 years - when I start the [City] TT one of my snapshots is to find something useful to do rather than sit at home and hibernate all day long), I am in the middle of constructing my dream Mediterranean home in my hometown in [City] (pictures attached), I improve my relationships with my kids and significant other substantially, and I push against the consistency barrier in my trading. 2009 is the first year in my trading life where I consistently bet against the trend and I do not lose money because I have become very good at position-sizing and at cutting my losses while they are still small. I don't know if you recall that this is the chronic problem I work on during my IVTT participation.

In 2010, I am confident that I break through the consistency barrier by trading only with the trend and making no changes to my bet-sizing and my stop loss management processes. I also make enough money to afford time off to join a missionary group for one month.

Friday, December 25, 2009

IV Tribe Meetings

Ed,
 

I am aware the TT IV is on vacation. I am wondering how you will get news out about restarting. Is there an application process? Is it posted on FAQ?

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Wants to Do Some Research

Hi Ed,

Happy holiday! Wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year!

A sudden thought hit me and here I am writing you. If you recall, in the application essay for the Workshop, I mention that I want to learn (in the exact words) "the Process of Manifestation, if
there is such a thing. I feel like I had glimpses of it when I read Ed’s book Metaformation of Winning during one of the Breathwork sessions. I’d like to be a master in transforming what’s in my mind to real life, and I’d love to share it with others and help them fulfill theirs."

Well, what just hits me and gets me so excited is to conduct a research experiment, ideally under your guidance. You have been sharing your wisdom with us in this area, be it through the Snapshot Process, or Bumper Sticker, or Big Wave. Every now and then, in the FAQ, we hear some success stories of people making real changes, manifesting what was once merely a dream into reality. But I think that is just part of the story, and I'd like to dig deeper.

To me, there seems to be a selection bias because there is no control group to compare. Those who report to the FAQ tend to be the ones who are making progress. (I haven't read someone reporting to the FAQ, "Progress report: No progress." They simply didn't report.) And sure they will have commonalities such as clear intention, persistence, commitment and etc. But I thought there is more to the story for those who are on the other side. I'd like to hear from the ones who are not reporting - those who give up on their snapshot, forget their bumper sticker, or not follow their Big Wave schedule. I would really like to learn their side of the story.

For example, one Workshop classmate mentioned to me that he hasn't been following up on his Big Wave because right now he is really into his company, and he doesn't want to disrupt the momentum. He feels that when the time is right, he will get back to his Big Wave. I'd like to learn more. I wonder if that is going with the flow,
or if it is putting things in the non-existing future. I'd like to see more examples.

My intention is to study and share the result on how people manifest their intention. To learn from those who succeed in it, and to also learn from those who fail. It is like Donald Keough's book, "The Ten Commandments of Business Failure", in which he lists some common characteristics of failed leadership.

I am considering approaching by asking if any of them are willing to share their Big Wave experiences, whether it has totally transformed their lives beyond their expectation, or whether they haven't experienced much difference after the first few days. (I notice an exponential decay in the number of Big Wave newsletter updates I receive) Or maybe to ask if any FAQ contributors (who have any experience with Snapshot / Bumper Sticker / Big Wave) would volunteer to send their story to me so that I can organize and follow up with them with further questions. I hope this project can help enhance the effectiveness of the Snapshot / Bumper Sticker / Big Wave process by identifying what works best and what seems to be holding them back.

Please let me know how you feel about such a research project, or any suggestions you may have.

Thank you for sharing your process. You might consider taking your feelings about <doing some research> to Tribe.

I wonder how you are figuring to get people who don't like to report - to report to you.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Hi Ed.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Holidays

Ed,

Happy holidays, Ed, to you and your family ...

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Conversion

Dear Ed,

Your thesis on conversion of private assets to public is supported by this:

http://shockedinvestor.blogspot.com/

Thursday, December 24, 2009

B. B. King

Hi Ed,

The man in the video really has a special gift on music. The guitar and music are just parts of him. His song connects to my deep feelings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?

v=4Ny5ajCn0xw

Thank you for the clip.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Holiday

Hi,

Just a short note to wish each of you a Happy Holiday and to say thanks for your support.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Dear Tribe,

I wish you a merry Christmas.

I feel a lot of love, excitement and happiness at this time which I share together with my family.

I want to share this with all of you...

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Thank you for your support.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Sense of Trying

Ed,

what do you think? Is there any sense in trying to hedge a US dollar trading account balance of a trend following system?

I do not see much sense in trying.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Re-Aligning to Feelings

Dear Ed,

I'm having fun here. It's not that I'm doing "great" in the market and I'm coming up short on several of the bullet point "to do's" in my commitment statement. But I'm feeling. And this gives me joy. I'm also resisting plenty too, but becoming aware of it. I feel a realignment within me taking place. Recently, I am able to recall my dreams in the morning, this is new, and they are helpful. I'm feeling more balance between my conscious mind and Fred.

I'm finding that I'm not able to get through all of the to do's I set out for myself in my Commitment statement. Part of this is feelings come up that I resist and it really slows me down getting through all that I want to do. Part of it is just maybe that I'm trying to do too much in a day. I believe there's a feeling in this that I have to struggle, that I have slave away to get what I want.

I also notice feelings that come up when I do Trade Review. Trade Review one of more important ways I can spend my time and I tend to find a way to not do it. Feelings of <am I doing this right? I'm just small time. I'm too risk averse to really do well. Look at this stock, I sold it and it went higher.> It tends not to matter whether the trade was a profit or loss. I'm very critical. I could chose to see many trades as successful trades that are part of a successful strategy...but those are not the feelings that come up.

Thank you for sharing your process.

You might consider taking your feelings about <being critical> to Tribe.

When You Come To Know

the positive intention of being critical

you may find yourself spending less energy

acting out critic-centric drama.

Clip: http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/0285/

0a58d495-cf59-41e5-b282-006c557b16a1.jpg

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Hi Ed and Tribe…

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement this year.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Perfect Match

See Previous

Congratulations !

You seem to have your perfect match.

The Match You Have is Your Perfect Match

This derives from:

Intentions = Results

Clip: http://www.stevegoben.co.uk/images/

BurningMatch.jpg

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas

Thank you.

Ho Ho Ho

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/

glitters/s/sexy_merry_christmas-

11410.gif

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Year-End Review

Dear Ed,

Thank you for all your help this year. Your support has made a huge difference in my life. I am taking a week off from reporting. I will be back in the New Year.

I'm down (7%). I'm calling this a drawdown.
Thank you for all your thoughts. I'm compiling them - if you want a copy.

I'll be travelling at the end of the week, going to [State] for a month. During that time I will overhaul and re-organize all my systems, with your helpful hints in mind, and organize my various thoughts and habits - and come back a better trader.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Committing to The Essential Tribe

Dear Ed,

I attend the workshop in April.

I go to the workshop with trading, sales goals.  Through the course of the weekend I realize my true objective is family.  I change my Big Wave from Saturday night to Sunday morning. My Big Wave: I live in the now with my wife and children.
 

I leave the weekend feeling clear about my intentions. Progress is slow. I’m not sure what exercises to do to ride my Big Wave. How does one become more adept at being present? How do I measure it?

I enjoy reports from other workshop attendees.
I start to meditate daily. I start to exercise with more intensity. I take a computer class
I feel more present with my family. Many times now, when my wife and children come to talk to me a small voice in head says “Receive.”

Still don’t know how to measure but I am satisfied that I am heading in a direction that I enjoy. I’m coming to terms with 22 years of military service and all the programming under which I operate.

I tell my military boss that I wish to return to part-time status.  Full time is oppressive.
I give a friend the TTP book. She is supportive and actually knows people who practice TTP.

Thank you for sharing your process and for making this important commitment.

Family - The Essential Tribe

Clip: http://www.concurringopinions.com/

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Reconfiguring as a Server

Ed,

Last month I write this and think that I send it in. I typically write in ms word then cut and paste into an email. I am not sure if it is sent. So here it is if you are interested.

My intention last night was to sit down and clarify how I serve others. I do not want to stop until I feel I make significant progress. I have a belief board (recommended in John Assaraf’s book) showing pictures and visions of who I am or wish to be. I decide to take down everything on the board that does not represent serving others. Money in a bank account has no value, unless it’s direct value is serving others. I look at it, it is mostly empty and I understand why my motivation is inconsistent.

T. Boone Pickens’ recent book ends with a summary of a graduation speech he gives at a high school. He tells the kids that he would trade all his material wealth to be where they are right now. He lists all his land, money, airplanes, and businesses. He would give all of that and in return they would be 80 and he would be 18. His goal is not to re-accumulate his wealth; rather it is to finish his goals of serving others.

At this point I go back and make a list of people I look up to and emulate. Then I make a list of who they serve and how they serve them. It was an eclectic group of people medical doctors, war heroes, and some great traders. As I am making this list, I quickly notice how consistent and simplistic there services is.

· All want to make the world a better one.

· Some protect wealth, others protect health many times this can be the same.

· They mentor and share knowledge.

· They want people to accomplish their dreams.

· They support their families.

· Volunteer time and money.

· There service is done through being excellent at what they do.

There is not much more to it. It is not extravagant or deep or out of reach of any common man.

I ask myself what is stopping me or slowing me down?:

1. Confusion or changing my mind (this is medication through distraction)
 

2. Self doubt / Lack of confidence (k-not)
 

3. Focus on what I get, when that has nothing to do with who I am. (non-right livelihood)
 

4. Thinking about my past in a causal manner. (not living in the now)
 

5. Lack of vision, same is lack of confidence. (k-not)
 

6. Afraid to ask for help due to not being prepared. (In ability to feel guilt about lack of preparation)
 

7. Not maintaining a high standard for myself (basic lack of willingness due to medication).

At this point I realize that I rewriting many things that Ed preaches. The greatness is in dealing with emotions. It is nice to take some ownership in my clarity.

Some other observations:

* Security does not inherently serve others. I associate it with never wanting to feel insecure, which would be the same as not wanting to feel fear. In the service of others, there may be a great deal of insecurity one would have to invite.
 

* I watch 60 Minutes the other day and there is a guy who spends his life finding lost ships. In order to do so he must raise capital. It clarifies my understanding of money. Again, this is a simple thought that I have read over and over, but it is a great example. Money serves a purpose. He is following his passion. Once he has an idea then he raises capital, not he raises capital and then he decides to find ships.
 

* Related to the thought above: If your goal is to protect and build wealth, you do not start off with wanting $XX Million and then you can then start. It will never happen. If your goal is to protect and build wealth, then that is it. Protect and build wealth, be the best at it. Then the money may/will come.
 

* The other thing I think about is Ed’s definition of capital. “Capital means ‘tool’ – any thing that 1) is useful in building something and 2) lasts a long time, say, over three years”. Ed’s definition directly relates to right livelihood. Capital is service to others. Many in the world see money as medicine, a way to avoid feeling insecure. That is not the purpose.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Progress Report

Dear Ed,

A good week. I have started a Tribe in [City].

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Clocks on Socks

I notice that during the Breathwork Weekend, one of my "Atomic" (self-adjusting) clocks is running slow - indicating it wants a new battery.

People who rely on that clock wind up at the meeting a bit late, providing an opportunity for all to examine various resources for dealing with tardiness.

I also have a number of clocks that always point to the word, "Now."

Curiously, if you assume that the moment of now occurs simultaneously in all parts of the universe - and use a single frame of reference, you can derive a physics of relativity that is accurate enough to use for GPS calculations - arguably more precise than classic relativity theory.

Clocks on Socks

are usually right in the moment of now.

Clip: http://vintageknits.com/zen/images/

ennis7205.jpg

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Happiness Equation

Hello Mr. Ed

The experiences shared by FAQ contributors in their (recent) Breathwork Weekend feedback are very intriguing & truly amazing. From the post dated 10th Dec '09 following statement makes a great impact:

"My expectations about the non-existing future limiting the joy, the freedom and the perfection in the now..."

This reminds me of an equation:
 

Hmmm...

I wonder if you can re-arrange terms to get:

Expectation = Reality / Happiness

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Spreading the Word

Hi Ed,

I am in the process of developing a sequential certificate program in commodities studies at [School Name]. It is all online and self-study. Candidates will register and matriculate through the school.

One of the Electives deals exclusively with the emotional and psychological aspects of trading. One of the core requirements discusses it as well, but to a much lesser degree.

I see the TT process as a way of life, not just some trading gimmick, and I think given my personal experiences with you in IV, it warrants it's own course.

However, this is your technology, your name, your Trademark, your invention, and your asset among other things, and I have no intention of even mentioning it in my courses without your explicit approval.

If you'd like to be involved, it would mean bringing some of the material to life in a video interview or at least an mp3 podcast to accompany the material. Those aspects we can be creative about.

What I don't want to do is, on my own, discuss the TT aspects and my participation and provide links to the FAQ and the TT book. That would be banal and far too linear for a new student to fully grasp what the Trading Tribe is about and the impact it can have on a person who submits to the process.

Please think about it and let me know your thoughts or questions when you have time.

You are free to mention TTP and to use the technology without restriction - you may not sell anything or receive compensation under the brand name, TTP.

You can likely learn about TTP through reading and videos.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Wants to Certify

At this point, no one has a certificate to practice TTP - not even me.

You would be the first.

PhD = Pile higher and Deeper.

BS = ********

Clip: http://novarealestate.files.wordpress.com

/2009/02/diploma.jpg

Monday, December 21, 2009

Words of Wisdom

Dear Ed,