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Ed
Seykota's FAQ
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FAQ
October 21-31, 2015 <-- back | down | forward --> |
| Contributors Say | Ed Says | |||
| Oct
31, 2015 Fred-ian Psychology Mr. Seykota, I love your article emphasizing the structure of a mind by providing "A Fred-ian Model". I hope to be attending a TT near me soon to achieve my "Zero Point". I can't help but, be reminded of Dr. Tharp's work while reading about your "Fred-ian Model". After some reflection, I am quite positive that it is you in his anonymous interview in his Peak Performance Course. I hope you are doing well and thank you for the insight. |
Thank you for sharing your reflections. | |||
| Oct
30, 2015 Law Enforcement - Lousiana Style Ed, Here is another reason to move to Texas . . . our neighbor, Louisiana. This was played on our radio news this morning (filmed earlier this month). Texas might be tough on crime, but our Louisiana neighbors are tough AND funny. Captain Clay Higgins making a plea to criminal idiot: http://www.katc.com/Clip/11957427/ st-landry-crime-stoppers-stolen-rv It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy. |
Thank you for sharing the link. | |||
| Oct
30, 2015 Slow Rube Goldberg - Video Hi Ed, I find this video funny. Follow the link; https://youtu.be/o-c7tBlnFsw |
Thank you for sharing the link. | |||
| Oct
30, 2015 Dynamic Blooms - Animation Hi Ed, I found this video amazing. “Blooms: Strobe-Animated Sculptures”. The link is at https://vimeo.com/116582567 I am hoping you enjoy too. |
Thank you for sharing the link. | |||
| Oct
29, 2015 TTP Workshop Dear Ed, Greetings and best wishes! I would like to participate in another of your Workshops + Breathwork. Please note my interest for any dates you may have in 2016. Warm regards, Your student. |
Thank you for expressing your interest. | |||
| Oct
28, 2015 Old and Bold Dear Ed, I send you email in the morning. I read in MW: There are old traders and there are bold traders, but there are very few old, bold traders. I feel, there are rich people and spiritual people. There are very few rich, spiritual people. best wishes, |
Thank you for sharing your feeling. | |||
| Oct
27, 2015 Checking In Hi Ed, So this is not a request for consulting...I just thought it might be the most successful way to make sure you get this. Ultimately this email is for me. I've wanted to reach out to you for a couple years now. I've found I have successfully built a psychological barrier in approaching you. Given your reputation I have felt the following: 1. Boy, I better have something good / intelligent to ask. 2. I hope I receive something confirmatory / accepting in response. 3. He's probably inundated with emails asking questions and people trying to correspond who will not really heed advice given...he'll probably just see me in this light until I prove otherwise. You know, all of that stuff has no bearing on my person or whether I will become a successful trader thereby achieving my personal goals in and through trading. Really I just want to open a dialogue, which may or may not persist, under no pretenses and I am ok with the result now. Thanks for your efforts to share and educate, Have a nice day. |
Thank you for sharing your process. | |||
| Oct
27, 2015 Good Stock Dear Ed, I am not able to sleep. Not feeling well. I notice suffering from sudden throat infection. I am absolutely alright till 8 at night. And this sudden attack. I take anti antibiotics. I feel very weak. I feel like sharing this all with you. May be with your knowledge, reply and views I can benefit again. Few recent incidences make me think a lot and Introspect. A young friend from a rich (and according to him corrupt) industrial family having billions of USD annual sales has run away from his family and has been residing separately in a small rental flat. I meet him for the first time. He is visiting my city to give a lecture to MBA student about investing. He is a follower of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. Before meeting him I do not know his background. He tells me he does not want to stay with his corrupt and rich father. I notice myself remembering your words: Everybody gets what they want ... I suddenly realize his family back ground. I have been a shareholder of his father's partner's company. I feel shocked to know that a young person like him has opted to take such drastic decision. A person who was accustomed to so much wealth is hardly able to make ends meet. But he seems confident. I assure him that in case of need, he can rely on me. He assures me that he won't need anybody's help. I notice his confidence. I also feel it's not arrogance. He has read about Charlie Munger a lot and seems to be very clear about his decisions. Silently I salute him. We part ways after three hours of discussion about investing. He shares his ideas openly.While parting I feel like hugging him but I do not know him that well. That's what I feel at that moment. So I refrain. The moment is gone. Almost every day I remember Ed Seykota. Now while writing this email, I realize that if I had remembered your views, I definitely would have hugged him. All feelings have positive intentions. Yes you are right Ed. Before parting last month he suggests that I meet a girl who is a successful investor. I agree with him. He sets up a meeting today at the same place where I have met him. We meet in a posh club where I have taken a membership. The moment I meet her, I realize I do not want to meet her. Her vibes are not good for a person like me. Just some talk today afternoon and she tells me that she has heard about my investing and likes to meet successful investors. I notice she knows how to invest very profitably on her own. Out of the blue she tells me bluntly "You know I have heard about you and your divorce. Are you interested in making me pregnant with your baby?" OMG. I feel sudden pain in my chest. I notice her ruthlessness and may be it's her way of time management. I remember my ex wife. I hate these feelings. I instantly resent her approach. She continues " Look, I am very rich. I have everything I need. I do not need husband. I do not want to marry anyone. Let me know if you are interested in becoming my child's father." I stare at her. I am speechless and I feel unexplained pain in my chest again. I also notice her word "your baby" I feel utter disgusting feeling about this rich, beautiful and ruthless human being. She notices my discomfort and says "hey, the meeting got over!" We get up. I offer her to drop her at her hotel. She says her driver in her expensive car is already following us and now waiting for her. We part ways. I take a cab and come back home. I soon feel severe headache and take a spa appointment. I meet a doctor who owns that place. I go to his place regularly for acupressure treatments to cure me of my respiratory allergies. After I reach his place, He apologizes to me that after fixing my appointment, he comes to know that his therapist is not feeling. I request him to allow me to meet that person. I have taken many treatments from her. He says sure. She is lying on a sofa and I notice that she is not well. She faintly smiles at me. She tries to get up and I motion her not to. I sit besides her and hold her hand. The same hand which has given me painful acupressure treatments for my benefits. I have sensed that though painful, those treatments seem to be benefiting me, slowly but surely. She is very delicate and small human being. She keeps her eyes closed. I continue to hold her hand without saying anything. I notice a tear at the end of her eyes. I take a tissue and gently wipe that. She does not open her eyes. I keep my hand on her forehead and gently massage her there. This happens for few minutes. She now opens her eyes. She knows that I know that she was silently crying. She starts asking me questions one by one. 1. Are your married? Me: Divorced. She keeps her silence. 2. She asks again : Do you have children? Me : Yes. 3. She asks "How many?" Me : Two. 4. She asks "Do both of them reside with you?" Me: Yes. She is silent for few seconds. She lets me know that her family is from a far away place, she misses them a lot and that they are very poor. I already know that. Her father is a driver. She also tells me that they all are working hard so that her brother can complete his Hotel Management and secure his job in a five star hotel. I keep on holding her hand. 5. She asks me to show her my children's pictures. I show her my daughter's picture on my mobile and jokingly tell her that she can kiss my daughter's picture! She responds that she would rather kiss my son's picture. We both laugh. Doctor who himself is also from a far away place leaves us alone. We both are experiencing feelings, silently. I asks her about her age. I notice that she is three years younger to my daughter. I tell her this. She seems happily surprised. I realize that I am almost three times her age. She is only 18. She suddenly tells me "Uncle, I love you! Thank you for being with me". Her words shake me to the core. I really do not know why. OMG. I remember Dr. Sue Johnson and her words: Are you there for me? I am speechless again for the second time today for all different reasons. There is a tear in my eyes now. I suppress my feelings again, as usual. I keep my hand again on her forehead for few seconds and wish her get well soon. She faintly smiles. I come out of the room. I notice Doctor avoiding my eyes. I also notice he also has a tear in his eyes. What is happening suddenly in my life? Is there a lesson for me in the present moment? I wonder. I remember you again. I let the feeling come and I feel it. I come out of the spa. The thought comes in mind. So who the hell is rich? I am happy holding that poor girls hand and she appears rich. I realize that life suddenly takes some turn and then the life changes forever. I remember your words: Becoming a better trader and becoming a better person seem to go together. My dear Ed, I really I do not have a faintest idea how a fundamental investor like me got to particularly read about you repeatedly out of so many market wizards and send you emails. What I know now is that my desire to seek guidance draws me to you. While writing this email I get up and open page 153 of Market Wizards. I read again what Jack writes : Ed has become very involved in the field of psychology. It appeared to me that psychology and its applications in helping people solve their problems, had become more important element in his life than market analysis and trading. I read your response of Oct 11, 2015 again. Wonder. I wonder what you might like to do with your life - especially if you feel you can do anything you want to do. I feel as of now I want to feel strong again and get rid of my throat infection. I start smiling again and send my prayers to that small young child. I notice my awareness that at some level we all are connected through some ultimate super force may be called GOD. Ed, You are helping me to become a better person. I am deeply indebted to you. My hugs, bows, salutes and love to you. Thank you so much Chief. |
Thank
you for sharing your process. Throat issues sometimes indicate a desire to share feelings. For example, I wonder what you still want to say to the woman who propositions you as breeding stock. |
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| Oct
26, 2015 Seeking Right Livelihood Ed, I hope you are well and still enjoying Puerto Rico. I wonder how your cattle are doing in Texas? I imagine being a farmer and farming cattle and I think it would be very physical, dirty, long hours and hard work. I think I would very much like it as I would directly benefit from the fruits of my efforts. I think I long for a quieter life. I am coming to the end of my contract and despite me doing my best work, while my efforts and work seems to be appreciated, I will have to move on and find something else again. There is not budget or headcount available for me to stay on here. I feel worried and I feel rejection. I feel angry that despite giving 110%, working additional hours in order to deliver meet unrealistic deadlines as well as adding that extra bit of value, all I will get is a handshake and a thank you and goodbye and good luck. I really want some financial security and stability. I wonder how I am going to feed my family and pay the bills. I keep getting knocked back financially. It doesn’t feel like it is my right livelihood to produce accounting reports with lots of numbers in order to meet legislative and management reporting requirements. It simply feels like I am sweating blood to shuffle pieces of paper around and make a process work, so suppliers get paid, customers pay on time, and management get their performance reports and there a no significant errors in the reported numbers. I am not convinced they even really read them. Sometimes management seem to like to try and use the reports to create some sort of “story” for their own managers, when there is no story. They are simply performance numbers to be taken at face value. There is no hidden message within them. I am tired of being dependent on a company and an employer for work. I am tired of employer policy, or a “boss” or an “HR department” having say over my employment and determining the wealth and livelihood of my family. I would prefer to earn my living more directly via my actual work output and the standard of my work. I feel like I seem to constantly stuck in a run of bad luck. I wonder if my intention is to constantly have rejection and failure in my life. I wonder if I subconsciously do this in order to seek sympathy and gain acceptance? I am considering joining the police force. It will be a pay cut, but I see it as a more respectable job and likely provide better job security for my family. Perhaps it is closer to my right livelihood and in a way I can better “serve others” via protecting the innocent, keeping law and order and helping the public. I think it is a job I will value more than producing accounting reports that no one reads. It seems to be a more “real” job. I think I might find what I am looking for there in terms of a sense of belonging and pride in being part of something delivering a real service. I’m sure you will have something insightful to say. I look forwards to reading your response and I look forwards to meeting you again sometime. Anyway, I am forever appreciative and grateful to you. Best wishes, |
Thank
you for sharing your process. Sharing your feelings about right livelihood generally moves you toward right livelihood. You might consider sharing your feelings with your family, friends, current employer and prospective employer - and listening carefully to how they respond. |
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| Oct
26, 2015 Hard Work Ed, I am a new trader and working on learning and putting together a Trend Following trading system. I am very much a newbie, so I have a long way to go. I am working with a training system that supports the turtle way of doing things. It is frustrating however since I am having problems getting a complete picture. Do you know of a way to help me get a better more comprehensive picture of how to build a trading system? I am willing to put in the time and do the work. I am no stranger to hard work. |
Thank
you for raising this issue. You can find examples at the Trading Systems Project at Resources on this site. You can also apply some of your hard work to running your own simulations and trying variations to find out how they behave. You can also find many other resources on the web. |
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| Oct
26, 2015 Red and Green Lines Hello Ed - I was wondering what the single pair of parallel horizontal red and green lines on each chart indicates for the actual Long Only Trend Following System with futures on the Seykota.com website. Thank you so much. |
Thank
you for raising this issue. The green lines indicate entry stops while the red lines indicate exit stops. |
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| Oct
25, 2015 Not Taking it Personally Dear Ed, I want to share with FAQ readers the enormous relief I feel as I experience some success in not taking anything personally. I find my fear of rejection diminishing enough to allow me to approach people for friendship and to enjoy the responses that I receive. I reach out more than I ever have, and I accept others who reach out to me. I feel drawn to people who can express their feelings openly as well. I remain a person who enjoys solitude and can happily do my own thing, but I no longer avoid others due to a vague feeling of discomfort and awkwardness. As I worry less about whether people will approve of me, I sense that I have become more likable. I know I have become more relaxed. I accomplish more as I no longer measure my adequacy by how much I accomplish. I spend less time absorbed in rejection or depressive dramas, which leaves me more time to enjoy my life. I find that the initial feeling of rejection or inadequacy still occurs (though not as often), and that I am able to respond to this feeling with another feeling of self-acceptance, which seems to neutralize the negative emotion. So, I'm still just human but now I'm happy about that, rather than ashamed. My learning about TTP and participating in a Tribe has played a significant role in my personal growth, and I thank you from deep in my heart for bringing these processes into "being". Sincerely, |
Thank you for sharing your process. | |||
| Oct
25, 2015 Piles of Papers Dear Ed, As I attempt to reduce the piles of papers covering my kitchen table, I discover the positive intention of leaving those piles in place for several years. Now that I finally look at the papers, I see that most of them represent issues that either have been resolved or are too far in the past to have any meaning in the moment of now. Therefore, the positive intention of leaving them there all this time is to make it easier to throw them away! What a happy revelation. Your friend, |
Thank you for sharing your process. | |||
| Oct
25, 2015 Learning to Share Feelings Hi Chief, We run 3 process last night. One member feels worthless when communicating with his mother. Tribe help him to recall once his mom drop him off airport. We role play this situation to train him communicating feelings with mom when feeling worthless. One member tends to distract himself when facing a project with unexpected hardness. Tribe help him to recall when he was little boy, he dreaded the intense training in martial arts team and quit. Tribe role play and help him re-live the training and communicate feeling with coach and stick to the task. One member gets constant disapproval and criticism from his mom. Tribe help him recall he once watch TV when doing homework and gets caught. Tribe role play this situation and help member to proactively communicate feelings and build rapport with his mom. Thanks, |
Thank you for sharing your process and for documenting your meeting. | |||
| Oct
25, 2015 DIM (Do It Myself) Process Hi Chief, As you are aware our Tribe is newly formed. We are still working on finalizing a schedule and venue. Due to this we are not having regular meetings. I am going through some emotional turmoil and look forward to tribe meetings to work on these issues. But since the meetings are irregular right now and I feel the urgent need to address my emotional volatility I end up trying to do the processes myself (DIM). Is this okay to do once in a while? I also wonder that if in the long run TTP becomes a natural part of your life then isn't that also a DIM process? Kindly share your thoughts on this. Thank you. Best, |
Thank
you for raising this issue. You can do TTP by yourself - and you can also have sex by yourself - with similar results.
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| Oct
25, 2015 Bumper Stickers Ed, Thank you for your response about the Bumper Sticker Process, Chief. I have one more question. You mentioned that after receiving feedback on the goal, the member will revise it for the next round. So does the next round have be during the same meeting or the next one? Does the evolution and finalization of the goal happen in the same meeting or can be spread over a few meetings? What is more effective? Thank you. |
Thank
you for raising this issue. During the Bumper Sticker Process, I generally conduct several cycles of [drive around and get feedback / back to the shop for revisions] - and that takes an hour or two. |
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| Oct
24, 2015 Natural Ed, I had an experience with sharing of feelings. My daughter sent me pics grand baby. My first reaction was I didn't like that she combed his hair. I like a natural look for a baby. No combing of hair and not cutting hair until at least two to three yrs old. So I didn't say anything when she sent pic She called me unexpected and said what did you think of pic I told her the truth how I felt. I said I don't like his hair combed She got in huff. I said I was just telling you how I feel. She said well, I will never ask you again She didn't like how I felt I pondered it awhile Do I tell the truth how I feel or lie to make her feel better? I don't want to lie I thought how our society is. We tell white lies to make someone feel better. If we would have started sharing feelings with children at a young age, maybe it wouldn't be the way it is now So then I texted her. I told her that my grand baby is always cute, precious and special. I just have a personal preference for the natural look in babies. It's just a personal preference. It has nothing to do with how awesome he is or she is Then she was happy. I shared my feelings but still complimented and uplifted her |
Thank
you for sharing your process. Saying "I don't like his hair," conveys a judgment and likely elicits a defensive reponse from the person in charge of the hair. Saying "I feel sadness in my eyes and anger in my shoulders - and I recall having my own mom comb my hair and scratching my scalp," conveys openness and willingness to share feelings. You might consider looking deeper into your feelings and judgments - and learning to separate them. I notice you do not specify the gender of your grandchild or your feelings about your grandchild - possibly indicating your interest lies more in controlling the grooming process. You might consider clarifying your agreements with your daughter about who gets to control her child's hair. |
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| Oct
24, 2015 Puerto Rico Bailout Ed, Thanks for the link to a non-bailout approach for Puerto Rico: http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2015/10/22/ a-new-path-for-puerto-rico-which-doesnt-include- a-washington-bailout/ Interesting article. Mr. Rosselló’s proposal is far preferable to the bankruptcy-bailout route. But once a welfare state is entrenched to the extent it is in Puerto Rico (with the U.S. not far behind), and the public sector has grown like a weed to accommodate it, I wonder if free market reforms stand a chance of passing? Best, |
Thank
you for extending this discussion. In my book, Govopoly, I make the case that the Govopoly System assimilates the Free-Competition Sector, inexorably, and at an accelerating pace, until both entities perish. |
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| Oct
22, 2015 In Person Ed, I would like to schedule in person time with you during your trading day. |
Thank
you for reaching out to me. I wonder if you can tell me more about what you wish to accomplish. |
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| Oct
21, 2015 Carve Back Ed, I share with you a lawsuit that has been filed against a groundwater district here in Texas. The basis of the suit is the District does not have the statutory authority to regulate via the rules they are enforcing. A little “carve back” if you will! I am pleased to inspire and support these folks. |
Thank you for sharing your process and for supporting others in taking a stand for freedom. | |||
| Oct
21, 2015 Wants a Mentor Mr. Seykota, My business partner and I have developed an automated trend trading software system. The software went live in September and for your convenience, I have put all of the trading logic into a private website online so that you can see our progress. Questions: Portfolio: the system currently only trades the equities and ETF markets in the US and Canada. I need to further diversify and adapt the trading software to accept futures contracts. I need help to properly program the position sizer for futures contracts and to automate the rollover process of these contracts. (A list of current portfolio symbols (ETF and Equities) can be found on the website) Position sizer: I need to ensure that the logic I am using for my equities position sizer is correct. I currently do not add second or third positions but this is something that I would like to start doing in the strategy. My plan is to add additional units every 1N “ATR” but I need some logic so that I do not take on too large of a position in one sector or symbol. (Current position sizer logic can be found on the website under the Logic menu item) Account Balancing: I have access to a larger trading account but currently l have only been utilizing $50K to ensure that I have the logic completely refined before I start trading with larger account values. This being said, how do trend traders balance their position sizes when their accounts are valued in the millions of dollars (or billions for that matter). (Please see website for further details on our position sizer) Audit/Review: A general review/audit of the current logic and help point out areas that need further attention. It is important for you to know that I am committed to learning the trend following process from mentors who have walked down this path before me. Trend trading is not just a trading strategy to me, it is a way of life and a mindset that I completely relate to. My intention is to continue to learn the trend following process for use on my families brokerage account. I am in a unique position because I have access to trade an asset pool of approximately $2M but I have only been trading $50K because I want to make sure that the formula/process is correct. I basically want to create my own fund using my families assets. The companies that I mention in my website are actually all 95% owned by a trust structure controlled by my family. My business partner [Name] owns the remaining portion of [Firm]. [He] is a developer that I found through the CME website and we have been working together for the past year on developing the trading system. I feel that my progress would be accelerated if I had your help to guide me through the types of questions I mentioned above. However, I needed to tell you that my intention is to use your theory in my trading system. I needed to let you know this before we proceed as I know your logic is proprietary and I am not sure how you feel about it being used in my trading system. Please advise if you see an issue with me using any of your logic in my trading software. Mr Seykota, I really want to learn and be mentored. I have found my calling with trend following. It has become a passion that gives me so much fulfilment. Thanks to reading about what you and other trend followers have accomplished you have opened my mind to new ideas and given me a glimpse at what is possible and all I want to do is learn more and more. I know I have some good logic foundations but it still needs refining. If you think that there is the possibility of you mentoring me, then I very much look forward to working with you. However, if you feel like this would not be a good fit for whatever reason, then all I ask is that you point me in the direction of another trend trader who you think would be a great mentor for me. I would be happy to discuss all the logic features with you and why I have created this logic. I have come up with these features through trial and error in an attempt to cut my losses on trades that do not go in the intended direction and to let my profits ride. Sometimes it is just easier to let a chart pattern explain what a person understands so please see the website for a detailed explanation of the trading logic that we have developed. I look forward to hearing from you, |
Thank
you for raising these issues. Recently, we have futures markets with normal fluctuations of several thousands of dollars per contract. If you trade a $50,000 futures account and risk, say $3,000 per trade, you risk about 6 percent per trade or maybe 60% of your portfolio. Alternatively, if you risk, say, 0.5 percent per trade, or about $250 per trade, you wind up getting on no positions. I notice you asking for logic to add on to existing positions. You might consider clarifying your agreements with your family members and with your partner about how you plan to charge for your services and also what happens in the event the account has a drawdown. You might consider taking your feelings about <agreements with your family> and <drawdowns> to Tribe. |
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| Oct
21, 2015 Stopless Hi! I hope you are well! I have done lot of research and backtesting and found that I am getting better results without stoploss. I am getting lower volatility as well. Whats your view on this? |
Thank
you for raising this issue. Everything works sometimes. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kE_zqVPr4HI You might consider taking your feelings about <cutting losses> to Tribe. |
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Oct 21, 2015 Complete Honesty Ed, To be completely honest I 'm confused by your reply. (see Oct 19, 2015 - Wants a Mentor) |
Thank
you for sharing your confusion - and for professing complete honesty. You might consider revealing the part of my reply that confuses you. |
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