PipStop

This is probably my easiest entry in the short history of this blog.

Each Client of Trading Post can receive ONE FREE MONTH of subscription service. So either one month of charting OR Online Training Room can be yours if you commit to a subscription agreement. If you don't want to continue past your free month, just cancel at least 7 days before the end of the free term.

It's dubbed the "Client Appreciation Promotion," and I hope this gesture to all indicates how much we appreciate your commitment to the Trading Post community!

- sam

We've recently announced and started the release on our new and improved courses. I think one of the things that has thrown everybody off is that a) it's no longer being called the beginners and advanced courses, and b) there are no longer the six hour live courses.

In truth there is so much more instructional content in the two new courses (Forex Market Sector and Trader Development) that it should be a hands down victory for the you, the trader. What we're guilty of, though, and I can take some responsibility for this, is the failure to shed light on exactly what you're getting.

For years, we've had traders tell us, more than the day long live course, why not break it up and have course components that can be accessed at ANYTIME, 24 hours a day? Well what we've done with these new course offerings is created content overflowing self-paced courses and supplemented that with matching live OTR sessions that are 60 to 90 minutes long. So smaller chunks. It's a better way for you to retain information and be able to go out and immediately apply it.

So my challenge is this. Actually TAKE these courses. Login to your Client Services Portal now, and see for yourself. Then check the instruction schedule and join an OTR or two, or however many you want.

Oh, and if you've purchased a course within the past year, click on the link below to see what free services you might qualify for.

Until next time!

- Sam

In the midst of a number of enhancements that Trading Post is rolling out through the end of the year, it is important for you to be familiar with what's at hand. Below you will find some helpful Frequently Asked Questions to help you understand some of the most important details.

Over the course of the coming weeks, we'll share more and more information with you. And again, we're always here to help answer questions for you at anytime.

/Sam

It’s a simple principle, really. If anyone is familiar with Stephen Covey who authored The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, you would know that the title of this entry is Habit #5.

With the change in marketing focus, there is a vocal minority – at least from the feedback that I have heard – who are expressing disappointment. What I would like to know from anyone who is disgruntled is, “have you been open-minded in seeing the potential positive effects of this change?”

It’s part of human nature to assume off of initial reactions. We do it on a daily basis. But I would caution anyone who has done the same with Trading Post’s most recent change to truly seek to understand the situation and the solution that we have created.

I can’t stress it enough. Seek first to understand.

Before making the decision a significant amount of information was evaluated, and decisions were based on fact, which culminated in the change away from the network marketing business model.

Negativity breeds negativity. Many have seen the merit of the change, and I for one am a patient individual, and will help and honestly answer any question or concern that arises.

If you seek to find fault, you will never find virtue.

- Sam

Often failure is the result of not being clear of what success is.

I’ve had my own rollercoaster experiences as a trader. There has been an extremely wide gap in the euphoria of big gains, and the depression of large losses. I look back and think, what were my expectations? What was my trading plan? I don’t have answers to those questions.

Did I just assume that I would become a successful trader just by virtue of having a live account and being active in it? The answer is yes.

Now that I’m writing on a daily basis, I realize how much there is to share, and clarify.

There is a misconception among some that Trading Post made this change because it is in dire financial straights. The truth is Trading Post Financial Services is comprised of four distinct subsidiary companies. Trading Post Associates is the company that operates the network marketing business and as a result of its operating at a loss, it was decided to make this current change.

Trading Post’s products and services are delivered by the parent company (TPFS). Each subsidiary company stands alone as viable businesses. The bottomline is all the tires on the car did not fall off, rather we have changed one to a newer tire.

There was a conversation in the office regarding this specific blog today, which focused on the “tone.” There were comments of the fact that it’s inappropriate for a “corporate” blog to include personal references.

I explained how important it is to really convey a real, non-sanitized sense of what might be going through our minds in Vancouver. The premise of a blog, and the reason why they have exploded in popularity is because of a real sense it conveys, which is what I aim to do here.

But I am no dummy, I understand that there needs to be a logical train of thought as I put this together. I’ve thought about it through the day, and decided that I’ll keep a focused perspective here with occasional outside, sometimes random insight. But this insight I’ll reserve for my closing comments, just as simple points that have interested me, and which might interest you.

I know and perhaps it needs to be impressed on everyone who seemed to have developed some hardened opinions on this (which were conveyed to me today) that this is a work in progress. It will evolve.

Your input is imperative in this, and who knows, maybe something you share will make it in print here.

I’ve got to say after a long day at the office today, it was nice to have Ruth Mayne drive up and visit us, and afterwards she had to catch her ferry, but Zoltan Vass and I went out for dinner.

When will Z ever NOT check live currency rates at dinner? Hopefully never. It keeps him young, and I promise you have not seen someone as passionate and excitable in trading Forex as Zoltan – it is refreshing to be around, that’s for sure.
-----
I recently came across an interesting website called howstuffworks.com. For those of you who don’t know there is a “Trading Post Community” group on Facebook, and if you don’t know what Facebook is learn more about it (OK so the video is not the highest quality production). While you’re there find out how the Euro works or how the Fed works, or how liquid body armor works … it seems to be a website full of endless information.

- Sam