PipStop

Amidst the recession talk, we're surrounded by rising costs all around us. To various extents traders are traders to create additional opportunities for themselves.

I was speaking to a friend of mine who is looking for a job after moving back to Vancouver from being overseas for a few years. He's bright, a hard worker, has a university degree, and is looking for a human resources job.

He mentioned a job that he interviewed for at a local Wal-Mart that's going to be opening up.  They told him that their HR positions were filled, but offered him a department manager position. Because of his past managerial position they offered a bump in what they usually would offer - $11.50 an hour.

Suffice to say he was beyond insulted, but that left him demoralized.

I have another family friend who is a pilot, and has been for 4-5 years. He just moved back to Canada and caught on with a local airline here for $16 an hour. They told him that he could be promoted to captain shortly, along with a pay raise, but that figure was fodder for conversation at a few family functions.

Perhaps it would all be fine in another area with a lower cost of living, or if there weren't spouses and children to support, or if commuting costs weren't rising by the day.

We can't always have everything exactly the way we want them, but in the meantime what can be done to retain hope that tomorrow will be better than today or that next year will be better than this year?

I think about things like this a lot. I think about it because the vast majority of those who have started to trade are seeking some sort of alternative. Whether it's a part-time or full-time alternative, there are lots of folks looking to do lots of different things. 

One thing I have noticed a dearth of, though, above all is a plan, or a set of goals. Why are you trading, and what do you plan to get out of it? Those are two answers you should have branded to your mind.