Q: I have a question I’d like to ask you and it’s in regards to establishing a mission statement for me as a trader.
As a trader, what is the REAL service that I provide? What’s my contribution to society at large?
I’ve been reading a book by Steve Pavlina called Personal Development for Smart People: The Conscious Pursuit of Personal Growth (See Page 177 through 197), and I seem to be having a hard time in clearly seeing the values we add as traders.
I couldn’t think of any other qualified expert to ask this question than you.
A: Traders serve an extremely valuable function for market based societies because they provide liquidity and distribute risk. Traders “lubricate” the market and thereby help the economy and all of its participants— everybody, in effect. Does that inspire you? Can you take on those functions as a driving force behind your trading? Will those functions serve as your mission?
Rather than asking what service your trading provides, ask yourself, “What is my bliss?”. Follow your bliss and you’ll find a deeply powerful mission.
I love what author Joseph Campbell says, “When you follow your bliss . . . doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn’t be for anyone else.”
My experience is that when you follow your bliss you are in tune with your mission.
—Van
