https://ian.botley.me/index.php 2026-05-19T11:36:45Z email@myblog.com email@myblog.com https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131207-095102

5. Write out a clear, concise statement of the object of your desire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for it, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

The objects of my desire:
To be strong, healthy and fit
To be of service to others
To simplify my life
To share my life with a special friend
To be happy
To be infinitely wealthy i.e. to have more income than expenses
To become a consistently profitable trader

The time limit:
June 30th 2014

The cost:
To commit to and execute the following:
Spending enough time exercising each week to stay fit, strong and healthy.
Spend some time each week to de-clutter and simplify my life.
Spending as much time, effort, focus and work as it takes to learn how to consistently trade profitably.
Create opportunities to be of service to others.
Resign from my employment at Mindray.

The plan:
To designate a schedule for exercise.
To designate a schedule for simplify tasks.
To find and contact trading mentors in addition to Austin.
To designate a schedule for trading education (screen and anlysis time.

The clear, concise statement to be read aloud twice a day is here My Daily Mantra]]>

2013-12-07T15:51:02Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131207-092803

1. Fix in your mind the exact thing you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of money.” Be definite as to the amount.

2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the object of your desire. (There is no such reality as “something for nothing”.)

3. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the object of your desire.

4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

5. Write out a clear, concise statement of the object of your desire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for it, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

6. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read— see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.

Adapted from Hill, Napoleon (2012-11-01). Think and Grow Rich (p. 27). Start Publishing LLC. Kindle Edition. ]]>

2013-12-07T15:28:03Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131202-055703

1. Avoid casting blame on an external force for your bad feelings about life. Nothing outside yourself can control your thinking or your actions.
2. Avoid blaming yourself for not being in control. You are doing the best you can and you are on the way to reclaiming your power.
3. Be aware of when and where you are playing the victim role. Learn the clues that tell you that you are not being responsible for what you are being, having, doing or feeling.
4. Familiarize yourself with your biggest enemy—your Chatterbox. Replace it with a loving internal friend.
5. Figure out the payoffs that keep you “stuck.” Paradoxically, once you find them, you will probably be able quickly to become “unstuck.”
6. Determine what you want in life and act on it. Stop waiting for someone to give it to you. You’ll be waiting a long time.
7. Be aware of the many choices you have—in both actions and feelings—in any situation that comes your way. Choose the path that contributes to your growth and makes you feel at peace with yourself and others.]]>

2013-12-02T11:57:03Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131130-201713

- Fear of confrontation - I can't handle confrontation - why not? What is my payoff?
1. Wanting to 'be nice' all the time (regardless of how the other person behaves) is a fast-track route to repressed bitterness, and sends clear messages to the insensitive that "I can be treated poorly".
2. Expectation of an angry encounter?
Since I have been hiding my truth—for the greater part of my life, it’s not so easy to just switch gears.

- fear of public speaking - not wanting to make a fool of myself.

- fear of making a fool of myself.

- fear of being disliked


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2013-12-01T02:17:13Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131130-075316

It can be seen that the secret in handling fear is to move yourself from a position of pain to a position of power. The fact that you have the fear then becomes irrelevant.

Let’s talk about the word “power.” Some people say that they do not like the concept of power and want no part of it. It is true that in our world the word “power” has some negative overtones. It often implies control over others, and, unfortunately, is often misused.

The kind of power I am talking about is entirely different. In fact, it makes you less manipulative of those around you, and certainly more loving. I am talking about power within the self. This means power over your perceptions of the world, power over how you react to situations in your life, power to do what is necessary for your own selfgrowth, power to create joy and satisfaction in your life, power to act and power to love.

This kind of power has nothing to do with anyone else. It is not egomania, but a healthy self-love. In fact, egomaniacs have absolutely no feeling of power—thus their compelling need to control those around them. Their lack of power leaves them perpetually in a state of fear, since their survival depends on the outside world. No one is more unloving than a person who can’t own his or her own power. Such people spend their lives trying to pull it out of everyone else. Their need creates all sorts of manipulative behavior.

The kind of power I’m talking about leaves you free, since you don’t expect the rest of the world to fill you up. It’s not the ability to get someone else to do what you want them to do. It’s the ability to get yourself to do what you want to do. If you do not own this kind of power, you lose your sense of peace. You are in a very vulnerable place.

Remember that much of the trick of moving from pain to power is taking action. ACTION IS VERY POWERFUL!

“Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.” It reminds me that you can drop an awful lot of excess baggage if you learn to play with life instead of fight it.
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2013-11-30T13:53:16Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131129-194039

1. The fear will never go away as long as I continue to grow.
2. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out . . . and do it.
3. The only way to feel better about myself is to go out . . . and do it.
4. Not only am I going to experience fear whenever I’m on unfamiliar territory, but so is
everyone else.
5. Pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes
from a feeling of helplessness.]]>

2013-11-30T01:40:39Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131129-090949

I now have 3 days to do whatever I want before returning to work on Monday. I can do something useful or I can waste my time! Which will it be?

This morning I read a few pages of "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill I just finished page 39 and still in the introduction and talked about the power of desire. It has a lot of similarities in concept as "The Slight Edge" but is story based rather than practical instruction. There is one section that is practical and it lists 6 steps to achieving riches.
1. Fix the amount of money you desire, a real number.
2. Determine what you are willing to pay (sacrifice?) to get it.
3. Establish a date when you will have it.
4. Create a plan to get there and start immediately.
5. Write down your mission, the results of steps 1 through 4.
6. Read your mission twice a day: when you wake up and before you go to sleep. As you read, see and feel and believe you have already achieved your mission.

These six steps are aimed at money but apply equally to any dream. Sound familiar? It seems like I have read this same advice in several other books.

The basis of "The Slight Edge" has also been with me this morning: things that are easy to do and things that are easy not to do. I have already chosen to do a few things that are easy to do that I would not have done without that simple thought!

Simple thoughts that I will make into a habit:
- Things that are easy to do and things that are easy not to do
- Feel the fear ... but do it anyway
- What's the worst that can happen, what's the best?
- No decision is wrong, decision alternatives give different life experience! ]]>

2013-11-29T15:09:49Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131121-144454

There are some items that still need to be worked on:
- The trade plan (business plan)
- When do I start trading real money
- The trading rules (entries, add on entries & trade management)

Today I made 2 trades a long for +1 and a short for -2.25 (slipped stop exit). The account P/L for the week sits at $0! (excluding commissions)]]>

2013-11-21T20:44:54Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131120-135443

I bought a 2nd display and more RAM for my computer
Austin is only trading 18 more days in 2013 and I have 7 days vacation so I will be taking those vacation days as mornings. Jan 2014 I will see how it's going but probably request part time. July 1st, 2014 I will retire!
My IB account does not have enough to trade real money but I can put in up to $6500 per year in for an IRA (over 60). I will use the PSA money to fill it up to $8k.
I am trading the SIM account on Ninjatrader using IB data feed. I have the charts set up the same way that Austin does (5 min and 2500 volume).
I will need to purchase a Ninjatrader license to trade for real money.
I will trade one contract (with the option to add a contract with no extra risk) per $6K. This is less than a 2% risk per trade based on 2 point stop.
I will start with one contract at $8K and move to two contracts at $12K, 3 contracts at $20K, 4 contracts at $30K and 5 contracts at $50K.
If the initial $8K falls below $6K I will need to rethink ...
All profit above $60K will be moved to a non-trading account for use as income.
Today is day 3. The first three morning were poor trading conditions. This morning lost $150 on 2 trades with Austin but his afternoon I made my own apex trade for $250 (Austin was not on GoToMeeting).
At the end of day 1 the account was at -$62.50.
At the end of day 2 the account was at -$25
At the end of day 3 the account was at +$75
Not wonderful but positive under difficult conditions.
This feels good!]]>

2013-11-20T19:54:43Z https://ian.botley.me/index.php?entry=entry131109-130057

The big new item is Austin Passamonte's final CM Intensified Trading course. Remember my first dream is to be a successful trader, well, this is the opportunity not to be missed. The fee is $997 (for lifetime members) and runs from Nov 18, 2013 through June 30th, 2014. That's less than $10/day for coaching! Of course, this opportunity also provides it's challenges. Before I go there, I just want to mention something from The Slight Edge: "set a goal but don't plan as plans will typically go awry". The concept here is to be open to opportunities and here it is.

The challenges:
- retiring from Mindray or going part time.
- making sure I can pay expenses while still learning (don't expect the trading to pay expenses).
- making sure I can get the house refinanced while on Mindray's payroll.
- keeping in touch with my Mindray friends if I retire.
- taking care of the oil situation.]]>

2013-11-09T19:00:57Z