Bulletproof Trader by Steve Ward
Sometimes, you come across a book that completely changes your perspective on things. This is one of those books.
This Saturday I was going to write about what I learnt of Trend Lines, Rising Wedges, Support and Resistance, etc. You know, the basics.
After reading Bulletproof Trader though, I just had to share a little something I got from the book that made my life completely different.
Bulletproof Trader is a trading performance book, and I couldn’t wait to get started reading this. A trading educator I emailed reccomended it too me, so I ordered it online and got started reading this before any of my other books because I was just so excited.
I think getting my psychology right before making my first live trade would be a step in the right direction.
I’ve read many popular self-help books, and there will come a point when you are asked to write down or evaluate your personal values.
I’ve never been one to take this exercise seriously, because honestly, I didn’t understand what was meant by values.
I mean, what is a value?
Values are preferred actions that achieve outcomes that grant a good way of living.
Why do I need values, especially for trading?
These questions where quickly and rapidly answered and after my first read through of this book, I can say I had a break through.
Steve made me question myself in ways only an old philosopher could. There was no rambling, or blaming, no hype-beast mentality or drill seargent. It felt like an old friend, asking me questions that allowed me to ‘self realise’.
Before, I always struggled with ‘finding my values’ because what is expressed in other popular books isn’t nearly as effective as what Steve teaches.
After just 10 to 20 minutes of writing in one of my notepads, I already had gained a deeper insight, or sense, of who I was and why I was participating in this journey to begin with. Why really does make all the difference.
Page 59 of the values chapter, had me write down who I wanted to be as a trader, to imagine deeply what it would be like to be sitting there, in my own vision of what a successful trader looked like.
Secondly, what did I want (or what would future me want) my strengths and qualities to be?
For certain, a successful investment firm owner would have to be objective and decisive. Firm but fair. Above all, pragmatic.
Finally, what really got me was writing the values down of my role model(s).
It was simple, but I’ve never considered these things before, so I imagined what it would be like to be someone like Anton Kreil or George Soros. In a bind, what would Warren Buffet do in a tough situation?
I’ve been completely blown away by the complex jargon other authors use while trying to convey what they think is a simple topic or thinking model.
Steve brushes all of that complexity aside and instead carries you along this journey of simplicity, adding breakthrough after breakthrough to your way of thinking. An engaging and thought provoking book.
I highly recommend this book to any aspiring or professional trader, even if you just get a tiny snippet of information from it.
It would make all the difference in the world.
This book has not only impacted the way that I look at learning to trade, but it has affected other aspects of my life in a positive way as well.
For readers who may be interested, I’ve added a source link below to the book. This is not an affiliate link or advertisement, I just really want to spread the word.
Sources:
Bulletproof Trader by Steve Ward
A Really Good Interview With Steve
Steves Website: Performance Edge Consulting
Values by Wikipedia