“It is a path of self-improvement that draws me back to the markets on a daily basis” @Cashley
In Members in Profile, we interview stand-out members that show strong aptitude and work ethic. Our goal is to highlight different folks so that you can see the effort that our members are putting into their trading and hopefully learn from their experiences of the Convergent Trading Community.
We hope you enjoy hearing what @Cashley has to say!
What brought you into trading?
After completing graduate school and entering my career, I felt the need to understand financial markets to effectively manage my retirement accounts. This realization occurred in early 2014, marking the beginning of my journey as a trader. Like many others before me, I tirelessly searched for the holy grail, enticed by the prospect of significant financial gains and early retirement. I ventured into trading various assets, including penny stocks, large caps, options, and now futures.
After more than a decade of continuous learning, my perspective on the markets and trading has undergone a profound transformation. Initially, I viewed it with a sense of naivety, seeing it as an opportunity to work less and earn more. However, I have come to recognize it as one of the most challenging professions, requiring constant self-exploration and growth. This journey challenges you at the core of your deepest thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. It is a path of self-improvement that draws me back to the markets on a daily basis.
What do you like most about Convergent?
Convergent Trading is a platform where individuals are encouraged to develop their unique trading strategies, setting it apart from other educational resources in the trading domain. The distinguishing feature lies in fostering the formulation of one’s own edge. The platform offers an abundance of resources covering basic to advanced market education, empowering users to shape their perspectives on market dynamics. Moreover, it provides access to professionals who are actively involved in trading and navigating the complexities of the market.
This environment immerses users in an ideal setting for idea generation, creating a valuable feedback loop for continuous improvement. Essentially, the community consists of like-minded traders collaborating to unravel the secrets of success in trading. This aspect is particularly valuable, as the journey in trading can be isolating when undertaken from home. It becomes challenging to maintain accountability without a community to report to. The collective effort of a community of traders working towards a common goal is genuinely appreciated in what can be such a solitary endeavor.
How have these aspects helped you grow as a trader?
It’s challenging to express in words how Convergent has contributed to my growth, because the transformation has been substantial. However, the community, and my accountability partner, have forced growth of me that has led to creating my own system while becoming a much more disciplined person. The understanding I have of myself today, is far better than I knew was possible a year ago. Being here has allowed for the development of my lens to organize random market data that, through retrospective study, has uncovered an edge. Through the help of my accountability partner, known in the community as @JohnA_, I have been able to fine tune it to a point where consistency and profitability are achievable.
Do you have a favorite community quote or webinar?
There are numerous valuable insights scattered throughout all the webinars, making it impossible for me to single out a pivotal one. Each webinar served a distinct purpose in my growth as a trader. Frequently, I found myself rewatching webinars and developing an entirely new appreciation for the information within them, as my perspective on viewing markets evolved and changed over the weeks and months.
Do you have any advice for new members?
I am willing to bet that this is going to be one of the most challenging endeavors you’ll ever undertake in your life. It’s a highly personal journey, but the resources at Convergent are incredibly beneficial, providing you with a substantial head start. I only wish I had discovered something like this back in 2014 when I embarked on my own journey. I would recommend getting a yearly membership and being prepared to put everything on the line over that year. Find an accountability partner and support each other as you both strive to improve. You’ll be amazed at the personal growth you experience; even if profitability is not achieved by the end of it, you’ll be a better person for it.
What is your favorite non-trading activity/hobby?
I have a lot of hobbies outside of trading including frequently exercising, playing the drums, and using my hands to build things/work on my house. Throughout all of these hobbies, including trading, the backbone has been an addiction to education and learning new information. I thrive when I am learning something and if it interests me, I will do everything I can to learn about it.
Have you participated in the #TradeRight program/challenges? What discoveries have you made?
I began with the #TradeRight program after purchasing a membership at Convergent. I believe it is crucial for any trader who hasn’t yet established their own edge, and likely still beneficial for experienced traders. The program provided me with foundational knowledge to begin organizing market data into a repeatable system, enabling me to study my outcomes in a consistent manner. Without ongoing retrospective analysis and incremental adjustments, refining your edge into something consistently profitable becomes an impossible task as you begin to study emotion fueled randomness. Ultimately, consistently profitable is the goal we all aspire to achieve and the #TradeRight program was the foundation for me to begin the work towards that goal.
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