Babe Ruth was a slugger who brought fear to any pitcher that he faced. Hank Aaron hit an amazing number of homeruns. Those two guys could really hit a baseball. And homeruns are extremely exciting. However, there is another thing that they did more often. They struck out.
They struck out more often than they hit homeruns. This is acceptable in baseball, but this is not acceptable in life and especially in the work place.
You cannot fail more than you succeed and be profitable at work.
The other traders in the crude oil pit used to make fun of me for my style of trading. The only problem was that at the end of the year I was in the top two percent of the money makers down in the pits and I did this year in and year out.
What did I do that was different than everybody else? I stayed in my lane. I discovered what I was good at and I did it ruthlessly. They called me the cab driver. I would ring the cash register everyday. The market would move, I would get my piece. I wasn’t trying to get rich on one trade. I wasn’t looking to retire in one day. I wasn’t trying to knock the ball out of the park. I was making decisions – pitch by pitch, situation by situation, and trade by trade.
Read More…
Babe Ruth was a slugger who brought fear to any pitcher that he faced. Hank Aaron hit an amazing number of homeruns. Those two guys could really hit a baseball. And homeruns are extremely exciting. However, there is another thing that they did more often. They struck out.
They struck out more often than they hit homeruns. This is acceptable in baseball, but this is not acceptable in life and especially in the work place.
You cannot fail more than you succeed and be profitable at work.
The other traders in the crude oil pit used to make fun of me for my style of trading. The only problem was that at the end of the year I was in the top two percent of the money makers down in the pits and I did this year in and year out.
What did I do that was different than everybody else? I stayed in my lane. I discovered what I was good at and I did it ruthlessly. They called me the cab driver. I would ring the cash register everyday. The market would move, I would get my piece. I wasn’t trying to get rich on one trade. I wasn’t looking to retire in one day. I wasn’t trying to knock the ball out of the park. I was making decisions – pitch by pitch, situation by situation, and trade by trade.
As an athlete, these things are second nature. You learn to forget about the last victory or the last disaster. You have to deal with what is dealt to you right now. What are the fundamentals today? What are the influencing factors right now at this moment and how do they play into my long-term goals?
Do I want to consistently make money or do I want to be known as the long ball hitter, the guy with the big biceps and the most nerve. You shouldn’t care as long as you are in your lane, providing for your family and doing your part to take dominion for Christ.
Many people get into the markets because they want the rush of the homerun. They think that somehow they will hear the cheers of the crowd. Trading, investing, and taking risk of any kind is more than gambling – it is grueling work. It is due diligence and patience. It is emotional management and discernment. It is proper associations and, most importantly, for the Christian it is proper motivation.
Are you motivated by man’s opinion or are you content with staying in your lane and doing your part? It doesn’t matter if you are in the dry cleaning business or in aerospace. It doesn’t matter if you are in buttons or BioTech stocks. Hit singles and in every man’s life the single will somehow roll to the wall for an in-the-park homer. God is no respecter of persons.
Make sound decisions everyday. Educate yourself in your lane to become the expert in your field and measure your risk. Stop swinging for the fences and you will see that the runs will begin to add up and you will be far ahead in the end.
Faith Exchange is a non-denominational Christian church located at 95 Leonard Street in downtown Manhattan, New York. It was founded by Dan and Ann Stratton in 1994 after being licensed by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. The church emphasizes achieving a balanced life with good health, spiritual fulfillment, family unity, and financial prosperity through following Jesus and serving others with love.
One of the notable aspects of Faith Exchange is "My Deeper Life," a national network of members who support each other through prayer and fellowship, following Dan's teachings.
During the terrorist attack of 9/11 in 2001, the 90 West Street location of Faith Exchange was destroyed along with other buildings in the area. Despite this devastation, the church survived without loss of life. Today, Faith Exchange continues to hold services on Wednesdays and Sundays, often featuring inspirational speakers.