Here's the new year, here's the new decade. But, it seems it is more of the recent same for me. My time in front of the markets is reduced compared to where it was late winter, spring and the early summer of 2009. What I discovered was that the old adage is true: you cannot serve two masters. My two masters are the stock market and my small business. By dividing my time pretty evenly between the two for much of 2009, I was doing both a disservice. Now, I have thrown a major home construction project into the mix! For the next few months, the stock market will be the lesser of these three priorities. However, for the long-term, it is my first priority. As I have blogged before, the construction project is an apartment which will generate income. And starting February 1st, I am actively seeking a buyer for my business, which I hope will sell by years end. The sale of the business will produce revenue and time necessary to follow my path to trading the markets full-time. Construction and business sale... these are the short-term foci of attention here at bluecollartrader central. "Winners Finish Strong" is a phrase I've heard and like. That is my intent... to finish my business strongly enough to be happy with the outcome. This is not to say that I will be ignoring the stock market... not a chance. I will continue to practice and blog my results, to follow the blogs I like, to read and re-read books on the subject, and keep track of the general condition of the economy through the news and CNBC.
I believe I reached the point last year where I could not advance in my abilities unless I was trading full-time. I have a pretty good grasp of technical analysis and a basic understanding of momentum analysis. What I lack is perspective and relevance. Both of these require experience... face-time in front of the computer studying the intra-day movement of stocks; continual attention. But, I cannot apply this required amount of effort this year to practice trading. It would not be in keeping with "Winners Finish Strong;" as I defined it above. At age 44, I have the entire second half of my life to trade stocks. I can sacrifice another 6 to 12 months in service to my business and other matters which in the longer term, will free me financially to pursue my goal of earning my living as a self-employed stock trader. I expect that what you'll see in 2010 here at http://www.bluecollartrader.blogspot.com/ is close to what you saw between August 2009 and the present and less like what you saw from February 2009 through July 2009.
My best to you all for a stunningly prosperous 2010!
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Goal Oriented and Finishing Strong, Assisted by Common Sense & Life Experience.
