Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tuesday Notes - The Best is Yet To Come

In a few hours, the clock will strike midnight and this trader will enter the final year where my age won't be preceded by a "5".

For on March 10, 1961, my mother gave birth to Donald Frederick Miller.  Yet as I've said in the past, the event almost didn't happen as my mother had survived an absolutely devastating stillbirth just two years earlier.

She could have given up.  She could have said, "why bother trying again?"  She could have taken the easy way out.  Instead, she took a leap of faith, for which I of course will be forever grateful.

There's no doubt that I inherited much from my mother, including a steadfast will that refuses to give up and seems to strengthen whenever confronted with setbacks, challenges, or critics.  Translation: one stubborn S.O.B.

It's also a will I see in both of my daughters, including my high school senior who hasn't let her daily challenge of diabetes stand in her way of accomplishing more in her seventeen years than many do in their entire life.  A proud papa comment?  Damn right.

I admit I've thoroughly enjoyed my late 40s, and have learned firsthand why many don't reach their stride until well after 40, including the fact that much of our 20s and 30s are spent sowing our oats and/or raising a family.

Consider the following: 

"I discovered, from the analysis of over 25,000 people, that men who succeed in an outstanding way, seldom do so before the age of forty, and more often they do not strike their real pace until they are well beyond the age of fifty." Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich


History is full of noted examples of such.  Sam Walton was 43 years old when he started Wal-Mart.  Teddy Roosevelt was 43 when he took office. Vince Lombardi was 45 when he took the head coaching job with the Green Bay Packers.  Leonardo da Vinci was in his forties when he did the Last Supper and his fifties when he completed the Mona Lisa.  Ronald Reagan was in his fifties when he started his real career as a politician. George Patton was 60 when he took over command of the 2nd Armored Division, and all of his noted work came after that.

Some say trading is a young person's game, including someone a few years ago who was convinced that this discretionary trader & educator in his late 40s couldn't compete with young guns and black boxes.  Essentially, he "dared" me to put my money where my mouth was and make a million dollars in less than a year.

Turned out he was right.

He undershot the target by about 60%.

Apparently, he didn't know my mother.

No posts tomorrow ... just trading, training, and a quiet dinner with my wife.

16 comments:

tom ablett said...

Don, the Very Happiest of Birthdays to you and enjoy it with the Family. I really enjoy reading your blogand please keep up the Great Work you do!!

Martin said...

Don, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, you're an inspiration to all of us !!!

Severino said...

Happy Birthday!

and the next day as well.

Rino

E-Mini Player said...

Happy Birthday Don!

RoachApproach said...

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Markus

traderboy said...

Happy Birthday Don! All of your hard work is greatly appreciated.

traderboy

sunnyv1 said...

I,m sure you know that 50 is just a number.It,s what goes on between the ears that count.I took up snowboarding in my late forties even though everyone told me I was crazy,I didn,t listen.Enjoy the precious time you have with your loved ones today.Pat yourself on the back for having the ability to choose your course in life and prosper in it.You are a beacon of light in this foggy world.Happiest of birthdays, Welcome to the 50,s

BirdMan said...

Don
Happy Birthday and thanks for the great blog!
Dave

sunnyv1 said...

Oooppss! sorry about that Don I read your blog first thig this morning I guess I was still half asleep.Did not want to rush you into the 50,s enjoy your 49th year.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Don. Great post.

steve said...

Happy Birthday and Best Wishes Don, and thank you for continuing to give US a gift!

Also, just noticed your MoneyShow interview from the February show just got posted on their site.
http://www.moneyshow.com/video/video.asp?wid=5146&t=3&scode=01776

Jay Nocats said...

Happy Birthday.

Dr. Brett has a free lecture today.

I hit my daily loss limit. Gonna go chop some fence. I have one or maybe 2 reloads of account left. We can't all win....

Niraj Prasad said...

Happy Birthday Don, you are really an inspiration..your late 40s took you to great heights, your early 50s and beyond will take you to greater..I am sure about that, keep up the good work!!!

Unknown said...

A very happy b-day young man.
mike

Frederic said...

Happy Birthday, Don!
My good friend Bobby "the Jelly" from the NH get-away turned me on to you and I very much enjoyed today's post. (I turned 50 just last year, so I can relate...)

Enjoy your special day knowing there are a lot of people out here who admire what you do.

leon t said...

a belated b'day, however,it doesn't seem to be about you, since i know that not a day goes by whithout you wishing, there was something you could do to ease your daughter's challenge. after reading the article about her,i can see you've done it all, everything and more. that's where inspiration comes from. carry on, as you know,there's more to come.