There is something about Assassin Movies that draw me over to watch them first before other movies. Albeit visceral, Assassin Movies provide me much needed adrenaline rush in the comfort and safety of a movie house sans broken limbs and bones. I love Assassin Movies whether this involves a stealthy ninja, a ruthless hired gun, a former government agent on the loose, or a femme fatale on vengeance path. Why am I talking about Assassin Movies in this post? Because assassins are good at what they do for a living as they possess something that is so lacking in my trading psychology; something that I have been wanting to acquire yet thus far only managed to get hold for a few seconds of trade only to lose it the next. That something is called "Killer Instinct".
"Killer Instinct" is defined as "an aggressive and ruthless determination to win or attain a goal" (www.dictionary.com). While being aggressive and ruthless may be innate to assassins, the same may not always yield excellent results for stock traders and may even lead to devastating outcome instead. This is not the Killer Instinct that I have been wanting to develop for months now. What I am trying to develop is something better explained by a story (please indulge me at my attempt in writing a fictional assassin character as inspired by the many Assassin Movies I have seen). Here goes.
"He is a hired gun, the best in the business of taking down those who run opposed to the interest of his clients. Though he works with tipsters, forgers, hackers, and other underworld characters, he basically works alone. He does his job cleanly. No questions asked. And once the job is done, he disappears without a trace. Not a word is heard nor a shadow of him is seen until the next assignment comes. That is why, his clients trust him.
Every new assignment is treated like a first. He studies every detail of the subject, spending days and nights of stakeouts casing the subject's regular activities, acquaintances, as well as other routines and habits. He patiently waits and stealthily moves with the subject sometimes from a distance and occasionally just a few feet away like when he followed the subject to the comfort room for a pee. On these rare occasions, he does not stare at the subject but only gives him glancing looks like a wind that passes by but hardly noticed. Even during those times when he could have taken down the subject easily, he bided his time. He could have done so but the timing was not right; the exit plans were not yet made. For him, patience is a virtue. He knows judgment day has come only when he has the subject all figured out. He lays down the plan to the smallest detail - the time, the location, the exit plan, and cover up. He rehearses everything in his mind as if it is all too real.
However, there were times that judgment day did not go as planned and had to be aborted. There was a time when his subject was already standing in front of the hotel exit door with his forehead already right at dead center of his sniper rifle's telescopic sight. But just seconds before he pulled the trigger, three cars screeched to a stop, doors swung open, burly men with pistols drawn stood out and took defensive positions, and the subject whisked off inside the middle sports utility vehicle and in seconds, he was gone. He could still have pulled the trigger and accomplished his task but it was all too risky. Once his position was exposed, a terrible shootout would have happened between him and the bodyguards resulting in several deaths, among them innocent bystanders and pedestrians. These were not part of the plan. That deadly scenario would have cost him his reputation if not his life. Hence, he kept his cool, aborted the operation, and calmly walked away. He, long ago, reconciled with the fact that some days do not always favor the assassin. But those times are few and rare.
On countless times, the assassin does his assignment swiftly. Like today when judgment falls on his latest subject - a crossover showbiz politician on the verge of getting his party's nomination for presidency. His adorable personality disguises the inner devil who deftly machinates different social classes to achieve his ultimate ambition of someday becoming President. Unknown to many, he is the shadow protector of the largest land-grabbing syndicate in the country hiding behind his pro-poor, human rights charade. He pressures the very government he serves to pay the squatters as condition for them to move out of occupied lands while convincing landowners to sell these lands at bargain prices to the syndicate. Once done, the syndicate then sells these lands to the highest bidder among property developers. The showbiz politician then publicly donates to the largest religious charitable institutions and media foundations to further add to the masquerade. This made him hugely popular among the poor, his showbiz fans, the church, and media organizations. It is perfect crime. Until today.
The assassin was hired three months back to eliminate the showbiz politician by an anonymous client or clients. Three months of surveillance and he has him all figured out. His political party has recently endorsed him as their political candidate for the Presidency. He is set to deliver an acceptance speech in a national convention where movie fans, urban poor, the church, and the media are also in attendance. A week before the convention, the assassin already rented a room in the third floor of an apartelle that sits right across the open grandstand where the showbiz politician is to deliver his speech. In front of his room is a tree which serves as a perfect camouflage. The street is lined with bright streetlights which effectively reduces the spark that comes out of the barrel. Everything is set.
The time has come. The name of the showbiz politician is called and as he walks to the podium he raised his hands waving at the adoring crowd not knowing it is going to be an act of final surrender for him. The assassin hugs his M107.50 Caliber Long Range Sniper Rifle on the floor like a man for priesthood ordained. The assassin takes his aim and sees his target on sight up close in his telescope. As if acknowledging his presence, he sees the the showbiz politician turns towards his direction smiling. He then nods his head. With that symbolic approval of death, the assassin squeezes the trigger without a moment of hesitation. The silver bullet travels 853 miles per second hitting the target on its mark. There is pandemonium everywhere. The assassin stands and packs up his things. It is another day at the office."
I am using the above story to describe four psychological traits of an assassin which I believe an independent stock trader must develop to succeed in the stock market. I believe you have figured it all out. Otherwise, you would end up at the other end of the assassin's gun for the stock market is full of it. Have the Killer Instinct or be killed.
Every new assignment is treated like a first. He studies every detail of the subject, spending days and nights of stakeouts casing the subject's regular activities, acquaintances, as well as other routines and habits. He patiently waits and stealthily moves with the subject sometimes from a distance and occasionally just a few feet away like when he followed the subject to the comfort room for a pee. On these rare occasions, he does not stare at the subject but only gives him glancing looks like a wind that passes by but hardly noticed. Even during those times when he could have taken down the subject easily, he bided his time. He could have done so but the timing was not right; the exit plans were not yet made. For him, patience is a virtue. He knows judgment day has come only when he has the subject all figured out. He lays down the plan to the smallest detail - the time, the location, the exit plan, and cover up. He rehearses everything in his mind as if it is all too real.
However, there were times that judgment day did not go as planned and had to be aborted. There was a time when his subject was already standing in front of the hotel exit door with his forehead already right at dead center of his sniper rifle's telescopic sight. But just seconds before he pulled the trigger, three cars screeched to a stop, doors swung open, burly men with pistols drawn stood out and took defensive positions, and the subject whisked off inside the middle sports utility vehicle and in seconds, he was gone. He could still have pulled the trigger and accomplished his task but it was all too risky. Once his position was exposed, a terrible shootout would have happened between him and the bodyguards resulting in several deaths, among them innocent bystanders and pedestrians. These were not part of the plan. That deadly scenario would have cost him his reputation if not his life. Hence, he kept his cool, aborted the operation, and calmly walked away. He, long ago, reconciled with the fact that some days do not always favor the assassin. But those times are few and rare.
On countless times, the assassin does his assignment swiftly. Like today when judgment falls on his latest subject - a crossover showbiz politician on the verge of getting his party's nomination for presidency. His adorable personality disguises the inner devil who deftly machinates different social classes to achieve his ultimate ambition of someday becoming President. Unknown to many, he is the shadow protector of the largest land-grabbing syndicate in the country hiding behind his pro-poor, human rights charade. He pressures the very government he serves to pay the squatters as condition for them to move out of occupied lands while convincing landowners to sell these lands at bargain prices to the syndicate. Once done, the syndicate then sells these lands to the highest bidder among property developers. The showbiz politician then publicly donates to the largest religious charitable institutions and media foundations to further add to the masquerade. This made him hugely popular among the poor, his showbiz fans, the church, and media organizations. It is perfect crime. Until today.
The assassin was hired three months back to eliminate the showbiz politician by an anonymous client or clients. Three months of surveillance and he has him all figured out. His political party has recently endorsed him as their political candidate for the Presidency. He is set to deliver an acceptance speech in a national convention where movie fans, urban poor, the church, and the media are also in attendance. A week before the convention, the assassin already rented a room in the third floor of an apartelle that sits right across the open grandstand where the showbiz politician is to deliver his speech. In front of his room is a tree which serves as a perfect camouflage. The street is lined with bright streetlights which effectively reduces the spark that comes out of the barrel. Everything is set.
The time has come. The name of the showbiz politician is called and as he walks to the podium he raised his hands waving at the adoring crowd not knowing it is going to be an act of final surrender for him. The assassin hugs his M107.50 Caliber Long Range Sniper Rifle on the floor like a man for priesthood ordained. The assassin takes his aim and sees his target on sight up close in his telescope. As if acknowledging his presence, he sees the the showbiz politician turns towards his direction smiling. He then nods his head. With that symbolic approval of death, the assassin squeezes the trigger without a moment of hesitation. The silver bullet travels 853 miles per second hitting the target on its mark. There is pandemonium everywhere. The assassin stands and packs up his things. It is another day at the office."
I am using the above story to describe four psychological traits of an assassin which I believe an independent stock trader must develop to succeed in the stock market. I believe you have figured it all out. Otherwise, you would end up at the other end of the assassin's gun for the stock market is full of it. Have the Killer Instinct or be killed.
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