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Trading Rules from -Full Metal Jacket

I look at charts so often, I usually have to have something on in the background to keep the rest of my brain from rioting. Typically, that “something” is usually a movie or some music, and today I put in Full Metal Jacket (which, like most of my DVDs, I’ve seen many times).

Semi-watching the movie made me curious about the Marines, and I found this really interesting code of principals, which I’ve put below. It’s an impressive list, and I think every element shown here is relevant to trading. Please read it:

INTEGRITY
Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principle. Absolute truthfulness and honesty.

KNOWLEDGE
Acquired information, including professional knowledge and understanding of your Marines.

COURAGE
A mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Marine to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

DECISIVENESS
Ability to reach decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.

DEPENDABILITY
The certainty of the proper performance of duty.

INITIATIVE
Seeing what has to be done and commencing a course of action, even in the absence of orders.

TACT
The ability to deal with others without creating offense.

JUSTICE
The quality of being impartial and consistent in exercising command.

ENTHUSIASM
The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

BEARING
Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.

ENDURANCE
The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to stand pain, fatigue, distress, and hardship.

UNSELFISHNESS
Avoidance of providing for ones comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

LOYALTY
The faithfulness to country, Corps, unit, and to your seniors and subordinates.

JUDGEMENT
The quality of weighing facts and possible solutions on which to base a sound decision.

The Best 10 things George Soros Ever Said About Trading

On September 16, 1992 – later dubbed “Black Wednesday” — the day the  British government abandoned the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), and the pound was devalued by 20% George Soros made over $1.2 billion  on his short sterling trade  and was dubbed  “The Man Who Broke the Bank of England.”  His Quantum Hedge Fund has returned about 20 percent a year, on average, since 1969. These are amazing results, and some of the best ever achieved. Many of the years he was personally running it he had 30% returns and two years returned an amazing 100%.

Risk Management

“I’m only rich because I know when I’m wrong…I basically have survived by recognizing my mistakes.”

“My approach works not by making valid predictions but by allowing me to correct false ones.”

Trader Psychology

“It’s not whether you’re right or wrong that’s important, but how much money you make when you’re right and how much you lose when you’re wrong.”

“The markets are always on the side of exuberance or fear. It’s fear and greed. Right now greed has the better of it, which is rather nice (for investors) as long as it doesn’t get out of hand,” (more…)