Creating the Future 2006

by Bernard Malouin. May 28, 2006

Becoming a good trader is one thing but more importantly, doing what you want to become in life is another. And one is dependant on the other. Success in trading is meaningless if it doesn't help you achieve your goals in life. In order to help you achieve success in trading, you have to know what you want to do with all that money. It really helps as it motivates you towards your goal.

Let me tell you a story that I read about 30 years ago in the Reader's Digest:

There's this guy who wants to travel around the world. He is in his early 20's and has little education but all he wants to do is to see the world. He hangs around airports, bus terminal and train stations. To those he tells, he gets a good laugh and often enough, they tell him that he's a dreamer and that he's just not getting anywhere with this. Against all odds, our little fellow, not put down by any of this, keeps on doing be best he can to achieve his goal.

One day, a fellow in a wheelchair got close to him and said: "You know, I've seen you a couple of time here and frankly, I have no idea what you do here. You just sit around, flip through piles of incredibly boring airport magazines, watch airplanes take off and land and keep track of schedules for planes that you never take. Why are you doing this?" Our little fellow replied: "You see, I want to travel around the world. That is my only goal and since I am not particularly gifted at anything and that all that I can hope for in life is a blue-collar job, I have decided to create my life. I have no idea how or when it’s going to happen but I know it will. My means are small but I will not be happy until it happens". The fellow in the wheel chair asked for his name and phone number and left.

Six months go by when the phone rings for him: "Hello, this is M. Wilson speaking. Are you still interested in traveling around the world? You see, I'm a board member of many public companies and I have to travel all over the places. My aide is now very sick and since I need someone to help me with my handicap I thought about you. You have to go everywhere I go but don't worry, you'll get a lot of spare time, a salary and some spending money."

Recently, I remembered how I got to buy my first house. I didn't know it at first but my purchase started 5 years prior to that as I used to take my car and go nowhere. I had no idea of what I was doing then as I was only discovering the various parts of the city. One day, I stumbled across Nun's Island, a small island located near the city but somewhat remote of everything. I remember that I was fascinated by the high-rise buildings and the very close proximity of nature. I went there several times even to take pictures and hang around by the lake nearby.

When I spoke about the island, I was told by some who knew the place that it was expensive, inhabited by artist and celebrities and that the people there were snobby and artificial. Indeed, condo prices were too expensive for me but little did I know then, that some more affordable projects were in the works.

Well, guess what, I have spent 5 years over there and I had a good time. We used to hang around the outside pool on the weekends, meeting new people and sipping wine and had it not been for my return to school, I'd probably still be there.

As some of you know, I am completely broke (see previous article) and unable to pursue my research on currency trading. I'm writing this article while sitting around in a small coffee shop only able to afford coffee and cheap fries. But let me tell you what else I have been doing. I have been taking many walks in the richest part of the city. I hang around luxury hotels sipping Perrier. Before work, I go "through" the most prestigious hotel in town, I "steal" a copy of the Financial Times and I sit in the lobby pretending I'm a customer all the while my screensaver is only about luxury cars.

I have spoken and written letters to presidents of companies and more recently to George Soros. Although I'm obviously expecting a positive answer, it doesn't really matter if he replies or not because all I'm doing is creating the future. A future where I will have a big house and many cars. Where I will be able to afford as many hotel suites as I feel like and where a book will be written because if you think about it, this series of articles on the Financial Sense web site is no coincidence.

I invited you to dream of endless possibilities and to believe that anything you can think of can become reality. You can start living the life you always dreamed of with little money at first: just start doing it today according to your means and do not fear to look or feel ridiculous. Do not be put down by no sayers: when Bill Gates dreamed of "A computer in every home" just try to imagine how the banker felt while looking at this new kid on the block sitting in front of him.

If you trade, do it in a hotel lobby or have a Perrier. Explore your desires as you will be able to fine tune what you really want for yourself. You may have surprises as you may discover that something you thought was really great isn't for you. But at the same time, you will figure out what you really like and be closer to yourself and your own success. Do not despair one bit, as the opportunity will arise. One ordinary day, some capable person will ask you "Hey, how are you doing?" And your life will change forever.

P.S. If you want to follow up on this article, I invited you to rent a movie about a complete idiot who waited 25 years to get married with the girl of his dreams, ran throughout the USA for three and a half years for no apparent reason, had his first sexual experience at 30, became a gazillionnaire shrimping and met personally 4 presidents of the United States. "Forest Gump". Do not fear to look like an idiot even if your smart.

Contact Information

Bernard Malouin
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Email