I appreciate the vulnerability Kris offers in this thread. 💯 For me, I always wanted to be a trader and I thoroughly enjoy what I do for a living. That said, the combination of parenthood, marriage and approaching middle age has been sobering to say the least. I've been forced to ponder the same philosophical questions re: purpose, fulfilment and burnout. For the past three seasons, I've coached my sons' bball team (this time around im just an active bystander) and the joy that I get from working with the kids is priceless. The same applies to working with local small businesses on the side as a consultant. Its extremely rewarding while not being lucrative whatsoever lol. What I came to realize was that I love options and volatility trading, but when you choose a profession like this, especially as a total outsider or even as institutional insider, you're going to eventually make acquaintances with *mercenaries*. There are rare circumstances where you make lifelong friendships with your trading/investment industry peers too, its just not the norm and you shouldn't expect it to be. The smartest, most ambitious, shrude individuals across the globe want in on this profession (which on its face is a net positive). When you spend that much time interacting, conversing and competing with that personality type, it can wear you down and lead to burnout, identity crises, and depression. This presumes that you aren't naturally hardwired for this culture (some ppl are). My antidote has been to spend lots of time interacting with "regular" ppl, non traders, non-investment professionals and my same friends that I've had for years up to decades+. And ofc my family. Switching paths isn't something I'd ever consider, though.
I appreciate the vulnerability Kris offers in this thread. 💯 For me, I always wanted to be a trader and I thoroughly enjoy what I do for a living. That said, the combination of parenthood, marriage and approaching middle age has been sobering to say the least. I've been forced to ponder the same philosophical questions re: purpose, fulfilment and burnout. For the past three seasons, I've coached my sons' bball team (this time around im just an active bystander) and the joy that I get from working with the kids is priceless. The same applies to working with local small businesses on the side as a consultant. Its extremely rewarding while not being lucrative whatsoever lol. What I came to realize was that I love options and volatility trading, but when you choose a profession like this, especially as a total outsider or even as institutional insider, you're going to eventually make acquaintances with *mercenaries*. There are rare circumstances where you make lifelong friendships with your trading/investment industry peers too, its just not the norm and you shouldn't expect it to be. The smartest, most ambitious, shrude individuals across the globe want in on this profession (which on its face is a net positive). When you spend that much time interacting, conversing and competing with that personality type, it can wear you down and lead to burnout, identity crises, and depression. This presumes that you aren't naturally hardwired for this culture (some ppl are). My antidote has been to spend lots of time interacting with "regular" ppl, non traders, non-investment professionals and my same friends that I've had for years up to decades+. And ofc my family. Switching paths isn't something I'd ever consider, though.
@darjohn25 Doing this for 40 years. Thirty in pits 22 on screen. Agree 💯 with Darin. I’d add take time away from screens extremely important for one’s mental health and your family’s.
@darjohn25 Darrin speaks the truth, and particularly in front office, most of the people in that financial institution belong in an “institution” if you get my drift.