By - Nick Radge
After the Federer victory, Jim Courier made the comment...
"He doesn't bleed. He's not human."
In reference to his psychological fortitude, his superior emotional strength.
Even though the stress was immense, Federer relied on his years of training. Followed his game plan. Allowed the cards to fall where they may.
It's the one required trait of every successful sportsman. Anyone can hit a tennis ball. But not everyone can cope when big money is on the line.
And anyone can place a trade.
But doing so when it's most needed requires immense psychological fortitude.
You can't teach that. It's not on the internet or in a book.
Instead you need to experience the fear. Nurture it. Become comfortable with it. Push through and rely on the training and the plan.
Yet, sometimes, during the learning process, it can all turn ugly.
Like for me 30-years ago when I couldn't get out of bed. My mouth was full of ulcers and blisters. Even breathing was painful.
I had lost everything in the '87 crash and made myself sick with worry.
I deserved it though. I had no plan. No exit strategy. No risk management. No diversification.
Nothing.
And that's why I got sick.
Fast forward to last November days before the US election. Word on the streetwas that if Trump got elected the market would crash, like it did in 1987.
I'm 100% long equities in the US Momentum portfolio. I have a family. Commitments. More to lose than that 20-year old self did all those years ago.
But now I have a plan. An exit strategy. Risk management. Diversification.
And because I have nurtured my fears I could rely on my training. Let the market do what it had to do. It didn't matter.