Description
Book SynopsisHow to transform your trading results by transforming yourself In the unique arena of professional trading coaches and consultants, Van K. Tharp is an internationally recognized expert at helping others become the best traders they can be.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xvii
Foreword xix
Doug Bentley
Preface: Understanding Transformation xxiii
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Level I: Transformation of the Trading Game xxv
Level II: Understanding the Matrix and Reprogramming Yourself xxviii
Level III: Trading Beyond the Matrix xxx
Your Personal Application of This Material xxxi
Section I: Transformation of the Trading Game: Understanding The Basics 1
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Two Sets of Rules 1
Chapter 1: I Just Made 130 Percent—and That Was Just the Beginning 7
David Witkin
Learning to Trade 9
“Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!” 10
Tharp Think 101 12
Not All Lessons Are Equal 16
Finally, Some Winning Marbles 20
Chapter 2: The Automation of Tharp Think 25
Laurens Bensdorp
My Journey into Doing the Trading Myself 27
Training Someone Else 32
Why This Is Possible 33
Addendum 35
Chapter 3: From Commercial Loan Officer to Financially Free Trader Investor 37
Rick Freeman
My Initial Psychological Changes 40
What I’ve Learned about the Trading Game 44
Understanding the Trading Game 46
So How Do You Get a Positive Expectancy System? 50
Getting a System That Works 51
Trading Psychology 52
How My Life Has Changed 54
Chapter 4: From Army Major to Systems Expert 59
Kenneth Long, DM
What I Have Learned and How I Have Changed 61
The Power of Beliefs 61
Statistics-Based Trading 64
Trading Extremes 67
Reward-to-Risk Assessments 68
R-Multiples 69
Position-Sizing Strategies TM and Bullets 70
SQN Performance to Evaluate Systems, Targets, and Markets 71
Market Classification Strategies 72
Transformations 73
Improved Systematic Performance 73
Specific Systems for Specific Market Conditions 74
Detailed Documentation and Analysis of Trades 74
Evidence-Based Management 74
Reduced Stress 75
Performance 75
Long-Term System with Monthly Rebalancing 76
Weekly Swing Trade with Once-a-Week Portfolio Adjustments 77
Pattern Swing Trade Using End-of-Day Data 78
Live Trading Workshops Results 79
Chapter 5: Using Tharp Think to Go from Full-Time Broker to Full-Time Trader 83
Martin Horsey
My New Venture 84
Going to North Carolina 85
Restarting Trading 87
Where I Am Now 90
Chapter 6: Adapting Tharp Think to Your Trading 93
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Area One: Thoroughly Understand the Principles of Successful Trading 95
Part 1: Learning to Trade Is Hard Work, But It Can Be Taught 97
Part 2: Knowing Yourself 98
Part 3: Mistakes 100
Part 4: Objectives and Position Sizing Strategies 101
Part 5: Probability and Reward-to-Risk Assessment 103
Part 6: Systems and Market Type 107
Steps to Learning Tharp Think 109
Section II: Psychological Transformations To Help You Function at a Superior Level Within the Matrix 111
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Chapter 7: Beliefs: The Basis for the Matrix 117
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Understanding the Impact of Beliefs Will Change Your Life 118
How I Create My Experience 124
You Are the Awareness of Thoughts that Flow through You 129
Belief Hierarchy 130
Changing Your Beliefs 134
Everything Has the Meaning You Give It 139
Chapter 8: A Journey through the Stunning World of Feelings and Trapped Emotions 143
Anonymous
The Turning Point 144
Self-Sabotage Models 147
Accepting My Feelings 148
Where I Am Now 152
Note from Editor: Feeling Release as a Metric for Awakening 156
Chapter 9: You Are a Crowd of Conflicting Parts Inside 157
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Exercise: Have a Parts Party 160
Parts Negotiation Exercise 160
Interview with a CBOE Floor Trader 163
Working with Dr. Van Tharp 165
Dealing with Conflicting Parts 166
What’s Changed Since Then 168
Where I Am Now (Several Years Later) 169
Chapter 10: My Inner Guidance: A Personal Journey of Miracles 171
Van K. Tharp, PhD
My Personal Journey 172
Conversations with God 176
Deeksha or the Oneness Blessing 178
My Relationship with Mitzi 179
My Current Inner Guidance 181
Revisiting the Transformed Engineering Professor 183
My Relationship with Durga Grows 186
Oneness with God 187
Bond with the Divine 188
The Nature of the Relationship Is Critical 191
What Does this Mean for You and for Your Trading? 193
Some Recent Updates 197
Update 1: Mother Meera’s Second Blessing 197
Update 2: I Clear My Fear-Based Spiritual Beliefs 198
Chapter 11: My Experiences Using Transformational Meditation 201
Peter Wechter
“I” Have a Problem Using and Relating to the Word “God” 206
Five Transformations 207
Some More “Little i’s” That Didn’t Get the Message 210
Discussion 220
Dealing with Mistakes 221
Discussion 224
Closing Reflections 225
An Addendum 226
Chapter 12: Creating Your Own World 233
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Nine Steps to Mastering Yourself 236
Step 1: Learn That You Are a Crowd Inside 236
Step 2: Get 25 to 30 Identity-Level Beliefs from Each Part 237
Step 3: Do a Belief Examination Paradigm on Each of Your Beliefs 239
Step 4: Learn about Projection and Your Shadow Self 240
Step 5: Work on the Charge through Feeling- Release Exercises 240
Step 6: Do a Life Review and List the Beliefs That Come Up 242
Step 7: Make a List of Your Problems and Find the Root Cause (Beliefs and Feelings) 242
Step 8: Get in Touch with Your Internal Guidance 243
Step 9: Work to Eliminate Parts, or to at Least Get Them to Work Together with You 245
Section III: Moving Beyond the Matrix by Transforming Your Level of Consciousness 247
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Our Most Powerful Tool 249
Super Trader Journeys through Transformation 250
Chapter 13: How I Turbocharged My Transformational Journey 253
Kim Andersson
Discovering the Linchpin 258
Transformations Turbocharged! 262
Transformational Pillar 1: Getting Rid of Fear 262
Transformational Pillar 2: Tapping into a Higher Power 264
Transformational Pillar 3: My Purpose in Life 266
Transformational Pillar 4: Finally Getting Rid of My Need for Control 266
Taming My Unconscious Fear of Becoming a Millionaire 268
A Snapshot of Before and After 269
The Turbocharged Transformational Model 270
Conclusion 272
Chapter 14: From Engineer to Spiritual Warrior: A Trading Journey 273
Anonymous
Timeline 1: Downhill Accelerating 274
Timeline 2: Crawling out of the Pit 278
A Message from Somewhere 279
Finding Out That I Would Be a Professional Investor as Soon as I Retire 280
Do I Have a Real Problem, or Do I Just See Monsters in the Closet? 282
Meeting Super Trader Program Students: I’ll Have What They’re Having 283
Transformation 1: Dropping the Pain of Past Projections 284
Original Situation 284
Actions to Achieve Transformation 285
Transformed State 287
Interlude: There’s Money for Everyone 288
Transformation 2: Firsthand Experience of a Benign Universe 289
Original Situation 289
Actions to Achieve Transformation 290
Transformed State 292
Transformation 3: Realizing My Purpose 292
Original Situation 292
Actions to Achieve Transformation 293
Transformed State 295
Transformation 4: Finding a Vehicle That Suits Me 296
Original Situation 296
Actions to Achieve Transformation 297
Transformed State 298
Transformation 5: Become an Active Manager of Emotional States 300
Original Situation 300
Actions to Achieve Transformation 301
Transformed State 303
Bottom Line: Net Winner in Life 305
Chapter 15: A Professional Trader’s Journey beyond the Matrix 307
Curtis Wee
My Early Trading Experiences 310
Stumbling on the Van Tharp Institute 312
Key Lesson 1: Taking Personal Responsibility 314
Key Lesson 2: Able to Deal with Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions 315
Key Lesson 3: Knowing My Thoughts Are Not Mine 317
Key Lesson 4: Trusting My Inner Guidance 318
Key Lesson 5: Understanding That the World Is Perfect 318
Key Lesson 6: Knowing My Purpose 320
Key Lesson 7: Reinventing Myself 322
So Where Am I Now? 322
Chapter 16: My Journey to Trading in the Now 325
Thahn Nguyen
My Transformation Journey 327
Area 1: My Anxiety or Worry 328
Area 2: My Impatience 330
Area 3: My Fear of Failure or Being Wrong 330
Area 4: Being Overwhelmed 330
Area 5: Tendency to Believe That I’m Always Right 331
Area 6: Trading with No Plan or System 331
How It Happened 333
Where Am I Now? 334
Editor’s Note 336
Chapter 17: Thoughts on Raising Your Level of Consciousness 337
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Some Exercises for Trading in the Now 338
Trading in the Now 340
Level IV Transformation 342
Questions on Raising Your Level of Consciousness 344
Chapter 18: Continuing the Journey 349
Van K. Tharp, PhD
Area Three: Develop a Personal Business Handbook for Trading/Investing 349
Area Four: Assessing Your Preparation for Trading 355
Area Five: Understand Your Trading Mistakes 360
Appendix: Recommended Readings 363
Appendix: Key Words Defined 367
Appendix: Reference Notes 373
About the Author 381
A Personal Invitation from Dr. Van K. Tharp 383
Index 385
