I traded frequently (the less obnoxious cousin to HFT) through the financial crisis - to the tune of over two billion in gross proceeds - and came out the other side equally capitalized and a much better trader. Did it humble me at times along the way? Certainly, but what I learned from that historic volatility was that although an individual has the great advantages of dexterity and execution, it can also work against you when the pressures of volatility squeezes your positions at the edges of the range. You often hear traders say, "the market doesn't care about you - your family, your feelings or your wallet." While that is true in terms of your general well being, volatile and range bound markets, such as the one we are currently in - have a collective consciousness that is looking to squeeze you out of your positions, as the range expands or contracts. If you have weak hands or become seduced by indifference to the larger forces at work - it will inevitably become a humbling experience.
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