9/03/2009

So what do you do for a living?

What is the worst thing about this job? Is it the stress, losing days, emotions, uncertainty, doubt, indecision, insecurity, and solitude?

No.

It's having to explain to someone what it is you do for a living. It drives me crazy. I have tried many different answers, sometimes I go for the quick answer to which I get puzzled looks. Then the next time I go for the long answer to which I get sleepy eyes. Most of the time I just say "I'm a commodity trader", and to whatever comes out of their mouth next I just nod.

But now, I have it, here it is, a video called the 'A Day With a NYMEX Trader'. I will just point them to this post and all will be well.

Right?

Oh, except I don't actually go down to the NYMEX floor, I, ah, well, I trade the same product as they do except I do it from my igloo in Canada.


I still foresee some problems.

15 comments:

Solfest said...

Thanks to A.S. for sending me that video.

TimC said...

Pits seem to be kind of puny. But I would imagine the money tossed around in there isn't!

Have you heard any more about Floored? Release date? Anything?

Solfest said...

I have not.

http://flooredthemovie.com/community/

Jason Elfenbein said...

Ah yes, the blank stare. Almost always followed by, "So what do you think the market's gonna do?"

I dunno, I kind of dig doing something that most people don't understand and don't WANT to understand.

Solfest said...

I hear you JE and when the markets go down everyone assumes you are getting killed.

Then you have to make the do we have a short selling lesson decision. :)

Jason Elfenbein said...

Yes! So true!

I can't tell you how many times in the last two years someone has said (in effect) "Gosh, that can't be going well these days" to me.

Of course, most of the time they were right, but their being right had nothing to do with the bear market. :-)

Best,
JE

TST said...

Al Capone - the Chicago gangster has name cards introduced himself as used-car salesman.

- TST, 'used-car dealer':-)

Solfest said...

LOL, TST I like that idea.

Anonymous said...

My shed in rural Devon (UK) looks just like that!

Put your trading into a limited company, then you can just answer 'company director' and walk away still with a roof over your head if it all goes belly-up.

Solfest said...

Hmmm company director or used car salesman. What to do, what to do.

How about President and CEO of Solfest Capital Inc.

Ya baby.

Jaroslav said...

Many people dont even know what CEO means :))

How would you explain to someone a "short position" in 5seconds?

Solfest said...

Let's see, a short trade.

I sell 1000 barrels of crude oil that I don't own, and then I buy 1000 barrels of crude oil that I don't receive.

There that should clear things up.

Jaroslav said...

LOL, pure and simple, yet ending up in even bigger mess.

I guess we should stick up with CEO :))

Solfest said...

I wish you were there.

Had a guy ask me what I do for a living yesterday.

When I gave him the "I'm a commodity trader" answer he did a double take and looked at me as if I had just told him I collect kittens and sell them as meat pies.

It was a classic.

Solfest said...

Solfest at work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xryBXI-wVtE