Sometimes children can cut right to the chase with the questions they ask.
A few years ago, I remember that after a particularly nice win on the share market, I rewarded my little boy by getting him a new computer game.
He ran around the house like the excited seven-year-old that he is, and swept us all up in his laughter and pleasure.
My two-year-old was in hot pursuit and it was impossible not to be caught up in the moment.
Then, he stopped in his tracks, looked me straight in the eye and said "Mummy - Can money buy you happiness?"
Wow!
I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts.
"Well..." I started. "I guess I'll need to think about that. What do you think?"
Generally, I'm a pretty happy sort of person... not in a feverish laughing, maniacally happy-clapping sort of way - but I guess I derive a lot of satisfaction from what I'm doing in life.
Helping you become a better trader, being a good mum, and pursuing trading excellence for myself - these are all things that give me pleasure.
Executing a trade exactly to my trading plan, the laughter of my kids, and enjoying a great conversation over good food and wine.
Pretty simple stuff really.
I generally find that I go to bed with a smile on my face and wake up anticipating a good day - so yes, I would define myself as an optimist.
After my seven-year-old and I chatted about it for a while, I told him a quote that I'd once heard: "You'll have problems with money, and you'll have problems without money - but I know which type of problems I'd prefer".
I like the freedom that money gives me and my family, and the choices it opens up.
It gives me the power to say "no" and "yes".
"No" to a 9 to 5 job that sucks the very youth out of my cells.
"Yes" to better education choices for my children and better holidays for my husband and me.
So, by my way of thinking, money gives me the ability to create my own world, where others don't dictate the terms.
A world where I make my own destiny.
Where I make decisions out of desire, not need.
A world that you, as a student of the markets, can join - by following my footsteps.
So... what do you think?
Can money buy you happiness?
What makes you happy?
Are you doing what it takes to make you feel the type of motivation that it takes to pursue your goals?
