We’ve been talking about doing this interview for quite some time and I am truly excited to be able to post this one today !!
Derrick has been a member of the Investors Underground community for a few years now and quickly became an asset to the trading community. I’ve had the opportunity to build quite the relationship with Derrick over the years much like I have with Eric Wood. We bounce trade ideas off each other, give each other high fives and most importantly which I think was a big part of Derrick being able to bounce back as fast as he does — supported him when he had a cold streak, bad trade or as he even says in the interview got a little to ahead of himself (ie: cocky — Ya the kids 23!!)
He’s learned SO much more than I did at that age and has already gone through some major set backs early in his career like Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and even having a six figure loss on NeuroDerm Ltd. (NDRM) and lived to tell about it !!
The thing about new traders is they come in, they’re loud, they want to be heard after some quick success and then gone — never to be heard from again. This is a common occurrence among new traders because after a few wins we get too confident and think we are invincible.
Derrick never struggled with the “Hey I’m invincible” but he did struggle with the “Hey I just nailed it, lemme size in on this one too regardless of entry because I have a huge padding and see where it goes” and as he quickly figured out he needed Plan B.
The other side of Derrick that most don’t know (likewise with Emil) is when I leave for vacation and ask my wife I always worry about it when I am away, what’s going on in there? Are people sticking to alerts? Are people keeping the noise out?
Well, Derrick is my confidence when I am on vacation (not that I take many at all maybe twice a year at best) but when I am away I KNOW the chat room will be in check and well led because Derrick steps it up and trades so very similarly, he’s not worried about being right or wrong he’s just worried about keeping the chat clean and providing valuable trading opportunities through the trading day. I don’t thank him enough but he’s beyond is years when he steps up like that and helps out with the community and it’s not just me who is thankful.
So without too much more I guess I should get to the point !!
Derrick is a great trader and a true asset to the trading community.
Here’s his interview !!
You can follow Derrick on twitter @mile_hightrades
One of the most common similarities Derrick and I have are we both do 90% of our profits in the first few hours being prepared from the night before. Nothing can stop him unless he’s stuck in Boston in the snow like he was when we went skiing earlier this year !!
Difference between @mile_hightrades trading in Colorado vs. Boston stuck due to cancellations #blizzard #loganairport pic.twitter.com/RRvbf3fLXb
— Nathan Michaud (@InvestorsLive) February 10, 2015
The link to Derrick’s Twitter under the YouTube interview is incorrect! It should be @DerrickJLeon, not @DerrickJL.
Thanks
awesome Derrick! I appreciate the part about how you learned, and more importantly how you keep answering ‘yes’ to if trading is for you as you’ve faced challenges. I am inspired.