I help my partner with her business selling crystals, online via facebook live, and at local markets as well.  In our home we flip stocks n rocks.  This weekend we went rock hounding near Hot Springs, Arkansas.  The journey in growing both businesses has had some similarities.  The dig this weekend was a private dig, organized by a professional rock hound/content creator.  

 

This particular event was this creators first small private dig, as well as he trusted someone else’s info as for a couple of the sites we were digging at.  The first day, was rather chaotic.  The sites were farther apart then realized.  We had to wait at one for much longer than anticipated for the guide to lead us to the second location.  The group as a whole was not fully prepared as this site required 4 wheel drive vehicles to access the location.   It was a mad scramble to consolidate vehicles, some thought oh we will be ok.  And they were not.  

 

One of the sites was to mine rare wavellite.  Well just cause its mined in the particular site does not mean it is highly abundant.  It is rare for a reason.  I quickly realized I don’t know what im looking for, I can dig randomly, or go watch the professional and try to observe what he is looking at, and technically how he digs.  This was amazing it was like sitting next to a highly successful trader in action.  I don’t mean a live stream with a delay.  I mean sitting next to them in the same room.    I was using a pick, he was using a cordless electric chisel.  As rock fell away, and when he did find pieces to keep they were in much better condition.  

 

The second location was to mine turquoise.   Now Arkansas is not highly known for turquoise abundance, but this was the area in which one of the largest turquoise pieces in North America has been found.  Well we did not find much of either.  This was a reminder you can only get what the market gives.  You can’t expect to hit home runs all the time, nor be green 100% of the time.   If mining/rock hounding was easy, 1) more people would do it, 2) crystals, gems, minerals would not have the value they have.  

 

Along the way we had to adapt, we were advised there were too many vehicles and 4-wheel drive would be required.  We listened and jumped in with someone else from the group that was in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  I thought about our our previous experience rock hounding in the area and remembered the 4 wheel drive truck we rode in and how tough the path was to get there.  I figured it will probably be similar.  And they are not telling us this for no reason.  Some of the other folks from our group did not listen.  A couple of people even had to leave their vehicles on the side of the mountain.  This reminded me of listen to the experts/those with more experience.  Recognize when adaptation is needed.  Yes it’s good to stick to a plan, but it’s not good to stick to a failing plan, or the plan is showing you it may not be a good plan the risk is not worth the reward.  

 

Day two, we mined quartz.  Quartz is very abundant in Arkansas.  Our host spoke to the entire group here, and offered an amazing amount of transparency.  His speech reminded me of, never follow someones else’s trades/alerts.  The need to review your trades, as he spoke about his reflection on how the day went.  Also, you have to do your own research, have your own plan.  Meaning as this was our organizer’s first small group private dig, he did not follow his set up so to speak.  

 

At this location we we did find some nice clusters, shared the wealth of the find with others from the group.  Then towards the end of the day went back to the same spot and scalped a bit more from it.  This reminded of ride the momentum, take the meat of the move.  When there is an A+ set up, size up, add to your winner.  

 

On these two days, as we were in remote locations.  There were no near by bathrooms, nor near by places to eat.  Thankfully we were fully prepared and experienced in this.  From selling crystals at various local markets we have encountered this unexpectedly as well. Some of the other folks were not so prepared in this.  It can be a difficult day with no bathroom, or thinking about ok what food can we take that won’t make me have to go take a crap.  I don’t really want to have to go hike to find somewhere I can dig a hole.  But if needed we had a shovel, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, etc.   Not sure if anyone else had to find somewhere to dig a hole, but I do know some had to find somewhere to pee.  I know way different type of preparation, and risk analysis.  Lol  We also kept fresh clothes easily accessible for after the dig.  1) we were expecting rain, 2) digging, so of course we were filthy, we did not want to sit in wet clothes, seats, nor get dirt and red clay all over the inside of my truck.  So yes we changed outside, in the woods.  Well, behind the door.  Lol..  fun times.  

 

For this trip I took a step away from day trading as I knew internet would be sketch on the way there.  So I thought ok weekend, some new alt coins added to coinbase this week, lets look for an opp.  Bingo, $GALA.   Bought some Thursday evening, held to Saturday morning.  Knew will be unavailable Saturday all day, and not sure about Sunday.  Did not think would have the strength into late Sunday or early Monday.  Bang out the park, in at .23 out at .36, yeah it went more, but I was not really available to take advantage of it, so not missing out.  But it was a great lesson in hold in strength.  Now looking to transfer some of that in my day trading stock convictions.  

 

Love the process, have fun with the process.  Yeah it was disappointing to not get much on our first day of digging.  But sure had some great conversations with some random folks.  Clearly we already have something in common as out digging for rocks, but the additional similarities was rather surprising.  Yes some of it was rather hectic, reminded me of my youth…party train!!!!  Where we going, IDK follow person in front of you, keep eye on person behind you too.  LETS ROLL!!!    Jump in some random persons ride, party train moving… come on lets go go go go!!!

 

Have belief and conviction in your destination/goal, have fun along the way.  We got home about 1:30 am (Monday morning), yep woke about 6:30ish.  I could have easily said, “just gonna sleep in, market will still be there.”  I thought ok, how bad do I want this?  How bad do I want to continue to live the life I currently have?  Am I disciplined enough to be my own boss?  Yeah I could give myself the day or just the morning off.  I only have myself to answer to.   Am I able to do what others are not so I can live the way others only dream of?  Being a day trader/business owner is not about just what you do during market hours/business hours.  It’s how you think, respond to situation?  What you do with your time?  What lessons do you pay attention to?  Are you growing as a person, if not how the frack you expect to grow as a trader/business owner?