DIVERSIFY YOUR INFORMATION INTAKE, MINIMIZE THE NOISE

TURN OFF THAT NOISE!!!!

Any Independent Trader who has spent more than 5 minutes watching CNBC knows what I'm talking about. The tradertainment channel bombards its viewers with "actionable" market news minute after minute after minute. And just when you think you'll get a break from the bullhorn during the commercial intermission, the advertisements knock you over the head with inducements to buy gold, or switch to XYZ brokerage for better trading results.

Fact is, it's all noise.

I get far more actionable - and useful - ideas and information from the network of bloggers I follow and from the human ticker on StockTwits. And the best part is, I can filter out the noise much more effectively this way.

One of the best ways I've found to make clearer decisions about my trading, the markets, and even about life, is to step outside of the usual destinations for Traders on the web and instead take a more holistic approach to developing ideas.

This year, I've delved into many blogs that have inspired me to think about Trading not so much as a pursuit to just make money, but as an endeavor to live a life free from the constraints of the typical nine-to-fiver. And it has challenged me to attempt to begin living the life I dream of - even if I'm not financially there yet - and to find a way to share what I'm doing with those who might benefit from my experience and perspective.

In a

, I've already introduced you to

Everett Bogue

and his website

Far Beyond the Stars

. Everett has embraced a location independent, minimalist lifestyle - one that I'm quite envious of. However, Everett isn't the only individual out there who is publishing inspiring work. I'd like to introduce you to a few more who inspire me regularly in a way that has tangible results in my trading pursuits:

Zen Habits. Leo Babauta authors a fantastic blog that is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives (or markets). It's about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what's important, creating something amazing, and finding happiness.
Advanced Riskology. The Professor of Riskology, Tyler Tervooren implores his readers to discover better living through uncertainty. In order to become who we are destined to be, we must submit ourselves to the unknown. Life is best lived at its margins. It is at these edges that a new way of being, a new way of living, becomes possible. The parallels for Independent Traders are all over Tyler's work.
In Over Your Head, written by Julien Smith. This post about FEAR alone makes Julien worthy of your attention. This post has left me re-examining about my own concepts of and reactions to fear. Any Trader who has seen his trading future flash before his eyes can relate.
Becoming Minimalist, by Joshua Becker, is written to inspire you to live with less. And find more life because of it. Any Independent Trader who struggles with high overhead (the #1 enemy of Traders) can find inspiration in Joshua's work.

This is not an exhaustive list by any means. However, these blogs are ones I read on a daily basis and I felt it my duty and obligation to share this goodness with my readers. We can never stop learning about our profession and ourselves. Most of my readers are already quite familiar with the places to get excellent market information. Perhaps this post will inspire you to seek new knowledge and perspectives which might yield measurable results in both your trading and your life.

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