Introductory Context
This article, Interview with the Other Self, is inspired by one of my favourite books, Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill. While Hill hypothetically interviews the devil, we will take a different approach: we will interview ourselves—the “Other Self”.
First, let’s clarify the concept. The “Other Self” here represents a more knowledgeable and experienced version of ourselves. Imagine it’s the you from 20 years into the future, who has traveled back to 2024 with a time machine to answer any questions you might have. If you’re not fond of futuristic scenarios, think of it as a fictional conversation with your future self—someone who has mastered life and gained valuable insights.
Napoleon Hill used the term “Other Self” in a different way. He saw it as an inner voice—someone within you who provides guidance, encouragement, and wisdom, especially during tough times. This inner self could help in making difficult decisions when things were uncertain. Hill left room for curiosity and exploration, which benefits us now as we write this article. We’re adopting his idea but looking at it from a different perspective.
In our case, the “Other Self” is our future self, and we’re conducting an interview to seek answers about life and the financial markets.
The Idea behind the Interview
There are truths and perspectives that are rarely discussed or clearly stated. As someone who values a personalised approach to all aspects of life, I’ve been driven to develop methods and ideas that can offer real benefits. Whether applied to the market or life in general, there are a few foundational principles that can be of tremendous help.
During my interview with the “Other Self”, I plan to explore a wide range of topics. I’ll begin with general but profound questions about purpose and focus. Then, I’ll shift to key questions related to the financial markets. We’ll dive into subjects like trading psychology, the importance of quality over quantity, technical analysis, and long-term consistency in the market. Finally, I’ll ask some miscellaneous questions across various topics, and we will wrap up the interview.
Interview with the Other Self
Now, let’s commence with the interview.
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Stage I – General
Me: If you were to give out one piece of advice, what would it be?
Other Self: The one piece of advice I would give is to move with purpose in any endeavour of your life.
Me: Could you elaborate further?
Other Self: Yes. Decide what you want to do on both the macro and micro levels, and carry on until the end. Do not let the tide carry you around aimlessly. Instead, become the wave and navigate the tide yourself.
Me: So, what you’re emphasising is that one should have a goal in mind and move toward it?
Other Self: In a primitive sense, yes. You need to understand and identify what you want to do and who you want to become—that’s the macro level. On the micro level, you should also move with intention, regardless of what you’re undertaking. Short-term goals, relatively small projects, upcoming plans—everything should be done with purpose and foresight.
Me: I see the logic. But I’d like to know, should this defined purpose be set in stone and never modified, or can it be flexible?
Other Self: The end-goal should be concrete and definite. For instance, if you want to become a successful investor or trader, you should internalise that belief. However, the routes that lead to that purpose can be adjusted along the way. To simplify, if you want to eat eggs for breakfast, it doesn’t matter how you prepare them. The important thing is that you eventually prepare and eat them. Remember, you shouldn’t radicalise or systematise everything to 100%. What you need is a flexible approach in all aspects of life, while keeping the pre-defined and well-thought-out endpoint in mind.
Me: From what I understand, one should have a definite goal but remain open-minded about how to reach it. Is that correct?
Other Self: Yes, but it’s not only about being open-minded in terms of alternative routes. It also involves being willing to take completely different approaches than you initially had in mind. There’s a difference between small adjustments and big, large-scale changes. Either way, if you have the endpoint in mind and know what you’re working toward, the rest will follow naturally through focus, discipline, patience, and other vital elements.
Me: How does one maintain focus these days, when we are surrounded by so many distractions?
Other Self: I’m glad you asked. To know how to focus, it’s important to understand where focus comes from. Our attentional capacity is biologically limited. In the times of our ancestors, there was no social media, internet, or digital stimuli to provide instant gratification. They had fewer options, and they knew exactly what to fight for and why. Today, in an age of overconsumption, our attentional space faces huge challenges. With so much to do and indulge in, our focus gets scattered, seeking direction.
Me: How do we direct our focus in such a noisy world? Should we cut out all distractions and focus solely on our goals?
Other Self: Not exactly. Cutting out all distractions wouldn’t be healthy. Life is about balance. There’s nothing wrong with consuming what’s available, but we need to moderate our intake. I like how you mentioned focusing on the purpose. It’s the most profound thing we can do, as it keeps us sane, composed, and productively engaged. However, if we don’t blend deep work with “post-rewards,” we risk doing more harm than good. After a productive day, it’s fine to reward yourself with something from your “secondary zone.”
Me: What do you mean by the “main zone” and “secondary zone”?
Other Self: You should have a mental or physical list where you categorise things into two zones. I personally call them the “main zone” and the “secondary zone.” The main zone includes priorities like work, mental and physical well-being, leisure routines (reading, playing piano, chess, etc.), family time, and similar essentials. The secondary zone consists of things I enjoy but try not to overindulge in, like social media, nights out, junk food, and entertainment that’s more stimulating or dopamine-driven. The key is balance. After finishing a productive day, I allow myself something from the secondary zone. This way, I stay deeply focused on my purpose but don’t deprive myself of enjoyment.
Me: That’s an interesting approach. What happens if you overstimulate yourself? How does that affect focus and your overall purpose?
Other Self: To find meaning in life, you need purpose. To work toward that purpose, you need focus. But you can’t have focus if you’re constantly overstimulating your brain with dopamine-heavy activities. Imagine jumping from one form of entertainment to another while your to-do list piles up. Activities like social media, partying, or consuming junk food are highly pleasurable for our brain (limbic system), making it easy to get addicted and trapped in repetitive cycles.
Me: So, does that cycle eventually become the norm?
Other Self: Exactly. What we do repeatedly becomes our new normal. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overstimulation, which is why it’s important to distinguish between priorities and secondary activities. Maintaining a healthy balance means staying focused on your primary purpose without neglecting some fun.
Stage II – Trading
Me: Talking about purpose – what is yours?
Other Self: My purpose in life has always been to attain and maintain financial freedom. Through that, I’ve been able to provide for myself, my family, and loved ones, and live the life I’ve always dreamed of.
Me: I assume what made you financially free is your success in the market?
Other Self: Affirmative.
Me: Could you please walk me through how it happened?
Other Self: Like any endeavour in life, years of hard work and consistency shaped the path. Only through failure, recovery, constant optimisation, and patience was I able to crack the code in the long run and reach my desired destination.
Me: What was the “secret recipe” that helped you achieve financial freedom in the market? Any specific strategies or tactics?
Other Self: The best strategy is the one you craft yourself and tailor to your needs. The market is vast and boundless, offering countless opportunities. By taking a personalised approach and creating something proprietary, you can succeed in the long term.
Me: What do you mean by “proprietary”? Are you saying that every market participant should have their own way of trading?
Other Self: Exactly. Some prefer long-term investing, some favour intraday trading, and others benefit from short-term moves. There are also various financial markets – forex, crypto, stocks, etc. – and the decision on which to trade is up to the individual. Each market consists of a diverse range of financial instruments, and analytical methods vary from technical to fundamental analysis.
Long story short, within this vast space of interdependent elements, the best way to succeed is to find what appeals to you and stick with it.
Me: If you don’t mind me asking, what is your approach like?
Other Self: I’m a swing trader in the foreign exchange market. I trade only two instruments – EUR/GBP and USD/CHF. I use two timeframes: the Weekly for direction and the Daily for everything else. I risk only 1% of my capital per trade, and I use a handful of technical indicators to conduct my analysis.
Me: It sounds like you’re taking a very minimalist approach.
Other Self: Minimalism is peace of mind. Neurologically, the more information you try to process, the harder it is for your brain to absorb and understand. I prefer quality over quantity in all areas of life. Less is always more.
Me: Are there any specific methodologies you use for technical analysis?
Other Self: I favor a flexible approach. Instead of being rigid in how I analyse and trade, I stay dynamic. I read the chart like a book first, then map out a potential plan. If there’s no clear setup, I sit on my hands and wait for further development. Finally, I make an educated guess while exposing only 1% of my capital per trade.
Me: That makes sense, but I have a question: How do you know what to trade, when to execute, and where to target?
Other Self: Similar to chess, technical trading is all about pattern recognition. After trading for a long time, I can quickly glance at price movements and understand what’s likely to happen next. Some might call it “intuitive trading.” However, regardless of the label, it works well. With constant practice, repetition, and patience, everything starts to click. So, to answer your question, there’s no secret formula. I prefer to be agile and adaptive rather than systematic. This approach helps me identify entry points, targets, and stop levels. By monitoring price action daily, I make adjustments as needed.
Me: To summarise, you’re an intuitive trader who prioritises quality over quantity.
Other Self: Very well summarised.
Me: What are the main elements of trading psychology that we could discuss?
Other Self: Briefly, I would suggest the following key principles for everyone to internalise:
- Losses are inevitable and shouldn’t be avoided.
- The long-term picture is all that matters.
- Proper risk management is 80% of success.
- Patience and discipline are essential.
- FOMO, greed, and fear cannot be tolerated.
Me: Thank you for your valuable insights. One last question: How can we internalize all of this? Since trading psychology is relatively difficult, how do we make it second nature?
Other Self: Through time. Patience is a virtue. Keep working hard and stay consistent in all areas of your operations, and the rest will fall into place naturally.
Stage III – Wrap-up
Me: Talking about consistency, why is it so difficult to adhere to and remain disciplined?
Other Self: It all ties back to the earlier point we discussed in the interview – the issue of distractions. Our attentional capacity is quite limited, meaning there’s only so much we can focus on at once. As we drift away from our purpose and indulge in dopamine-fuelled distractions, our focus becomes fragmented. This ultimately makes it difficult to maintain consistency because the brain is constantly seeking novelty and pleasure.
Me: So, to combat this, we need to establish a healthy balance, as you emphasized earlier?
Other Self: Exactly. It’s all about maintaining equilibrium.
Me: To wrap things up on a high note, what’s one final piece of advice you’d give?
Other Self: Whatever you choose to do in life – whether it’s trading financial markets, working in real estate, or serving in the military—strive to become the best at it. Excellence should always be your goal.
Me: Thank you for your time.
Other Self: My pleasure.
