Confessions of an Early Bird by Manny Backus

[First Hour Trading]

Confessions of an Early Bird
by Manny Backus

I admit it. I actually like it. I enjoy getting up early in the morning. You know what they say, the early bird catches the worm. Around 5AM, when most people are still sawing logs, I'm in the kitchen, enjoyed the first cup of coffee from the pot.

I like taking the dog for a walk early along the golf course near my home, while the city still smells fresh. We walk down empty sidewalks watching the birds gather breakfast. I peek into my neighbors recycle containers before the morning collection. Boy, that's a lot of empty wine bottles. Another party I wasn't invited to?

My whole life tends to skew early. Around 4 or 5PM, I'm hungry for dinner - just in time for the "early bird special" at my favorite restaurant. Of course, there are disadvantages to living the early life. Don't ask me who the guests were on Conan O'Brien (or even David Letterman); I'm fast asleep way before they come on. And don't plan on my being the life of the party at a nightclub or concert. I'm usually ready to head home after the opening act.

Fortunately, my schedule matches my job perfectly...

I'M A DAY TRADER

I buy and sell securities, in the first hour that the market in New York is open. But I live on the West Coast, so I have to be awake and alert well before the opening bell. I'm up by 5AM, doing my research on companies I'm interested in. After all, the stock markets open at 6:30 my time.

I suppose there are other jobs that are well-suited for early birds. I have a friend who delivers the morning newspaper in the area. But I think I'm doing a lot better in an hour of day trading than he does with his two jobs.

Now, if I could just reset my internal clock so I could sleep a little later on weekends...

All the best,

Manny Backus
Day Trading Pro

P.S. Learn how to reduce your trading routine to just one hour a day at:

First Hour Trading