Exactly 8 years ago today, my entire world changed. I experienced one of those ‘oh f*ck’ moments…
Truth be told; I’d known this moment was coming for a while. Just not yet (you’ll find out why in a sec).
I’d begun to think about many things, develop new hopes, dreams and of course dabble with sports trading…
I’ve Wet the Bed:
It’s 3.30am and I’ve just woken up to my then-wife, crying her eye’s out. “I’m so sorry, I’ve wet the bed”.
Half asleep, dazed and a little stunned I didn’t even see it coming. After a few seconds of re-assurance, I helped her out of bed. She was a little over 7.5 months pregnant, but at half three in the morning, neither of us had put two and two together.
You guessed it, she stood up. Woooosssshhhhh!!
I remember it vividly. Billy, our chocolate brown Labrador had made his way into to bedroom, sitting obediently by the door. Looking at me he cocked his head at an angle; dog speaks for “WTF”.
…now she was really panicking. Despite being calm and collected on the outside, I was too. This wasn’t supposed to happen yet! We weren’t ready.
So we scrambled into my knackered Ford Fiesta, a pile of towels for her to sit on whilst googling the postcode for Bath hospital. We had been to a couple of pre-birth clinic’s, but at this stage I didn’t even know where I was going – something I get a reminder of each year. And so we took the scenic route.
Still, the mood was lightened from the moment I started the car. I shit you not; this song was in full flow:
Despite getting lost it was an enjoyable journey. I didn’t stop laughing and she didn’t stop hitting me, telling me it’s not funny (whilst trying not to laugh between contractions herself).
Safe to say, one of the fondest memories I’ll ever have.
But as most parents will know, having your first child is a scary experience…
Fear & Change:
Already in motion, both fear and the need to change was undoubtedly one of my first trading motivators. I needed to improve my situation, I wanted to secure my new son’s future. I didn’t want him to face various struggles I’d experienced in life at an early age.
Not so long ago I heard a quote, I don’t know who said it first but it sums up that point in my life perfectly:
change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change
Being in the military at the time, I didn’t feel like a great role model. I know some may feel taken back by this, as the forces are noble role. But for me, it was just a logical escape route from a somewhat more desperate situation. I’d never yearned to be in the Army, I just kinda landed there! To continue on that path would just be too painful. Having lost friends I didn’t fancy risking it anymore either. I didn’t know it at the time, but several months later it would happen again.
Occasionally I wonder what I’d be doing now if it wasn’t for that sequence of events. Would I have still perused Betfair’s markets so relentlessly?
It’s impossible to say, but I doubt I would have tried so hard.
Dreams: Not Done Yet!
Fear is a strong motivating factor, but what comes next? Once you’re clear of that danger and worry. It’s a new kind of problem in some ways, albeit a more pleasant one.
I must admit, having an 8-year-old son does make me feel old in some ways – but I’m only 32. There has to be more, right? I’m a gazillion miles away from it, but I wonder how the super-successful keep going sometimes. They must really love what they do. Jeff Bezos for example; how do you keep motivated with over a 100B in the bank?
Recently I’ve enjoyed working with others to update the website and YouTube channel, so that’s one avenue. Feedback on the video course improvements has been very positive, but I’m unsure what the next big turn is for me. There’s no denying Betfair will be a big part of my life for some time to come, but I’m not sure I want to be clicking flashing numbers 18 years from now! Initially, the first goal was to be profitable, then to replace my salary at the time of £28k per year, then £50k, then £100k… but there comes a point where just making the numbers bigger isn’t all that satisfying.
In some ways, I miss having that crazy dream (according to everyone else). Something to ponder.
Either way, it’s important to remember – dreams do come true.
19 thoughts on “8 Years on. Hopes and Dreams…”
Hi Caan, would it be possible for you to re-send my log in details once again.
Hi Chris,
That’s fine. I’ll forward it on to the support email address for you. It gets a little tricky when people submit support requests via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the Blog.
There is also a reset password option and forgot my login.
Caan
Nice piece, keep up the good work, I’ve been profitable now for 6 weeks straight.. I will up the stakes soon then aim for my second goal : the salary matcher, It’s taken me a while to get to this point but I’ve learnt so much, from the general rules of racing, blinkers and blindfolds, weight, speed etc etc , but most of all your videos and pre race guide have changed the way I trade. And also a few other books along the way. My favourite being “against the odds “ – David lee priest , so much detail on stastistics.
What a lovely memory, you are inspirational Caan. Having a child is such a magical moment and should be cherished forever!
Nice to see you care about the things that mater. Other traders boast about not having days off and putting their children to one side on a weekend I don’t understand it.
H x
Thanks H, kids are important 🙂
Awesome mate! Have great day/weekend!
Cheers Tom. And you!
Hi Caan
I know this sounds abit fruit loopy but Mercury is in retrograde and they say that the energy is shifting meaning people are generally questioning and changing elements of their lives. I’m currently approaching 30 which is supposed to the year of Saturn so everything is currently changing (which is good ;). I think just like in trading sometimes you need to entrust in your journey because life has a funny way of pushing you in the right direction. Just thought i’d share. Great post as always.
Thanks Heather, does Saturn have any idea who’s going to win the 2.30 at Brighton? 😀
Hi
I have tried email and then face-book which directed me here with the comment that it is the best way to get in touch. As requested in my email of 30 July 2018 and the follow up of 2nd August 2018 can I ask if you could provide a pdf of the pre-race trading guide that I have purchased as the online version is not in my humble opinion very user reader friendly. I would be grateful if you could see your way to sending a pdf version or a way of saving the guide to pdf as the normal right cluck print etc seems to be disabled. Many thanks in advance.
Kind Regards
Hi SaltBob,
I can’t see any payments or emails from SaltBob in the inbox. Kristine usually follows up any queries quite quickly. If you can mail the support inbox with your payment email or reference she will get back to you ASAP.
Cheers,
Caan
Hi Caan
As above I have sent two e-mails to the support desk [email protected]. Will try again but aside from that do you think you could possibly supply a pdf of the pre race trading guide?
Kind Regards
Hi Caan
E-mail sent.
I should definitely be on account as I am logged in now having purchased the guide along with Modules 1 & 12 and separately the beginners guide book from Amazon, so I should be in there somewhere.
Kind Regards
Hi Caan
I have been Matched Betting and Bonus Bagging for about 8 years and Sharbing for approx. 5 years.. I decided to quit my job 4 years ago (partly due to ill health at the time) to go full-time MBing and Sharbing. My MBing stream has dried up, as I knew it would, after all my accounts have been closed or extremely limited and I cannot see Sharbing carrying on for a great deal longer as shop odds seem to be getting tighter and tighter and offers fewer and fewer. Therefore the next logical step is to try to start trading. I used to make £24k a year (after tax) in my old job and have been making about 60k+ a year (tax free) for the past 4 years. I doubt I could ever go back to being employed (lack of skills/age/not wanting to) and therefore trading is something I almost feel I have to achieve (and I will). My first question is, can I realistically make this sort of money each year if I put in the hard work, which I am more than willing to do?
I have a bank of around 90k now and have read (and am still reading) many many books on trading such as thinking fast and slow, Zen and the art of poker, how to find a black cat in a coal cellar and the like and have watched hundreds of trading videos and will not even start my journey until I am happy that I have gained enough knowledge to start with. So my second question is, when I do start (hopefully early next year) which markets are most forgiving to newbies, I am really interested in scalping but feel, although I am a disciplined person and hopefully will be so as a trader this may not be the best market/form of trading to cut my teeth in.
Many thanks in advance
Pete
Hi Caan
I am not keen on posting here but I am still not receiving any response to the support e-mail.
Kind Regards
Hi Cann
Congratulations
It’s great having the money but time is the most important factor in life and how we choose to spend it.
Most people regret what they didn’t do in life rather than what they did!
Your always upbeat and positive but also grounded.
I’m sure your son will grow up to be a fine young man with your influence
I’m reading a good book at the moment with a great quote “I’ve spent nearly all my wealth and had a great time doing it where as another has occurred a fortune of 8 billion but only spent 2 million personaly!”
You do the maths
i need pdf of guide also and login details
This is a really great article. Warm, personable and packing a punch. I have been doing matched betting for a few months and have very recently found your blog and started trading with £2 stakes and I am absolutely hooked. Made my way through your beginner guide and now through all your blog articles as they are so useful. I don’t normally write comments but I am getting closer to being able to quit my 9-5 job due to other business ventures doing well and this article really resonated because I reckon once I do quit, there will be a brief moment of elation, but then I will just get back to doing life like normal and the joy never lasts. Human nature I guess. ‘Enjoy the journey’ and all that jazz. Anyways I am rabbiting on, keep up the good work dude
Thanks for a great article. I’d love to have you as a speaker at a future event in you’re interested at all!