Zones of Caring in Your Trading 

“So what do you think of the new placemats?”

My husband replied, “Hima, I'm happy if they make you happy, but they're really not in my zones of caring.” 

He's had this philosophy of “zones of caring” for quite a while, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized it ties into Tony Robbins' Six Human Needs. It is connects to your trading.

Most of us would probably say we're trading because we want to make money. That's certainly true, but it's worth asking yourself why you want to make that money in the first place.

Why Are You Trading?

My husband's philosophy is that people have areas of life they genuinely care about, but there usually aren't that many of them. You can almost count them on one hand, but they run deep. For him those are family, faith, football, and fitness. 

So when I asked him what he thought about the placemats, they simply didn't fall into one of his “zones”. That didn't make them good or bad. They just weren't something he had much energy to devote to, and I thought that was kind of funny.

It also made me wonder if we all have similar zones when it comes to WHY we're trading.

There's probably more behind your answer than simply wanting to make money.

Money is usually connected to something else, and that's where Tony Robbins' Six Human Needs come in. He popularized these ideas, and I think they're important because they influence so many of the decisions and actions we take throughout our lives.

As you read through them, it’s not about a reason being right or wrong. Just think about which ones resonate with you.

Certainty

The first human need is certainty, which is the assurance you can avoid pain and gain pleasure.

I don't think many of us are trading because the markets themselves feel certain—they definitely don't. 

But maybe you're trading because you're working toward financial goals that will create more certainty in your future. Whether that's retirement, additional income, or simply greater financial comfort, certainty may be part of what's driving you.

Variety

Variety—the need for change, new experiences, and the unknown.

Some of you are probably smiling at this one because you're the people I lovingly call my gamblers in the trading community. You're doing it for the thrill and the excitement, and that's okay as long as you're not hurting yourself financially. Simply recognizing that excitement is one of the reasons trading appeals to you can help you make better decisions.

Significance

Significance, which is about feeling unique, important, special, or needed.

That could absolutely be one of the reasons you trade. Maybe you enjoy developing a skill that very few people around you have. Or perhaps you've retired after years of working alongside colleagues and contributing every day, and trading has become another meaningful pursuit that gives you purpose and something rewarding to focus on.

Connection and Love

Connection or love—a strong feeling of closeness with someone or something.

Maybe there's already a trader in your family, and you want to share that interest together. Maybe you want to learn this skill so one day you can pass it along to your children or grandchildren.

Again, why you're trading isn't nearly as important as simply understanding why you're trading. The more aware you are of what's motivating you, the easier it becomes to understand the decisions you're making along the way.

Growth

Growth, which is expanding your capacity, capability, and understanding.

I think a lot of us naturally experience this through trading. We learn about the markets, but we also learn a tremendous amount about ourselves. Every challenge, every setback, and every success teaches us something if we're willing to pay attention.

Contribution

Contribution, a sense of service and helping others.

This one may not seem as obvious, but it reminds me of someone I coached years ago. He was a pastor, and one of the reasons he wanted to build his own successful trading system was so he could raise additional funds for members of his church to go on mission trips and serve their community together.

I always thought that was such a beautiful reason to learn to trade. His motivation wasn't simply growing a trading account. It was creating a greater ability to give to others.

Hold Your “Why” Close

Whether you think about these as Tony Robbins' Six Human Needs or simply your own zones of caring, spend a little time thinking about why you're trading.

You don't have to share your answer with anyone. Just hold it close to your heart and be aware of it. When you're making trading decisions or opportunities present themselves, understanding what truly motivates you can help guide those choices in a way that stays aligned with what's most important to you.

🚨 PS — Weekly Trading Show TOMORROW 🚨

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