If you've been following my column over the last few months of it's infantile age - you've probably notice I jump back and forth between base concepts that I believe we all need to have, speculation targets, and talking about Modern. I talk about the concepts the most, because honestly - there is no greater source than QuietSpeculation for really fine tuning your approach to finance. Let's face it - there are a 1,000,000 +1 ways to be in this business. Each one is completely different from the next and there's really no "right" way to go about it. There's a lot of flailing around and trying to figure out what works best for you. Trying to find the best way of combining your strengths, time, and money into a cohesive strategy for making money and keeping Magic fresh. Let's not forget - this is still a game to be played and enjoyed.

One thing that has come up time and time again, though, was figuring out base assumptions though. Whenever I thought about my life, I knew I went to school. I knew my friend Jon went to school, for example. I knew that I studied the colors and that Jon did, too. I knew that my school might look a little different than his, but at the core everything else was the same. This simply was not the truth though.

Let me introduce you to the "Familiarity Concept." Whatever we are intimately familiar with becomes our expectation of what the norm is. I'll stop using big words for a second and break it down for you. What if you and I are having a conversation and during that conversation I keep referring to "Blue." You think: "Blue? Oh ya! I know Blue! I've known Blue forever. I love Blue. Blue is my favorite color. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about."

Here's the crux: What if I grew up thinking that Blue actually described Green?

How would we ever know that? It would take a unique parallel in the conversation to illuminate that basic assumption. If that thought alone never revealed itself in conversation, in application, or during our interaction - how would we ever realize that we are actually talking about two separate things?

This is why I love to bring up the basics along with other concepts involved with Magic Finance. Bringing that spotlight to bare on what and how you think is a great exercise and allows us to find the best way to fit our unique circumstances, budget, and time available. This is also the same reason that I believe firmly in the concept of a Paradigm Shift. Sometimes it takes throwing out everything you know, or think you know, in order to find the break through you're looking for.

One new concept I've found recently came from one of the epitomes of consistency.

Jerry Seinfeld

One of the most successful Comedians of all time? What does that have to do with Magic? Nothing, in actuality. What does is his method.

The Seinfeld Method

Show after show, year after year, Jerry Seinfeld put together a resume that is the bar for quality. The way he did it is very simple. How do you become a better Comedian? Write better jokes. How do you create better jokes? Create jokes all the time. Like most of life, if you make it a "When," not "If" scenario - something will stick and be comedy gold. Taking that approach really just makes it a numbers game.

So Jerry described his method for making better jokes:

"Get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. For each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. After a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain."

I can hear you now: "That's great, Dylan. Ok, don't break the chain. WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FINANCE?!"

People learn new languages by immersion. A person can learn a craft by sitting at the table, working at their craft. How else do the movers and shakers know when to sell, and when to buy? By being a part of it. If you're struggling to find the time to truly be immersed in finance - start by just doing one small thing each day. Read an article. Pay attention to a price change. Look at one collection and figure out it's value.

Just don't break the chain!

If that train continues, if that immersion happens, like Neo in the Matrix - you'll start seeing the code. The only difference is just how fast it will happen for you. Those that have more time, will see the patterns sooner and more applications for financial gain will arise from the static. Didn't see Wasteland's price spike coming?

[cardimage cardname='Wasteland']

Not everyone did. If you're immersed though, you've noticed the change in how the markets react. You've noticed that the game of Finance has changed. You'd notice that maybe your method needs to change along with it. Maybe something is just not working. You'll never see all the angles unless you can be a part of your craft. Make a conscious decision. Sit down and the whet wheel and hone your craft. Find a reasonable amount of time that fits your lifestyle. Remember why you're focusing on finance. Remember what you want to achieve, and then settle on a time frame for accomplishing it. Next, don't break the chain.

-Till Next Time