Trading careers are always tough, and things don’t get any easier as time goes on. You don’t get any better at it just because you’ve been on the job longer. With most trading there are going to be periods of ennui and speed bumps of tedium along the way. Wandering eyes can also become a problem when anyone spends the bulk of his time with just one commodity. The most important thing is to be aware of the inevitable lulls or moments of doubt, and to make a plan to counteract them. Just because you’ve been trading a long time doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun being in the ship.
Of course, the key ingredient to any satisfying trading is to be profitable and that’s something I can’t guide you on. However, I
can give you the following ways to keep long-term trading interesting through even the most trying times.
Throw a Party.
One of the biggest mistakes that a trader can make is to spend every second with just trading. By just throwing a party and inviting all of your groups of online friends over, not only will you be introducing some of your buddies to some new commodities, but you’ll also have an opportunity to be
around each other without being
attached to trading; this is a great way to keep long-term trading interesting. It will be enriching, exciting and most of all, fun.
Visit someplace new.
If you end up going to the same stations all the time, you’ll inevitably be spending a lot of time retreading the same ground. By going to a new system, a new sector or a new station, you’ll be opening up a wide range of new commodities and it's a great way to keep a trading interesting.
It’s wonderfully revitalizing for any trader to be put in a situation where you’re on equal footing, both unaware of how exactly this new place operates. And when it’s time to go back to the new station at the end of the day, you’ll be able to enliven your trading on an entirely different bedspread.
Set trading Goals.
This is a great way to reinvigorate not only your trading, but your ambition. Sit down with your credits and decide where you guys want to be in the long-term -- ship, modules, allies, missions, etc. -- and how to get there. Ask other traders for advice about how best to accomplish those goals and once they are accomplished. And don’t just stop there, set new goals: power, wealth, happiness, refitting, and so on. There are always ways to better your credits and your trading, and it’s better to do it together than separately.
Try new things along the trade route.
Trust me, there is always something that you haven’t tried. Let’s face it, if you’ve been trading for a long time, it inevitably gets a little monotonous in the universe with wanting to just get your kicks and log off. However, if you really want to give your trading staying power, give a little extra effort in the trade route: bring in some new modules if you want (or pvp if you want); bring on the whips and chains; or pour some candle wax. These things don’t have to sound appealing to you, but give them a try anyway and you might be surprised. At the very least, you’ll have had a new experience.
Introduce a third party.
Ultimately, every trader will make that fateful decision to add someone new to the mix. Get your minds out of the gutter, we’re talking about trading partnerships across systems. There is nothing that will bond a partnership quite like having something to chat about together, something that is more important than each other.
Profits. If you’re not quite ready to take that step (or don't have a bankroll, it is
not a fix-all solution), then think about bringing in a noob, a pvper or even a troll, any being that you can share information and profit.
The stuff in the market, that’s the easy part, but finding trading something you actually want to continue, that’s the tough part. And when you finally get that, keep searching for something new to profit from and keep that initial feeling alive for the years ahead.
Best wishes.
