Praise for Trading from Your Gut

Go with Your Gut
My rational mind must concede that it might be an instance of
selective memory, but I cannot recall a single instance in my life
when I regret having followed my gut instincts when they have been
strong.
In stark contrast, I can think of several disastrous decisions I
made when my rational mind overruled my intuition.
One particular decision stands out. Shortly after I took Bore-
alis—the software company I started a few years after the Turtle
program ended—public, we held a board meeting. At this point,
one of our obligations was to appoint two board members who were
acceptable to the investment bank that had lined up the investors
for the public offering. One of the board members was an easy deci-
sion. The other proposed board member was a problem. We had
bad blood between us, and we didn’t trust each other. I didn’t think
our small company could afford to have potential conflicts on the
board. In my gut, I felt we should ask the investment bank for
another prospective member.
I confided my concerns to one of the other board members after
the dinner we generally held before our all-day board meetings. He
advised me to go with the bank’s recommendations. He felt we could
work things out. I deferred to his much greater business experience
A
FTERWORD
• O
N
R
OME
, F
ISHING
,
AND THE
U
PSIDE OF
“G
UT
”
185
From the Library of Daniel Johnson

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and followed his advice. I regretted that decision from that point for-
ward. I should have listened to my gut instincts.
The battle for control of the company which ensued consumed
too much of my time and ultimately led to the destruction of the
entire company. I should have listened to my gut.
The intuition can be especially valuable in life as it is in trading.
It can help warn of danger, the hidden calamity which awaits. So if
your intuition is flashing danger signs about some course of action or
some personal relationship, I urge you not to ignore those signs.
If your intuition is flashing danger signs about some
course of action or some personal relationship,
I urge you not to ignore those signs.
Over time, I’ve learned to trust my gut more and more, and I’ve
been happier with the decisions I make as a result. I’m sure there is
a line out there somewhere that is the point at which I will trust my
intuition too much to the detriment of my decision making. The line
represents the point of perfect balance of intuition and the con-
scious logical mind. 
I still haven’t reached it. I keep finding that the more I learn to
trust my gut, the better things turn out.
I hope that as a result of this book, you too will be able to trust
your gut so you can learn to use your whole mind in your trading.
And in your life.
186
T
RADING FROM
Y
OUR
G
UT
From the Library of Daniel Johnson

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