This is the way my story starts

The part everyone knows is the part which starts in 1997, when I started trading on

the Stock Exchange and in 2002, when I started trading with options.

But my story really starts on the night of the 23rd to the 24th of October 1975, when

I was born for the first time.

Yes, for the first time, because since then I have been born again at least 6 times.

The first time I was born the same way as everyone else, from my mothers’ womb,

under the sign of Scorpio.

I’ll spare you the other 6 times, but the thing to know is that I have always been a

shy person.

One of those people always appreciated for his kind heart, but so shy that he could

make even the most introverted person in the group feel uncomfortable.

Yes, because when you are shy, not only do you not strike up conversation with a

stranger, but you are quite capable of silencing even the leader of a high school

class, who has no time to waste on someone who doesn’t speak.

I know this seems incredible to those of you who met me in my “dominant stage

animal” persona, giving the audience shows and emotions together with amazing

creative inventions for trading strategies.

Coming onto the stage, to the Rolling Stones’ music, in front of more than 500

people, like a rock star, and certainly not like the trader in a necktie you are used to

seeing at an average financial presentation.

But why am I telling you all this?

Usually people make themselves seem important by talking about their successes

and how they made millions.

When I went on stage for the first time, I was in front of 9 people.

I remember that during the coffee break I dissolved into tears with my friend

Andrea, because I believed I was not able communicate, my heart and my passion

to all the people there, together with the information they came for.

After the break, I understood something had changed …

The people there were participating, smiling, enthusiastic and became an active

part of the show, while they were learning.

In other words, they were with me, accepting me as if they wanted to consume me

and I did nothing other than give them all of myself, my heart and my spirit, along

with information and entertainment.

When I found myself in front of more than 500 people, who were all there for me, 5

years on from that first time, it was simply extraordinary.

I do not usually prepare an opening speech or a rigid programme for my

presentations.

I always improvise and try to develop the presentation according to the make-up of

the audience.

Basically, the audience loves me, it seems to need to meet me.

In reality, all this comes from the fact that when I’m on stage I give them my heart

and I lay myself bare to everyone.

Yes, because if you remember what you read up to this point, I was born shy!

When people think they are getting a lot from me, they do not know how much I am

getting from them.

Being accepted for what you are is the best satisfaction for a shy person, and every

person in the room was a big vote of confidence to me!

Maybe this is the reason why I never became bigheaded in front of all those people,

and I never will.

Heart for heart!

People always gave their heart to me and I always gave them mine back in return...

With time I learned to accept myself fully and to give people back the gift they gave

to me: acceptance.

I’m not writing these words for myself. It is beautiful to say all this things to the

people around you who sometimes see you as an example.

Many people think I’m really someone … to put it briefly, I eat and drink, have fun

and get angry like everybody else in the world. I have my fears even if I have learnt

to give less importance to fear and more emphasis to important things so that I do

not lose the important things out of fear, as often happens .

I do not even believe I am “talented”..

I owe everything that I have achieved to my heart, to perseverance and to some

flash of “genius” but to nothing unique.

Posted in: