18. The Highest Stakes Yet.

So, as it turns out, we're expecting! It's our first, and I am so damn excited. Everything I've focused on in my life up to this point now seems like small stakes. Though I’m not a dad yet, I am so incredibly grateful for the joy this news has already brought, and the good times I know the baby will bring in the future.

The Interruption: Finding Focus

The last few weeks have been a blur. The "Silly Season" chaos mixed with hours spent traveling between various towns and cities to share the news with family members. To say my focus on the markets has been fractured would be an understatement. I haven't been trading or tracking effectively, and while I don't know the exact figures, I'd assume the P&L has been a wash, a mix of good and poor when trading while distracted.

This period taught me a huge lesson about trading with future kids in the house: you must be all in, or all out. Half-assing the markets doesn't cost me money like it used to, but it certainly doesn't earn me a substantial amount either, meaning it isn't worth the time and it costs me twice:

1. It takes away from family time, where I'm only half-present.

2. It takes away from my edge, where I’m only half-focused.

I'd be far better off adopting the Lions Mindset. Hunting aggressively and intensely while the markets are on, and then rest completely, not touching the exchange or any bookies and allowing my brain a chance to reset, rest, and, most importantly, be present with those around me.

The Pivot: 175 Days to Bubs

Enough with the life lessons for future me. Let's get back to the betting floor. The original 100-Day Challenge was an arbitrary number with a random goal. Now, I have much more purpose. The original goal was ambition, whereas the new goal is about security, patience, and time.

We have 175 days until our little one is due. In that time, I want to trade, and trade better, for both mum and Bub.

The New Goal: $10,000 and Maximum Leave

After hours scrolling through various mum groups and forums, I asked ChatGPT to build a budget based on the average upfront costs. The consensus suggested that the average initial cost for a baby is around $6,500. The next stage would be covering the first six months of expenditures, which could be another $2,500.

So with an additional $1000 of just in case money, the new financial target is: $10,000 in 175 Days.

I believe this is achievable. But the real motivators are much bigger than money:

• Financial Discipline: My partner will be on maternity leave, and I will bare more weight as the bread winner and thus financially responsible person. The pressure means I must finally tighten my screws with trading and eliminate the frivolous gambling and overtrading that cost me $1,401.01 in the first five weeks.

• Time with Family: This is the biggest motivator. I know how quickly time flies. Talking to my father and some older heads who I’ve been fortunate enough to have mentor me all seem to have had one regret in common: the amount of time they spent working when their kids were younger. I currently crunch 55+ hour weeks as an engineer, and I can see a promotion right there for the taking. But I've decided to prioritise time over titles.

I'd rather work an extra five years on the backend of my career and maximise time with my children while they're young, funny, and demanding attention. The money I put aside during these 175 days will allow me to take more unpaid time off work than I originally planned, minimising the financial hit. I can always chase money later, but I won’t get time back with the baby.

The Challenge Remains Clear

So, the old challenges, such as overtrading still remain. Let's see if I have what it takes to first, cover those baby items, and second, afford myself the invaluable gift of more time off.

I am sorry if this post was boring, but it’s been incredibly exciting for me. And to those of you with family, kids, or just any general advice: please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments or on X to share your knowledge and wisdom. I’m all ears and eager to absorb as many lessons as I can moving forward.