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withheld—not because I couldn't get the job done but because keeping the status quo was more important for me. I had a nice office at the time (with a rare window view, too, though the actual window was outside in the hallway) where I could do my trading without any significant interference.
    Now, had I reported him to Human Resources or the boss man, it might have been determined that they needed to move my office somewhere else so that I did not feel threatened by the dude with the funky mullet haircut and “I'm a tough guy” goatee. If that happened, who knows where I would wind up?
    Offices were at a premium in that building, and I didn't want to lose the one I had, especially one with a quasi–window view. I was able to trade unfettered in my current location, my performance was solid, and I wanted it to stay that way. So Joe got his way. I submitted the invoice for processing, not because I was worried about him and what he might do, but because keeping the status quo and being viewed as a team player was more important than stroking my own ego as the office Don Quixote. But I am pretty sure the check didn't arrive on Christmas Day as he had hoped for.
    If you work long enough, you'll find that there are challenges like this in different shapes and sizes that will affect your ability to trade successfully in the workplace. Your response is critical, and to stay cool at all times will help to ensure that you do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself. The last thing you want is to be micromanaged.
■ Decide How Successful You Want to Be at Your Job
    It did not take long before I realized that I could not be successful in my job if I was going to be successful in my trading. I wanted out, but for me to get out, I would have to find that balance in the meantime of being a “good company man” while making sure my trading did not get sidetracked, but steadily increase my portfolio value all at the same time. I knew that rising up the company ladder, or getting on that “promotional fast-track” list would not happen if I was going to take my trading to the next level. A Bible verse that I learned as a child stated, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).
    Just as it was true in how we worshipped God, it was also true in my work. I could not pursue two careers simultaneously. Either I was to excel in my job as a contracts manager, which I was fully capable of doing (but did not want to do), or I would excel in my trading. For obvious reasons I chose the latter.
The Boss Man Reviews
    With that, I had to guard my expectations. Each year we had to be reviewed in our current job position. Now, let me tell you something—this was a total circus. Later in this chapter I will discuss how the organization had pitted all of its employees against one another and how they would create only a certain number of possible promotions, each year, and purposely below the usual amount that would be deserved. But to make it worse, during our reviews, they would make my peers review my performance from the past year. That's right—I would get to choose five people who would critically review my performance. It was literally a corporate “Hunger Games” scenario.
Creating a Friendly Coalition
    This was often a problem for me because, frankly, some of those around me knew I did not go the extra mile in my job and that I was indifferent toward aspiring for more responsibility. But, with that said, I did do a good job at what I was asked to do. That, however, did not help much when they would ask such questions as:
Does employee exhibit a team-like attitude?
Does employee take the necessary steps to achieve “next-level resolutions”?
In daily activities does employee exhibit a mindset toward company shareholders?
Do customers experience increased levels of