Song of the Week:
Thanks for Coming by: RKS
Co-Collective: John
On my journey of self-discovery and searching for the meaning of life, I was fortunate to meet the love of my life early on. He is the reason I could never erase my past—because doing so would mean never having the chance to meet him. We were just kids when we first crossed paths, but over the years, I’ve watched him grow into one of the most remarkable men I know. I’ve mentioned him here before, but I’ve never shared much about who he is until today. So, it brings me immense joy to introduce my significant other: John Flores.
Today, I’m doing something new. Instead of reflecting on my own thoughts, I am going to pick at his brain— right here, in front of all of you. This is a kind of a big deal, since we usually keep to ourselves about what it is he does. By nature, when people hear of his job profession, the first questions people ask is “Can you get me into it?” or “Can you teach me?”. At first in my perspective I was like, “hell yeah he can!” over the years, that response has shifted to, “Trust me, you don’t want this,”.
John has become a successful trader, while those questions are usually the first to pop up, I want to take this conversation in a different direction—one that goes beyond the surface. And possibly, enlighten my readers just what it truly takes to be a trader and also what it looks like to be play with a winner’s mindset.
How about we introduce yourself? What you do, name, and an ice cream flavor that identifies you. And why?
John: I’m John Flores, I am a self-made stock/futures trader, and the best ice cream flavor to identify myself would be coconut pineapple ice cream, due to my calm and consistent attitude and most importantly unexpected.
Interesting answer choice sir. I for sure, thought you would pick Mint Chocolate Chip; you definitely got me there. For those interested in something I thought about when I first met him, he is a Sagittarius sun and rising and Aquarius moon. Clearly, those qualities are something you embody daily which means they plays crucial part in your trading journey.
Can you elaborate on how that blends in with your success?
John: I operate with an unwavering belief in my ability to succeed to the point where some might consider it delusional. This mindset fuels my persistence—an unshakable confidence that failure is not an option. Every day, every hour, every minute, I show up to perform, whether it’s for the smallest of tasks or the most complex challenges. With each passing day, I push myself to do better than the day before, constantly striving for progress. While many people lose their drive around day 30, I keep going. I see every decision and action through the lens of risk versus reward. This analytical approach allows me to continuously refine my efforts, adjusting strategies and habits as I measure the potential outcomes, ensuring that each step I take is a calculated move toward success.
Now this is something you taught me to do, and I have got to say it is much harder than people think! This mental battle is something I face constantly, whether it’s a simple task like getting up early or something big like deciding if a disagreement in our relationship is worth holding onto. Most of the time the answer is no but my attitude says yes. The same concept of risk to reward thinking right? But it’s tough when the immediate reward feels so tempting, even if the bigger picture is what truly matters. I think I am starting to understand and see the how incredible this mindset can be if you master it.
How did you master this mindset? How do you balance that intensity with everything else in your life? Do you ever find it challenging to turn off that mindset when trading?
John: I don’t believe you can ever truly master it—whether it’s a mindset or life itself. It’s a constant battle where the key is simply to win more than you lose. Every loss should be viewed as an opportunity, a steppingstone toward improvement. The ability to flip the switch and refocus on what truly matters is crucial.
Too often, we fixate on everything that’s going wrong, allowing ourselves to spiral, even when there are plenty of things going right—sometimes it’s just one thing, but that alone is worth holding onto. Let’s not overlook those positive aspects. Instead, let’s build on them, no matter how small they may seem.
At the end of the day, you are 100 percent what you focus on. What you choose to concentrate on shapes your reality and your outcomes. So why not focus on the things that bring growth, fulfillment, and progress?
PERIODT! It is all about what you do in the present moment to shape the future. When I think about where I want to be in five years, it’s both exciting and intimidating. Speaking from personal experience, my future used to scare me and left me feeling paralyzed with what I need to do in order to accomplish my steppingstones. I still am afraid of failing, which is something I am working on myself. It is so easy to get caught up with what is going wrong, without doing anything about it. Shifting that focus was what I needed to get out of my thinking paralysis and into action.
How I was able to even start that process was through gathering what I already was doing and analyzing why I was doing them in the first place. My actions determined what I was prioritizing and what I wasn’t.
Speaking of priorities, I am curious—what do you prioritize and how do you decide what to prioritize in your life?
John: My health—both mental and physical. I understand that without a strong foundation in both areas, everything else in life falters. I make a conscious effort to stay active, whether it’s through hitting the gym, going for walks, or taking hikes. Movement is essential to me, but I also recognize that maintaining my mental health is a continuous challenge. It requires as much attention and care as my physical well-being. I don’t strive to live a long life (high 90s) BUT in case that I do, I want to be healthy in my 90s. If my significant other dies before I’ll peace out at the same time to be honest.
My second priority is the well-being of my relationships. The people in my life hold immeasurable value because, regardless of your socioeconomic status, life lacks meaning without those you love. I refuse to lose sight of what truly matters, and I make it a priority to nurture these relationships because they are the heartbeat of my existence. They are what give life depth and purpose.
Although I’ve grown and evolved, at my core, I haven’t changed. I’m still that same goofy kid I was in my teens, with the same passions and the same mentality. My sense of humor, my drive, and my approach to life remain consistent, even as I take on more responsibilities and challenges. It’s that blend of growth and staying true to myself that keeps me grounded and connected to the people.
My third priority is my career. I am always looking for ways to improve and to push myself further. I’m constantly evaluating how I can grow, what skills I can develop, and what opportunities I can seize. My career is not just a job, but a space for personal development, challenge, and fulfillment, all while keeping my other priorities in focus.
I think we have the same goals it’s why we work well together. But honestly, I would have these goals if it wasn’t for you. Watching you obtain and nurture these goals motivates me to follow along and strive for myself. You have that aura of a leader, and while I like to think of myself as someone independent, I have noticed myself letting you take the lead.
Just as in your career, I mean being a trader is someone who is self-employed, independently making your own income, in the government’s eye. What is something you wish people talked about more with trading being a full-time job for you?
John: Whenever people ask me about trading, I always tell them the same thing: I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. The game is brutal—cruel, isolating, and at times, it feels downright impossible. That’s why you need a driving force that’s far bigger than money to succeed. The longer you play, the more you realize that money isn’t nearly as valuable as people make it out to be. You need something extraordinary to fuel your pursuit.
I KNOW what it means to struggle, and be a statistic, and what is so wrong with how the country works and who is meant to come out winning (it’s not a kid like). I grew up extremely poor, relying on EBT and social services, with a blind father and a hardworking mother. Yet, I never felt like I lacked anything essential. My drive has always been about paying it forward—about building something that benefits not just my family, but entire communities. For me, being “cash rich” is meaningless if there’s no positive impact attached to it. My motivation is non-physical, intangible, maybe even abstract. It’s about the future, about creating a better world for my children and those in my community. I want to plant the seed of growth and opportunity around me, knowing that its effects will expand far beyond what I could personally accomplish.
I don’t worry about trying to change the world. That’s not my responsibility, nor would I ever want it to be. But I do want to change the lives of the people directly around me. I want to set something in motion, plant the seed for others to nurture long after I’m gone. That’s what it’s all about.
Trading, to me, is simply a means to that end. Nothing more. It’s a job with an incredible, almost limitless ceiling, but if money is your only goal in trading, then you’re missing the point. There are thousands of ways to make money, and millions of ways to spend it. The real question is, what are you making it for? For me, it’s about creating lasting impact, building something bigger than myself, and ensuring that what I do benefits others in the long run.
I bet a lot of people unfamiliar with trading have never seen it from this perspective. So many internet “money gurus” prey on people, encouraging them to throw their hard-earned money into the stock market without a real plan, hoping it will go up. I can see the appeal want to trade. You can make good money, it is on specific hours, and you have no boss. But clearly, that is not the reality of being a full-time trader.
When you first told me you were trading, I honestly didn’t know how that was supposed to make any money. I thought it was like a casino — just gambling until you hit the jackpot. But once you started developing you own strategy, I began to have more faith in the process.
Of course, there are still days when you lose. How do you handle those losses and move forward?
John: The name of the game is risk management, just as it is in life. Every day, I prepare myself for the possibility of loss. I play to win, but I’m always ready to face defeat, and that readiness keeps me grounded. Losing doesn’t rattle me, it’s part of the process. In fact, I take pride in my losses because they represent invaluable learning experiences. I welcome them as steppingstones, not setbacks. The fear of losing no longer has a hold on me, and that mindset shift took years to develop, after enduring thousands of losses. Some were within my control, while others were not. Through it all, I’ve learned that loss is not the enemy; it’s a teacher, and I’ve come to embrace it.
See, I have money trauma to unpack before I can reach this level of financial freedom. Losing even just a $100 would ruin my day. Money has a huge chokehold over me that I don’t even realize until I lose it without gaining anything in return. In society, we are taught that money has intrinsic value —we use it to buy goods or services, and it feels like an even exchange sometimes. But instead of feeling sad when we spend it, we only feel the weight of loss when there’s nothing to show for it.
So, it’s amazing how you’re about to pick yourself up after those blows. I know it can’t be easy on the ego or mind to get back in the game.
Last one, it’s more for me than anyone else but, what’s next for you? Do you think this is it? Any other careers or ambitions?
John: I plan on trading for the rest of my life, largely because of the longevity I know I can have in the field and the incredible flexibility it offers. At 23 years old, I’m currently putting in 14–16-hour days, 5-6 days a week, but I know that won’t be a permanent thing. It’s just part of the stage of life I’m in right now—laying the groundwork for what’s to come.
One day, I want to own my own construction firm. I want the freedom to choose where I build and what I build. With the knowledge and experience I already have; I know it’s within reach. But for me, it’s always about focusing on the community, never the entire world. The world is too vast and complex to fully grasp or change alone. I want to have a meaningful impact on the people and places around me—those that matter most.
I don’t want to be defined by my career or my job title. I just want to be me, doing the things that matter to me and giving back in the ways I feel are most important. However cheesy it sounds.
I love how ever evolving you are. You’re so multifaceted! Ugh, alright well, I guess I am the only who can say I can’t wait to see where life takes you and us on this journey of growth. With that I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy, busy, busy schedule to let me interview you.
Being my first interview on here, you will hold a special place in the history of TUT. Also, if you become like a gazillionaire, I will have been the first to interview you so, HAHA NEWS outlets. Beat you to it.
It’s a Story
Thanks for Coming by Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a request of the interviewee. Another one tally for RKS, this is officially the third song of theirs on the playlist. However, it just goes to show the level of talent and geniuses this band has. Thanks for Coming is a coming-of-age story, from the day you are born life has set in motion the big plans that you then have to reveal. Some things are set in stone while other things just happen on a whim. People come in and people come out, it is the way of life. In a sinical tone “thanks for coming please to come again.“
Thank you for joining me on a full one-year journey at The Unfinished Times! OMG I can’t believe that we have made it here! I have been dreaming of this day and it has finally arrived! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! <3 See you in the next post~XOXO
50
Tell me your Thoughts