Poise: The Key Personality Trait for Worldly Success

Style + Substance = Poise

The greatest stock market trader of all time, Jesse Livermore, once said that poise is the most important trait in his profession:

“I believe that one of the most important qualifications for a successful trader is ‘POISE’ which to me is defined as stability, a well-balanced person with dignity of manner — as it relates to the stock market. A poised person is a person who can handle their hopes and their fears in a calm manner.”

I believe this is true. If there’s one trait you can attribute a person’s success to, whether that’s trading stocks or any other profession, it’s poise.

In the world of personal development books, this concept is quite foreign. Most books talk about how you can improve your habits and mindset. This is an essential part of self-improvement.

But as you and I both you, worldly success is not merely about the self. A highly productive and positive person with perfect habits is owed nothing in the world.