Chapter 11
The All-American
Trader
Paul Willette
If there was ever a trader to epitomize the classic all-American
values of dedication, hard work, and discipline, it would be Paul
Willette. Self-taught, Paul started day trading stocks using a dial-
up connection and a single, old laptop. But despite these humble
beginnings, within two years he was able to parlay his success
into a mid-six-figure account. Next, Paul moved into the tough-
est trading arena of all—the electronic e-mini stock index futures
market—where high leverage and whipsaw volatility destroy even
the most seasoned traders. Again, he succeeded where so many
others have failed by practicing the simplest yet the most elusive
rule of the game: cutting your losses short and letting your profits
run. A very competitive, highly disciplined trader, Paul leaves little
to chance, approaching trading with the intensity and focus of a
world-class athlete. We had the pleasure to interview him from his
Midwest home, which he shares with his wife and three children.