Charles Faulkner (author)

In 1985, Faulkner modelled the Metaphors of Identity.[10] This model states that an individual's strategies and behavior patterns are informed by deeply structured metaphors for life, self, desired outcomes and challenges. By adopting new metaphors, an individual can create new pathways to transformation.

The academic research of cognitive linguists, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson and Faulkner's experience with Metaphors support his hypothesis that cognitive processes are mostly metaphoric, and unconscious. Therefore, conscious desires with functional qualities have parallel metaphors that sustain them. Twenty years later, Faulkner would write about this phenomenon in a two-part article entitled "Outcomes, Decisions & 'Levels' of Meaning."[10] In the years that followed, Faulkner continued to develop additional models, such as Physician Decision Strategies in 1986, Futures Trading in 1987, and finally System Structure (a simultaneous strategies model) in 1990.

In 2003, Faulkner co-wrote with Steve Andreas NLP: The New Technology of Achievement. In the book, they wrote, “Lengthy struggle without success is a sign that what we’re doing isn’t working. It’s time to do something else, anything else. It’s time to realize that pain, struggle, suffering and waiting are signs that it’s time for another approach…." The following year, he attended the NLP Conference and Festival at the University of Bristol, England. There Faulkner presented "Awakening to the Social – An Introduction to Irresistible Influence."[11] The following year he presented "Expository Cartography," an introduction to advanced mind mapping techniques that could be used to disengage habitual biases and systematically enrich any model including the more complex ones such as the four-quadrant model of Ken Wilber.[12] In 2006 at the NLP Conference in London, he presented "Training is for Dogs and Horses", a bold challenge to the limiting approach in which NLP had previously been taught.[13] In September 2007, Faulkner lectured at the London School of Economics to The Society for Organisational Learning(SOL-UK).[14]

Faulkner became futures' trader in the early 1990s as a way to apply his NLP-based models for peak performance. He encouraged fellow traders who were breaking into the industry to use positive statements when journaling. Otherwise, according to NLP, a trader may wind up, unconsciously setting in negative trading patterns. He said in a Futures magazine article: "When you recall something, you reinforce it."[15] He was interviewed at length about his studies of futures traders in The New Market Wizards (1992), by Jack Schwager; The Outer Game of Trading (1994), by Robert Koppel & Howard Abell; and The Intuitive Trader (1996), by Robert Koppel;[16] and Trend Following (2004), by Michael Covel.[8] Three years later, Faulkner contributed a foreword to the paperback edition of Trend Following.[17]

In Chapter Five of The Intuitive Trader, by Robert Koppel, Faulkner wrote about how to develop the intuition needed to be a successful trader. He defines intuition as “getting a solution and not knowing how you got there” and “an insight into something that's a result from your experience with it.” In other words, developed through expertise, intuition can be rephrased as an “educated inference."[18] Faulkner identifies four barriers to identifying and trusting a true intuitive impulse: lack of awareness in the subtleties of emotions, including those caused by uncertainty; self-imposed limitations of trying to predict market moves; acting on mistaken intuitions, or “cognitive illusions;” and finally, being driven by fear or greed.[19] On the other hand, a successful intuitive trader has built his confidence as a result of a developed awareness of “subtle inner signals.” Bandler and Grinder—the founders of NLP—discovered early on that these inner signals consist of thoughts that are primarily sensory in nature. In fact, all thoughts, conscious and subconscious, arise as unique combinations of an individual's five senses. Conscious thinking will utilize a person's more developed senses; meanwhile, intuitive thought uses a person's least developed senses.[20]

Faulkner recommends that a new trader keep a dated journal of thoughts, feelings, ideas and insights related to the market. In time, the trader will notice certain patterns of how, when and where he receives intuitions. Moreover, a trader can see what happens when he follows an intuition, and—interestingly enough—what happens when he purposely makes a decision that goes counter to his intuition. Over time, having a passion for trading and diligently recording experiences will help a trader develop the awareness needed to trust those intuitive “leaps.”[21] However, succeeding at trading is not without its requisite legwork which, according to Faulkner, lies in five key areas: market indicators, trading strategies and money management, emotional management, successful and supportive belief systems, and a winning “metaphoric mindset.”[22] Finally, Koppel quotes The Outer Game of Trading, in which Faulkner briefly explores the dynamics of confidence and fear.[23]

In April 2005, Faulkner contributed to SFO Magazine an article entitled, "Inside the Counterintuitive World of Trend Followers: It's Not What You Think. It's What You Know." In this article, Faulkner examines a "trend-following philosophy" which he constructed after having observed the language patterns and behaviors of several traders.

The counterintuitive strategy of trend followers is highlighted by seven general principles:

1. No one can predict the future.
2. If you can look at "what actually is," you have a big advantage over most human beings.
3. What matters can be measured, so keep refining your measurements.
4. You don't need to know when something will happen to know that it will.
5. Prices can only move up, down or sideways.
6. Losses are a part of life.
7. There is only now.

Faulkner illustrates each principle by referring to the strategic mindsets of traders such as John W. Henry, Bill Dunn, Ed Seykota, Jerry Parker, Richard Dennis, and Gerald Loeb.[24]

In Charles Faulkner's DVD, Mastering High Risk Decision Making, he presents how NLP techniques can be applied to decision making strategies within the world of trading.[25] He examines the key traits shared by successful traders. Specifically, successful traders know how to: separate understanding from action, attach to actions in lieu of emotions, prioritize risk management, and excel at being disciplined. Also, Faulkner shares NLP techniques that cultivate discipline, perfect goal-formulating and create a “decisive mind.[26]