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Charity

How to Change Your Destiny

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Written by Timothy Sykes
Updated 1/24/2023 9 min read

Karmagawa means to make your own destiny with good deeds. The more good deeds you do, the more positive your destiny. This is a concept that allows you to change your destiny

When Mat Abad and I teamed up to create Karmagawa, we had one idea and one mission…

Let’s Change the World Together

It seems crazy how much we’ve done and how far we’ve come. But we’re only scratching the surface.

On September 10, we were featured on the Forbes website in this article:

Karmagawa’s Timothy Sykes Says Philanthropy Will Change Your Business 

We’re honored to be featured on Forbes. But more importantly, I believe the title of the article. With all my heart. Not only will philanthropy change your business, it will change your life.

I hope you read the article. But if you really want change, embrace its message and take action. That’s what this is about. Action.

Why Karmagawa

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Karmagawa is a compound word. I bet you have some idea what karma means. If asked, most people will say “Oh, karma is when something you’ve done comes back to you later. Like, if you’re mean, something bad will happen to you…”

And that’s kinda right. But I want to clarify because it’s super important.

Karma is also a compound word. Kar means to do. Ma means me or myself. So yes, karma is the result of one’s actions. But it’s even more direct than that. Karma is what I do to myself.

Gawa also means to do and comes from the Tagalog language of the Philippines.

Put them together and you get: all I do, I do to myself. Another way of thinking about it is my destiny is created by that which I do.

That’s why we created Karmagawa. To change the world together. To create our destiny with good deeds. And we want you to do the same. Make your own positive destiny by doing more good deeds.

How to Change Your Business With Karmagawa

Social media has changed the world. Like most amazing technological developments throughout history, it’s a double-edged sword. And, like all double-edged swords, you get to choose.

Your choice is which side will you cut with — positive or negative? I know, I say all the time…

“We’re all different and it’s not an exact science.”

In trading and in life that’s true. But I also know you have a choice every day. Several choices.

What message or messages do you send out into the world? And what messages do you allow in from outside?

Positive … or negative?

Everyone I talk with is passionate about something. Tell a story about your passion. Give it a voice, spread it using social media. That’s what we do with Karmagawa.

We tell stories about endangered animals, reefs, and children eager for education. Stories of homelessness, children in need, and rescue animals go viral on social media. Our narratives spread a message of action, investment, and hope.

You can do the same. A small donation to a cause you’re passionate about, shared on social media, brings exposure to the cause.

The Ripple Effect

When we created the rhino video, our mission was to make the world award of this shameful practice. But when it went viral, it gave charities like VETPAW much needed recognition for the work they do. Telling the story brought donations. It was greater than awareness alone.

When we created the Save the Reef documentary, our mission was to bring awareness. In just over three months, “50 Minutes to Save the World” has nearly four million views. Again, we used storytelling to make it engaging.

You can do this, too.

I don’t know where you are on your journey. Maybe you’ve made your millions like me and you’re ready to give back. Or perhaps you’ve just started in business — the foot of the path to freedom. Wherever you are on the journey, I want to emphasize that money won’t make you happy.

It can only give you freedom. For happiness, you need to embrace the right mindset. Karmagawa is about embracing the right mindset from the beginning.

Harness the Power of Social Media

Building my teaching business taught me about the power of social media. It taught me that transparency means something. Honest storytelling gets people interested. Yes, I’ve been brash in the past. But it was storytelling to get people’s attention. Some people need to see fast cars and crazy travel pictures to ignite the fires of possibility.

You probably follow me because you want freedom. I want that for you. But my hope today is to impress upon you the power to create your own destiny. And the power of the tools available to you.

It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey right now.

If you own a profitable business, find a good cause — one you’re passionate about — and give. It doesn’t have to be big. Give and then share it on social media. Make others aware.

If you’re a full-time trader, you can find something positive you’re passionate about. Something to give energy to when you’re not sitting in front of the screen watching level 2.

Even if you’re not yet in business…

… or you’re a student…

… there’s something you can do to help shape the world’s future. And your destiny.

If enough people get involved in charity it can — and will — change the world. Especially if you harness the power of social media.

When You Choose, Choose Well

Just remember, it’s a double-edged sword. Spread awareness. Give time or money or both. But be wary of going down the rabbit hole of negativity. It’s easy to do. Believe in change rather than hopelessness. Bring hope to those who have no voice. Bring hope to children who don’t have the opportunities you have. But stay away from hate.

Karmagawa isn’t about me and Mat. It’s about you. Even if you don’t support the charities we support, you can take our idea and use it. Create your positive destiny by doing good deeds. It’s not complex. The question is, will you do it?

How to Change Your Destiny

We all have things we’re passionate about. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have social media accounts. You have people who are interested in you. Use those connections to spread the word about good causes.

You don’t have to be offensive. And you don’t need to be self-righteous. Just find a good cause you believe in, give of yourself, and share it. You’d be amazed how quickly things like this spread.

Oh, and if you’re worried about how others might look at you…

What will matter in the end? Seriously. I know that’s a blunt question to ask. But what will matter in the end? Will you have regrets? Or will you be proud of what you’ve done? I’m proud of every penny I’ve made trading stocks. And I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished as a teacher.

But I’m most proud of the work Mat and I do with Karmagawa. I’m proud of the work we continue to do.

I want you to be proud, as well.

Social Media and the Internet Open the World

Some people are reading this right now thinking “Oh, that’s great for YOU, Tim. You’ve already made millions. You don’t know what MY life is like. You don’t know ME. I can’t do what you’re doing.”

If that’s you, it’s time to pull your head out. Sorry for the little bit of tough love. But wake up! You have greater opportunity and a bigger voice than ever in history.

Someone once said, “the internet is the great equalizer.” Once upon a time, we said that about education. Both statements are correct, and both are wrong. See, you have to make a decision. Which side of the double-edged sword will you wield in battle?

The internet and social media open the world to you. They can give you access. You have a voice. You can learn anything you want from the internet. So it’s opened up education for those with access. But the power to utilize the internet and social media … that’s inside of you.

You choose what to allow in … and you choose what to put out.

Karmagawa: Infinity and Beyond

It’s all about giving back to others. The reason the Karmagawa logo is an infinity symbol is because what you put out comes back to you. Some say the energy you give off returns. First, your energy ripples out into the world, and then it comes back.

When you change your mindset, you change your attitude. Then you really start to think about other people around you. You start to consider the effects of your actions on others … AND how that will come back.

You don’t have to start big. It could be something as simple as helping a homeless person with a meal. Maybe it’s helping someone cross the street. Or giving your time to listen when someone needs a kind ear.

You don’t have to start with building schools like I did. Start small. It’s just a different way of thinking about things. Create your destiny by doing more good deeds. You in?

Trader or not, what are you doing to create your destiny through good deeds? Share your story below and inspire others. I love to hear from all my readers and we all love to be inspired. Comment below!


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Timothy Sykes

Tim Sykes is a penny stock trader and teacher who became a self-made millionaire by the age of 22 by trading $12,415 of bar mitzvah money. After becoming disenchanted with the hedge fund world, he established the Tim Sykes Trading Challenge to teach aspiring traders how to follow his trading strategies. He’s been featured in a variety of media outlets including CNN, Larry King, Steve Harvey, Forbes, Men’s Journal, and more. He’s also an active philanthropist and environmental activist, a co-founder of Karmagawa, and has donated millions of dollars to charity. Read More

* Results are not typical and will vary from person to person. Making money trading stocks takes time, dedication, and hard work. There are inherent risks involved with investing in the stock market, including the loss of your investment. Past performance in the market is not indicative of future results. Any investment is at your own risk. See Terms of Service here

The available research on day trading suggests that most active traders lose money. Fees and overtrading are major contributors to these losses.

A 2000 study called “Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors” evaluated 66,465 U.S. households that held stocks from 1991 to 1996. The households that traded most averaged an 11.4% annual return during a period where the overall market gained 17.9%. These lower returns were attributed to overconfidence.

A 2014 paper (revised 2019) titled “Learning Fast or Slow?” analyzed the complete transaction history of the Taiwan Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2006. It looked at the ongoing performance of day traders in this sample, and found that 97% of day traders can expect to lose money from trading, and more than 90% of all day trading volume can be traced to investors who predictably lose money. Additionally, it tied the behavior of gamblers and drivers who get more speeding tickets to overtrading, and cited studies showing that legalized gambling has an inverse effect on trading volume.

A 2019 research study (revised 2020) called “Day Trading for a Living?” observed 19,646 Brazilian futures contract traders who started day trading from 2013 to 2015, and recorded two years of their trading activity. The study authors found that 97% of traders with more than 300 days actively trading lost money, and only 1.1% earned more than the Brazilian minimum wage ($16 USD per day). They hypothesized that the greater returns shown in previous studies did not differentiate between frequent day traders and those who traded rarely, and that more frequent trading activity decreases the chance of profitability.

These studies show the wide variance of the available data on day trading profitability. One thing that seems clear from the research is that most day traders lose money .

Millionaire Media 66 W Flagler St. Ste. 900 Miami, FL 33130 United States (888) 878-3621 This is for information purposes only as Millionaire Media LLC nor Timothy Sykes is registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser. No information herein is intended as securities brokerage, investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security or fund. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes cannot and does not assess, verify or guarantee the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information, the suitability or profitability of any particular investment, or the potential value of any investment or informational source. The reader bears responsibility for his/her own investment research and decisions, should seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before making any investment, and investigate and fully understand any and all risks before investing. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes in no way warrants the solvency, financial condition, or investment advisability of any of the securities mentioned in communications or websites. In addition, Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this information. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis of any investment decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the investment needs of any particular investor. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns.

Citations for Disclaimer

Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. Available at SSRN: “Day Trading for a Living?”

Barber, Brad M. and Lee, Yi-Tsung and Liu, Yu-Jane and Odean, Terrance and Zhang, Ke, Learning Fast or Slow? (May 28, 2019). Forthcoming: Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=2535636”

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101”