10 Ways To Master the Trade
Managing open positions is the most difficult task the trader faces.
1. Decide in advance how actively you should manage open positions. The pros watch every tick and act on short-term swings. Part-timers read the morning paper and learn everything they need to know. Your own efforts need to fall somewhere in between.
2. You develop your own trading plans and
strategies rather than relying on books and
news. You notice how you're finding more
opportunities than you have time to trade
while looking through your charts. You look
forward to the trading day with a growing
sense of confidence and empowerment.
3. You feel more like a student than a
master. You learn new things every day and
can't wait to apply them to real-life
trading scenarios. You listen closely to
everything you hear, trying to pick up hints
and concepts that will improve your
performance. You expand your studies into
everything market-related, including
economics, fundamentals and balance sheets.
4. You stop visiting stock boards and
chatrooms, because they don't add anything
to your trading goals. You realize that
everyone in those places has ulterior
motives. You develop a healthy skepticism
about companies, market-makers and even
other traders. You realize that no one is
really interested in your success as a
trader, except for you.
5. You become more private in your
discussions about the market with family and
friends. You learn to keep your opinions to
yourself, because they're just idle
discussion. You never talk about open
positions or ask others what to do with
them. You recognize that opinions count only
when they're backed up by cold, hard cash.
6. Trading starts to feel like any other
successful profession. Your average profits
get bigger while your losses get smaller.
You experience fewer drawdowns that drain
your capital and undermine your confidence.
Your trading day starts to get a little
boring, but you prefer the lack of emotional
highs and lows.
7. You grade your performance each day and
recognize when your actions did not meet
your rising standards. You notice how
certain times of the day are particularly
dangerous or rewarding for your trading
style. You keep a written diary that
describes your strengths and weaknesses in
stark detail.
8. You never cut corners in your market
analysis, no matter how tired or exhilarated
you feel at the end of the day. You set
aside time to review your daily results,
download fresh data and uncover themes for
the next session. You don't trade at all
when nonmarket matters keep you from
finishing your nightly preparation.
9. You watch all types of markets, even
those you're not trading at the time. You
realize the next opportunity could come from
anywhere, and you want to be prepared. You
also understand that your trading interests
will change over time, so you want to be
ready for the next big thing.
10. You keep detailed trading records and
update them on a nightly basis. You look at
both profits and losses with complete
detachment and a keen eye for
self-improvement. You don't "conveniently"
fail to include those trades you'd rather
forget about.
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