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5 Choices you Make as a Trader - THIS Or THATFrom the second you turn on your computer, to the time you press buttons commit your funds into your trades and close your computer. You are making your own choices. Do you choose this? Do you follow that? Do you go against this? Do you type that? So technically, your financial future success lies all in your fingers. In this TradingView piece, you need to ask and answer what choices are you prepared to make – to turn your life around as a trader. CHOICE #1: Sleep until noon – Wake up early If you’re a position trader (trade once per week or so) like me, then you’ll know profitable opportunities knock VERY slowly. You can wake up late, open your trading platform and see a missed trading opportunity just like that. Or you can set your alarm, wake up to check the markets to confirm if there is a trade lined up or not. DON’T MISS YOUR TRADING OPPORTUNITIES! CHOICE #2: Only trade your starting portfolio size – Deposit money each month Let me be frank. R5,000 isn’t going to turn you into a millionaire. R20,000 isn’t going to turn you into a millionaire. I’m sorry but it has to be said. You need to find a way to keep depositing a bit of money into your trading account each month. Whether it’s 5% or 10% of savings, the more you deposit each month – the faster your portfolio will grow as you have more to make money from money. CHOICE #3: Go against your strategy – Follow your strategy I know it’s tempting to want to go against your strategy. You want to move your take profit, stop loss, you want to buy more. You want to take some money off the table. The problem is – make this choice and you’ll set a dangerous precedent. It will be the start of going against your strategy the next time and eventually, you’ll only be trading with discretionary (self) which I need to remind you is… A COMPLETE LOSING STRATEGY! The stock market doesn’t work on emotions. It doesn’t think and it doesn’t feel. So why should you? Keep to your proven and profitable trading strategy, and the profits will yield as your system has shown you time and time again. CHOICE #4: Learn and then drop the E – Try to earn and drop the $ Trading is a forever learning business. You need to learn how the markets work. You need to learn how the trading environments operate and when they are favourable or unfavourable to your strategy. You need to learn WHICH are the best instruments to trade. Which are the most reliable and secured brokers. Which trading platforms are up to date with technology. What NEW markets there are to utilise and profit from. The list continues. Please follow your own learning time line as a trader and then you’ll find it will all be worth it. CHOICE #5: LATER – NOW! I still get people who send me messages like… “Timon I’ve been following you for 15 years and haven’t started trading yet, what do you suggest?” Simple! Get out of your comfort zone, stop being lazy and take the necessary steps to start your trading journey. 15 years! You could have had all the experience you needed by now. You could have gained important lessons to build your portfolio. It’s all on you. The best time to start is NOW! There is no past (as it already happened). There is no present (as it automatically becomes the past). There is no future (as it’s still to come). So all you have is an infinitesimal photo shot of time called NOW! Got it? Make your choices and materialize your trading into the reality you’ve desired.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Tips to be a Healthy Trader - Wisdom Yields HealthI came up with a corny slogan in 2013. “Wisdom Yields Wealth”. Well, today I came up with another corny slogan but relevant to today and this year. “Wisdom Yields Health”. As you know, health is the greatest wealth of all when it comes to your: Physical appearance Mental cognitive thoughts Important decision making Longevity In 2023, health is everything as the world continues to linger in a very stressed phase. (Especially, what’s going on in South Africa with Eishkom, water issues and tax month having kicked off). If you want to be a good trader, you need to focus on not only your money and mind but also your health. Health will help you optimise your trading performance. So, this is a short but important article to remind you to try be a little bit healthier. HEALTH TIP #1: Sleep Even Hours It’s an old wife’s tale that you need 7 hours of sleep. It’s proven that the sleep cycle works on EVEN hours, NOT odd. So if you sleep 7 hours, you’ll deprive yourself of the last 1 hour you need to complete your cycle. When you decide to go to sleep, set an alarm for 6 hours or 8 hours to get the right amount you need. Also, if you wake up before the alarm and you feel fresh – stay awake, don’t go back to bed. Listen to your body more and it will reward you better. You need to be clear headed when you wake up in order to take on the markets with a fresh mindset. HEALTH TIP #2: Drink COLD Water Listen… You’re made up of over 73% water. So you might as well fuel yourself up and stay hydrated. First glass in the morning and another glass every two hours. Or just have a 2 litre bottle next to you. When it’s finished, refill it. Ok you’ve heard that a million times. Here’s where it gets interesting. Did you know that if you drink ice cold water, it will help you to keep awake, will fire your neurons and will boost your thinking capabilities. That’s the big tip with drinking water as a trader. Ice, Ice baby! HEALTH TIP #3: Eat less ‘high energy to consume’ foods in the day You know what puts us off work, trading and life? Having a bloated and painful stomach, because of the stuff we ate. I’m talking breads, pastas, sweets, crisps and fried food. When you eat this stuff, you won’t feel in the mood to trade, think or work. It’s also probably affecting in the bedroom too! Eat these in moderation and NOT when you trade or a few hours before you trade. Anyway, I’m not giving advice, just some tips that’s helped me to trade better over the years. HEALTH TIP #4: Keep Walking Gyms might be inaccessible right now. And exercise is just too difficult to keep motivated to follow. So instead, take your trade for the day and go for a walk around your complex, park or anywhere just to burn those calories and keep you fit and healthy. I’m in Greece right now and nothing beats a good walk around the Ancient historical sites in Monastiraki such as the Agora, Acropolis and even the amphitheatres. Or a walk around the Marina – Flisvos harbour to take in the cool breeze and breathtaking view of the sea. Find your piece of heaven (where ever it is) to walk around and burn those calories at least twice or three times a week. I can go on about health tips, but four is more than enough to start with. Please look after yourself, your body and your mind.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
How to Earn Self-Respect as a TraderIntegrity… It’s what gives you certainty, confidence and trust for yourself. It’s what tells you, you can do it. It’s what makes you leap forward in life. And it’s what earns you self respect. With trading, you need to achieve self respect, to help feel more assertive with the trading decisions you make. In this short letter, I’ll give you some actions to help you earn the self respect as a trader. Action #1: Do the hard things Anything that requires risking your hard earned money is tough. I get it. You didn’t make money just to lose it right? Well, you need to understand that in life there are no HIGH rewards without taking some element of risk. So, force yourself to sit down, deposit money into your account, wait for the proven trading setup to line up and TAKE THE TRADE. Next hard thing to do is, wait for the trade to hit your stop loss or take profit and don’t interfere with the process. And the last hard thing, is having tunnel vision and not listening to anyone about your trading decisions. Don’t listen to the news, your friends, strangers or even your family. You have your plan and system, follow it and you’ll feel in control and you’ll gain more self respect. Action #2: Don’t think it – DO IT Coming up with ideas are easy. Writing down goals and gluing your vision board with mansions and cars – are easy. What’s hard is actually taking the action. There is never the right time because it’s always the right time. So buckle up and take action with what you need to do to achieve trading success. Action #3: Take control and learn from your losses Losses are parts of the ying and yang of trading. You need a bit of good and a bit of bad to balance and build. Remember, the markets move in a zig – zag shape and so will your trading account. So when you realise this you’ll be able to acknowledge, own, take control and learn from your trading losses. But most importantly. The losses must only come from your proven plan. Don’t move a stop loss to make you risk more. Don’t remove a stop loss because you believe the market will turn. Take small losses so that the big winners make up and drive your portfolio up. Action #4: Don’t quit when it gets hard You only fail when you quit something. Read that again. When you quit, you lose. When you quit, you give up. When you quit due to premature excuses you lose self respect. Too many traders quit because they think the market is out to get them. This is either because they are taking a few losses or because they are trying to OUTBEAT the market through emotions. Listen if you have a few rules to manage your money like: ~ Risk 2% per trade. ~ Never allow your portfolio to be in -20% drawdown. ~ Never hold more than 7 to 8 trades at a time. You’ll be able to control your risk and boost your portfolio. Let’s sum these 4 actions up to trading self respect. Action #1: Do the hard things Action #2: Don’t think it – DO IT Action #3: Take control and learn from your losses Action #4: Don’t quit when it gets hard
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
12
How to Get Your Trading **** Done!So you have a trading account opened. The money is in, your watchlist and charts are set up. But you have left your trading half-hearted with doubt, concern and little energy. This is what is slowing your performance. This is what is stopping you from growing your account. And this is why you’re living with second thoughts not seeing progress. May these 5 steps be the wake-up call to get your trading done! Step #1: Get a cheat-sheet Every trading plan you have, needs a cheat sheet. Your cheat sheet will remind you of the criteria you need to enter your trade, put your stop loss and take profit levels. You can also add what percentage you would like to risk and the Risk reward you’ll follow. Once you fill in the blanks and info – Print it, laminate it and stick it up somewhere. Step #2: Prepare your watch list As you know there are countless of markets to choose from (stocks, indices, commodities, currencies and crypto-currencies). Make sure you have a solid short list of markets you’ll be looking at when you trade. Once a day or so, you can go through them and see what is lining up with your trading system. Step #3: Sit down and set up At the most suitable time, shut down all your distractions for the day. Phone, Netflix, family, pets etc… Sit down for a couple of minutes a day – going through your watch list and writing down the trades that are lining up for the next day. Step #4: Place your trade/s order Whether you’re placing a trade during the day or after the market closes, you need to take the trade. If all is aligned in syzygy, you have no excuse but to type in a couple of figures and click BUY or SELL. Easy… Step #5: Journal your trades Once all four steps have been accomplished, you’ll then write down the trades you’ve taken in a trading journal. This way you can keep track of your progress and have an archive of your trading performance with the right stats. Don’t waste any more time waiting for the right time and feel. There is never the right time. Hope this wake-up article will help you really kick off your trading success from here on end.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
TEST: Is Trading for you? Trading is NOT for everyone. Not because they can’t do it, or because it’s hard – but rather… Trading is something that only a few will feel passionate to do for the rest of their lives… I say this because there are many things that I could do well in, make a huge income from, but I unfortunately don’t enjoy. For example, Poker, horse-racing and sports bets, real-estate, portfolio manager, business consultant… Don’t feel ashamed nor feel something is wrong with you. Instead, embrace your personality and work towards what is your OWN calling and passion. In this TradingView article, well find out if trading is for you… Out of 15 things I’ll mention today, write down YES or NO for each one… Let’s go… YES or NO? Are you a good decision maker? Are you proud to be called a financial trader? Do you enjoy looking at charts and indicators? Can you handle a bunch of losing trades in a row? Do you have the will-power to trade every week? Do you enjoy reading fundamentals with markets? Can you handle losses on a weekly / monthly basis? Do you enjoy learning more about local and global markets? Is it in your personality to deal with short term market moves? Do you have the ability to NOT listen to other people and the news? Do you have the patience to wait for the market to hit your trading levels? Can you follow strict criteria without steering away from your proven strategy? Do you enjoy looking up statistics and probabilities with portfolio management? Are you able to deposit a portion of your savings into your portfolio each month? Do you have the discipline to follow and improve one trading strategy in your life? If you counted less than 10, the big question is… Do you think you can train and educate yourself to fix those items and turn them into yes’s?
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Top40 rolling over- Short the bouncesThe Top40 has been under pressure over the last few sessions and today it is looking like it has finally reached exhaustion. As the RSI begins to show more weakness, we can see how the Top40 has started rolling over and now it does appear that momentum has shifted to the downside. I think any bounce can be shorted here for a corrective move back down towards 71000. I have marked the area of support where the previous breakout occurred. I won't be surprised to see a test of that level. I'm pretty sure I don't speak out of turn when I say, we have moved too high, too quick and it is time for some sanity to enter back into the market.
JSE:J200Short
by RobbyP
Don't be a still trader!“Timon, I’ve been following your trading tips for the last 12 years and I STILL haven’t taken my first trade." But I will soon trade... Soon? Like tomorrow? Next week or in the next 12 years? Procrastination is the thief of time. I hate clichés but I love that saying. #1: STILL not ready for losses I think most people don’t want to take losses. They are seen as small failures or small fractures to a person’s pride and bank account. Whether you’re running a business, a household or a trading portfolio – there are going to be oopsies. So how do we deal with the idea of taking losses? Well, don’t think of them as losses. Think about them as costs… When you run a business you have to pay costs – equipment, stock, admin, salaries, legalities etc… When you run a household you have to pay costs – electricity, water, take the trash out, taxes and repairs. When you run your trading account you have to pay costs – Losing trades and drawdowns… You pay costs with everything in life, and so it shouldn’t be any different with trading… Instead of calling them losses – call them ‘costs of trading’. Helpful? #2: STILL no right system This one is common. You don’t know what the right system is for you. You’ve tried a couple of moving averages, indicators, price action even volume. Nothing seems to work for you yet… I don’t have a correct answer for you, but I can tell you with how I found my system. I wanted something that didn’t require too much thinking, little indicators, worked on all time frames, was easy to back and forward test and is timeless. And it took me years until I finally found a system that you see here in TradingView. So ask yourself exactly what you want in a system and drill down each detail that matches your current lifestyle and times… Just maybe, the answer will stand out for you better. #3: STILL Not making money Now this is ambiguous. If you end up positive for the year, you’re making money. If you’re not happy with how much money you’re up for the year, that’s different. It’s all relative. Step one is to make sure your portfolio is positive by the end of the year. Then it’s a numbers game as to what your portfolio should be to make more of an income. But first make sure you’re in the positive before you play with Mr Market. #4: STILL Making excuses The only thing I can add to this is the wonderful comfort zone of doing nothing. It’s safe, it’s consistent and we’re used to it. But if you are constantly thinking of wanting to trade and build your wealth on a regular basis – it tells me you’re ready but not ready to leave your comfort zone. You got to pull up your socks and just START. The hardest step to trading is taking your first step. I hope these tips will help you shake off the STILLness that’s lurking inside you, so you can achieve greatness.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
Why is trading NOT working for me?!Even with the right markets, time frames, systems, rules and ideas… Trading is just not playing out you the way you thought it would. It’s not growing your portfolio at the rate you wished… It’s taking forever to get right… It’s overwhelming and you don’t know which strategy to choose… From my experience this is because of one reason. You’re not treating trading for what it is… Let’s REMIND you… TRADING IS… A fun hobby Trading isn’t a tiring job where you need to sit for hours countlessly looking at a screen. It’s also not a job where you need to be cramped up in a cold room, sitting on an uncomfortable chair, wearing a suffocating ‘noose’ I mean tie, around your neck while you’re waiting for the next pay-cheque. If that was the case, I would have stopped trading 19 years ago. Trading should be treated as a fun hobby. With this hobby… You don’t need a lot of time (half an hour a week will do just fine). You don’t need a lot of effort. (Just a few click of the buttons and a few simple grade-8 maths calculations). You don’t need to worry and stress yourself out. (Opportunities come every day, you can manage your own risk and no one is watching over your shoulder.) In other words this is one opportunity which will give you: More free time, Less work and a hobby that will consistently pay you. TRADING IS… A patience game When you’re enjoying a hobby, you look forward to doing it the next day. It’s like anything you enjoy… Watching TV, playing sports, eating your favourite snacks or even having sex… You’ll adapt, incorporate and most importantly look forward to the next time you do it. And the more you do it, the more you’ll improve, the better you’ll get and the easier it will become. Trading is a patience game. The longer you spend the time and days working on it and improving, the faster, better, and more powerful of a trader you will become. And this will lead to one outcome – Financial Independence. TRADING IS… Ever evolving This isn’t your run on the mill, rat-race kind of hobby. This is one heck of an interesting, exciting and thrilling activity that changes so quickly. Every day, week, month and year you’ll to learn a ton of trading tips and lessons. That’s because the markets are always, changing, evolving, adapting and are even suprising… They evolve with: Ever-changing market conditions. New financial markets added to the exchanges. New created instruments to incorporate i.e. Crypto- currencies, ETFs, CFDs etc… New mega-trends driving new global demand i.e. AI, Machine learning, Electric cars, Cannabis, NFTs, Smart contracts and Extended Mixed Reality. TRADING IS… A lonely journey This is one hobby, where YOUR success entirely depends on YOU. This won’t work if you’re asking your family, friends, dogs and even strangers for their opinions on what to buy and sell. This won’t work if you’re listening to the random billionaire analyst on Bloomberg talking about what they have in their portfolios. This won’t work if you’re scrolling on Facebook for an individual’s trading prediction. (INCLUDING MINE). No! With your system, your money and your time – You need to trade alone and on your own terms… You know what will make you money? Taking more trades according to YOUR criteria. Listening to YOUR rules according to YOUR strategy. Spending more of YOUR time, improving on executing trades well. Notice the word YOUR… Not others, not him, not her – YOU… So take trading for what it is and enjoy the process. TRADING IS… A fun hobby TRADING IS… A patience game TRADING IS… Ever evolving TRADING IS… A lonely journey
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
Don't let Captain Hindsight mess with your tradingCaptain Hindsight is bound to get in your head. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been trading for the last 10 years or so. He is going to question you with two simple words. And these two words, can really cause a negative impact on your trading portfolio. In this short article, I’m going to warn you about how he’s going to uppercut your mind and most likely cause havoc with your trading. This way, you’ll know what to watch out for. A dangerous two word question to interfere with your trading What if?” Here are some… “What if the market is in a bubble and I buy too high?” “What if I’m wrong about this trade?” “What if my trading strategy worked then, but won’t work now?” “What if the market is in a period where I’m just going to take losses?” Whenever the captain whispers these questions, you’re going to feel vulnerable and start second guessing your trading system, strategy and skills. Succumb to the Captain and he’ll be back stronger and more powerful than the last time. Here are THREE ways to beat Captain Hindsight before he returns ACTION #1: Extend your back-testing So you have a trading system that you believe works… Prove it. Go back and re-test different markets and jot down every time the system lined up. Record every trade, including the costs and the statistics and prepare yourself for what is to come. The more you back-test your system, the more markets and environments it would have weathered and endured. If it came out with all time highs on your portfolio, it’s a winner. Captain Hindsight – won’t have anything on you – with a decent track record… ACTION #2: Drop your risk The most common way for a trader to feel emotional, is when they have a lot to lose. The larger your trading position, the more desire to win and the more fear you’ll have to lose. This is why greed, fear and panic are the most ongoing reasons for traders to annihilate their portfolios. Trading is a get rich slowly but surely game. And when you accept the gains and losses, you won’t care what the Captain has to say. ACTION #3: Step away from the screen Not only will Captain Hindsight creep in before you take a trade. He’s bound to enter your mind while you’re in the trade. “What if you’re wrong about this one?” “What if you get out of your trade now while you’re in a profit?” “What if you take a small loss, because it looks like this trade is a loser?” The best action to take, when you’ve entered your trade with your trading levels (Entry, Stop loss and Take profit), is step away from your trading account. Distract yourself by getting a drink, water your garden, take a drive or do other work. The less you’re glued to the screen watching your trades, the less you’re going to feel worried about the small moves that happen in the day. Always remind yourself… “My trading strategy will REWARD me for following it. My trading strategy will PUNISH me for NOT following it.” These three actions will eventually help you beat Captain Hindsight for good, as it did for me over 20 years ago.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
25 Metrics to a Perfect Trading Journal First let’s begin with… What is a trading journal? This is a log book where you plot every trade you make with the metrics to show how your portfolio is performing and will continue to do so. I’m going to briefly list the items you’ll need to track your trading performance. 25 Items to plot in your trading journal… The trade No. The market traded (stock, index, crypto…) The entry date for your trade The exit date for your trade No. of days held Current portfolio value Max risk per trade (currency) Max risk % per trade Initial margin per instrument (CFD Spread betting) No. Volume traded The reason for entry Total margin paid Type of trade (Long / Short) Entry price Take profit price Stop loss price Closing price Risk in trade (Entry – Stop loss) Move in trade (close) Interest costs Brokerage costs Gearing Trade exposure (In and Out) Gross P+L Net P+L Don’t waste your time with calculations. Make sure you have the journal and log book with all formulas in each item. … When you record these details, you’ll be able to keep up to date with whether your portfolio is profitable and sustainable for the long run and where it’s lacking. Hope that helps!
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
What is Holding You Back Trader?So you want to trade, but just not taking action. You’re on the computer and so close to taking a trade or opening an account with a broker. The button is right there. And yet, it feels like there’s a wall between your finger and the button. I get it. It’s a big step to take when you know you’re entering into uncharted financial waters. You know risk is involved… You know time is needed. And you know education is crucial. And yet you’re still hesitant. In this article, we’ll pinpoint what is holding you back from creating your financial freedom as a trader. REASON #1: You’re talking more than doing This is a big one. Maybe you’ve been reading trading and investing articles for years now. And yet, you keep finding excuses to not take action. 1. “I’ll start next month” 2. “I’ll wait for the market to correct before I trade” 3. “I’m stressed with work and family” Listen… Life is going to continue with new problems, stresses and issues. And this will extend your delays and increase the number of excuses you’ll make with any new hobby. You just need to start doing, and the rest will take care of itself. And you’ll find you’ll feel more accomplished and proud of the fact, you took action. REASON #2: You’re concerned of the short term Every trader I know wants their first trade and month to be profitable. I was the same. In 2003, I bought a bunch of Anglo Gold shares. I felt so much panic because I wanted it to be a winner. I didn’t think of the long term effects. Let me tell you, I don’t even remember my first winner. I’ve taken thousands of trades and I’ll tell you, the first trade is over looked and felt. When you have a proven trading strategy, you lose interest in what a few trades will do for your portfolio. You keep your eye on the long term rewards. REASON #3: You are scared of losing This is one humble game, where the market takes a little and gives back to you and then some. It’s all down to one simple method – Risk and reward. You’re in a calculations game now, where you need to lose in order to win. Embrace the losses and own them as you would with any business costs or overheads. REASON 4#: You’re waiting for the right time What does that mean? Are you waiting for enough money? You never start with a lot of money as a trader. You test, you learn and you gain experience. I guarantee you blow more money on a holiday, on petrol and at restaurants than the amount you’ll lose as a start up and humble trader. Are you waiting for the right time? There are thousands of markets that are either in uptrend, downtrends or sideways trends everyday. There is never the right time to get into trading. Why? Because it’s always the right time. REASON 5#: You’re too busy to start I’m sure this article has helped open your eyes to a new spectrum of reasons why you’re holding back. Stop talking, start doing. You do have enough money to start trading. You have more than enough time You need to lose, to win. Nobody is ever too busy to not pursue their dreams and create their freedom. Got it? So stop holding back and listening to some imaginary voice inside your head
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Risk Less money in Drawdowns. More money in winning streaksA drawdown is a period of decline in the value of a portfolio. This is where you take a number of trades, and the losses drop the portfolio at a marginal level (if you know what you’re doing). During these times, the market is typically more volatile (jumpy) and unpredictable. And so you have a higher chance to risk money in unfavourable times. Risk less with drawdowns When your portfolio drops 6%, 8% or even 11% - This is where you’re not sure when the market will become more favourable. This is the time where you decide to risk less money per trade. You would drop the risk from 3%, 2% to 1.5% or even 1%. Then keep trading until the markets pick up and start to favour your portfolio… Once you’re out of the drawdown then… Risk more money with the winning streak During the winning streaks, the market is typically more stable and predictable, and the chances of making a profit are higher. You can then pump up the risk back to 2% or 3% (if you’re a risky biscuit). When do you do this? When your portfolio is either BACK to an all-time-high. Or when you can see the market has broken out of the sideways consolidation and volatile period. Risk management is an important aspect of successful investing, and adjusting the amount of money being invested based on market conditions is one strategy that can help investors achieve their financial goals. By risking less money during drawdowns and more money during winning streaks, you as the trader can lower your potential losses and maximize your potential gains.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Humble yourself or the markets willAs a trader, you must approach the market with humility and an understanding that you are at its mercy. And so you need to remember that the market, doesn't know you, doesn't care about you, and doesn't work to reward you. Let’s break that down. The Market Doesn't Know You The financial market (Mr. Market) is a complex and dynamic system that is influenced by a multitude of factors. These factors are beyond our control and are pretty much impossible to predict. As a trader, you need to remember that the market doesn't know you, isn’t out to get you and that your success or failure is not a personal reflection of your worth. The Market Doesn't Care About You It can be tempting to think that the market is out to get us and that every loss is a direct result of our own mistakes. However, the market doesn't care about us as individual. They don’t have some personal vendetta against us. Every trade is simply a result of supply and demand dynamics along with risk, reward and probabilities. We must accept that sometimes the market will work against us, no matter how skilled or experienced we are. The Market Doesn't Work to Reward You There is such high competition with trading. This environment is very high-pressured. It sometimes feels like we are in some race to make as much money as possible. However, it is important to remember that the market doesn't work to reward us. As a trader, you must be humble and understand that success in the markets takes time, patience, and you must be willing to learn from your mistakes. Also need to approach each and every trade with a level-headed and open-minded perspective. Focus on this, and you you’ll make which will help us to make better decisions and increase our chances of success.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Why You Need Humble Pie as a TraderHere's why you need to be a humble trader. REASON #1: Humility is required for losing I’ve mentioned this for the last 20 years. And nothing has changed. We are NOT in the trading game to be right. We are in this process, to follow a proven and winning strategy in order to grow our trading accounts over time. Not in a week, not in a month and not even in a quarter. It is our job to take the trades, bank the medium sized gains and take the small losses along the way. There should be no ego with expecting a trade or a sequence of trades to be right. If you want to be right, go become a lawyer, accountant, swimmer or find another hobby. REASON #2: Humility betters your trading strategy process It can also be tempting to try to change the system. This is where you act on impulse, bank a premature winner or cut a loss quickly. This does nothing to your strategy except turn it into a discretionary, non-tested and a temporary winner in the short term. But in the long run, when the markets rectify and become more favourable your winning, your strategy will stop working. Instead, rather focus on your system, improve on your entries, look for conducive markets and master execution. Your portfolio’s results will then take care of itself. REASON #3: Humility is not trying to avoid drawdowns You need to be humble enough to believe your carefully proven strategy ‘knows’ better than your short-term ‘wise-guy’ ideas. It’s not your job to avoid drawdowns (sequence of losses). It is your job to manage your drawdowns with structured and consistent methods. I have three strategies with drawdowns: 1. Trade your Equity Curve (portfolio) to know when to pause trading 2. Drop the level of risk per trade 3. Look for only high probability trades on other markets REASON 4#: Humility highlights your weaknesses You have to be honest as a trader. You can’t keep thinking you’re best at every aspect of trading. Break down the processes including (Markets allocation, Methods and systems, Money and risk management and Mind and psychology). Then ask yourself… Where am I weak with trading and why? Dig into your personality, traits and preferences. Become vulnerable so you can see the truth where you may be lacking in your success. Here are some thoughts: Do you convince yourself your trades are going to be winners? Do you look for confirmation signals that you don’t need to worry, when your trades move against you? Are you scared your ego will be hurt from taking losses? Are you only looking at a few markets because you’re scared to branch into international markets? Are you feeling old to the point you don’t have time to make slow money as a trader? Find your vulnerabilities, then look for solutions or research on how to improve them. Treat the market with respect and you’ll find the answers you need to win. Final words: Trading is not a race – work on your own time line. Trading might sound like an easy hobby, and it is. But you first need to overcome your demons in order to streamline the process. I tell you this because… You need to be humble as a trader, or the markets will humble you!
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
1 Sentence that will RUIN you as a traderWhat if I told you, it can take one sentence to blow it as a trader. Say it once and you’ll set a ripple effect. Before you know it, you’ve given up and leave the trading journey with pure frustration… Wanna know what this one sentence is? “I’ll take the next trade”. Yep that’s it! When you have a winning trading strategy, with strict entry, risk and exit levels – you are no longer the boss. You are a worker. And your job is to follow your job description or risk losing your job. Think about it… The system works with or without you. And if you follow it, you’ll generate a stable and consistent income. So, it is not your place to decide which trades you feel you want to take or not. Think about your back and forward tested statistics. Do you think there’s a robot that says… “Mmm let’s skip that trade my feelings tell me it’ll be wrong.” No, it records each and every trade one the criteria lines up. Here are some ridiculous examples of where traders don’t take trades. “It’s my birthday and I don’t want to lose money”. “I have banked 5 winning trades and I feel the next trade will be a loser’. “I’m on a losing streak and I don’t feel like taking another loser”. “Oooh I’m not going to take a trade, Elon Musk just tweeted ‘stock trading is over rated'”. And I can go on and on… So why will that one sentence ruin you as a trader? Here it is again: “I’ll take the next trade”. Reason #1: You’ll keep looking for the perfect trade Not only will you choose the trades you take, but you’ll also lose the confidence in the trading system and yourself whenever the next trade lines up. Reason #2: You’ll do it again and again You’ll set a precedent for not following your trading setups in the future. Reason #3: You won’t be able to keep a strong track record You won’t be able to jot down your trades with accuracy in your trading journal. Reason #4: Your emotions will get the better of you You’ll start thinking that you know better and refuse to accept the inevitable losses that come with trading. Remember, nothing in life that is rewarding comes without some degree of risk. By taking every trade your strategy yields, you’ll get to the point where you’ll enter into a long-term state of certainty and confidence with your trading.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1