“Most people think that they’re playing against the market, but the market doesn’t care. You’re really playing against yourself. You have to stop trying to will things to happen in order to prove that you’re right. Listen only to what the market is telling you now. Forget what you thought it was telling you five minutes ago. The sole objective of trading is not to prove you’re right, but to hear the cash register ring.” – Marty Schwartz

The last point includes two very important concepts:

1) Don’t let your ego get in the way of a trade

2) YOU are always responsible for the outcome

First, although a trader needs confidence and trust in his abilities and his method, he has to understand that he cannot control the outcome. The market dictates what is going to happen and a trader’s job is to react accordingly. If you personalize losses and want to will a trade to win, it usually ends in a disaster. Therefore, think process-oriented, realize losses fast and move on to the next trade.

Additionally, blaming outside circumstances or the markets leads to emotional trading and delusional thinking. Although the market dictates what is going to happen, YOU are the one who is making the trading decisions. You are entering and exiting trades and, therefore, you have to understand that over the long term, you are the most important factor of your trading strategy.