Successful technical traders know that their technical analysis does not make them successful.

It does not take much skill to learn how to read a chart.  In fact, there is plenty of programs that can do that for you.  Technical analysis provides an historical record; it does not predict what will happen.  History is not doomed to repeat itself in the markets.  No, the skill comes in managing what happens next.  The skill comes in managing the luck handed to us, good or bad.

Technical analysis is a tool that when used properly and for the right reasons will aid the trader in managing what happens at the right hand side of the chart, most of which is pure luck.  Once in a trade the trader is 100% dependent on the decisions and news events that follow, none of which is in his or her control.