Play to win, not for a score. Traders who desire only to make money versus simply trying to trade well and their best ability will struggle. This is a money-focused game, but trading well requires you to focus on goals beyond the money to achieve the performance you really desire.
Recognize a real gamble. When you are trading well, take the possibility of a major loss out of the equation whenever you can. It is true, when we are the most vulnerable is when everything is going right and it seems like we can do no wrong. Moreover, there are times to make the big aggressive trade, and times when doing so is foolhardy. Recognizing the difference is so very important.
Root hard for yourself. When everything goes wrong, the quickest way to turn it around is to force yourself to be optimistic and enthusiastic. Even after making the so-so trades which only pay out puny returns, you’ve got to pat yourself on the back and slowly gain your confidence back. confidence is everything in trading and you need a steady supply of reassuring confidence to trade at your very best.
Forget the holes up ahead. Focus on today’s trade, not the next one or the one you think you see is falling into place weeks from now. As Hunter recommends, “You really have to stay in the present.” Traders often let big picture themes and views prevent them from seeing setups that occur daily. This tunnel vision can really limit overall returns. Find the next trade, focus on that trade, and after that, move to the next. Don’t let issues you see so far down the road prevent you from making profits today.
The right way to play safe. If you play chicken, you’ll invite bad trades and disaster. As others have said, you’ve always got to trade to win, instead of trading not to lose. There’s a tremendous difference. I know traders who try to hedge every trade they make and ultimately don’t achieve the returns they should. If your approach is sound, hedging should only be a tool to use sparingly, not as an entire strategy substitute or for protecting your ego when you are wrong.