1) Diversify: If you have a pattern you trade successfully, you don’t have to grow your size. Instead, look to diversify to a different pattern (different market, different time frame) not correlated with the first. You’ll smooth out your returns, as one pattern makes money while the other experiences drawdown. You’ll also achieve the portfolio manager’s goal of superior return for less risk exposure.
2) Review Entries: Review your trades for the week and see how much heat you took on your winners. This will give you an idea of how good your entries are.
3) Review Exits: Review your trades for the week and see if the market went in your favor or against you after you exited. This will give you an idea of how good your exits are.
4) Work Orders: Get into the habit of working orders to buy at bid, sell at offer or to place orders between the bid and offer to avoid paying a price that is out of line with “fair value”. For the frequent trader, the single tick saved by good execution adds up over time.
The successful traders I’ve worked with never stop working on themselves. This is equally true of successful athletes, musicians, and chess champions. Small, steady improvements can create massively greater performance over time.