• Define my trading plan and stay with it.
• Take no trades without establishing a complete and precise trading plan before the initial trigger.
• Keep an open mind for new market scenarios based on what the price action and pattern setups provide.
• Always trade with the trend.
• The less trading I do, the better my results so for 2012 I’m adoping weekly/monthly time frames
• Once I am in a trade, stick with the original plan for target and stop-loss – Don’t panic!
• Make every trade meet the strategy requirements and what happens from there is up to the market.
• I need to exercise greater patience in both buying and selling.
• Be more willing to take a position, even if it is very small. It is tough though to gain the confidence to do so as the market has been tough.
• I am NOT going to overtrade. I will only make “A” trades.
• Don’t ever force a trade, stay in cash when unsure.
• I resolve not to violate my stops.
• Wait for opportunities instead of looking for trades.
• Do not make a move until your indicators say so.
• Follow this important Gartman rule: “Do more of what is working and less of what is not.”
• To clarify my trading approach in my mind and in writing.
• Be dispassionate and thoroughly objective when evaluating positions.
• Do not be afraid to cut a loss, even if the trade is later re-entered at a higher price / better set-up
• Never trade on impulse.
• To memorize and practice the cardinal rules of trading.
• Only trade when you can pay very close attention or exclusive attention to the market.
• Dedicate more time during non-market hours to prepare for trading.
• Take emotion out of my trading. Follow price action.
• I need to overcome my unreasonable fear of the market.
• Try to avoid personal bias in making decisions.
• Wait for pattern to work out – do not jump the gun.
• Don’t be in such a damn hurry. Wait out the times when the setup is just not there.
• Avoid buy and hold in times of high market volatility.
• Actually ignore the news and trade the charts! It’s harder than it sounds.
• Don’t force the trade. The market will open again tomorrow and there will be new opportunities.
• Don’t turn a trade into an investment. Continue to focus on price action.
• Approach each trading day well-rested, of clear mind, and with a positive, opportunistic attitude just like Kirk

 
Resolutions On Learning:

• Learn to do 1-2 things very well and focus.
• Write the plan for the year ahead. Specify initial position, goals, entrance and exit strategies for action, identify risks to take and manage.
• Study more on the weekends to prepare for the upcoming week.
• I will be more diligent in keeping a journal of EVERY trade made in the year.
• Quit searching for the holy grail of trading – there is none.
• Turn off CNBC and all other distractions in the way of my success
• I will keep good records and document all of my research, trades, and outcomes.
• Use the right side of my brain and be careful of the left.
• Do not blindly follow anyone else.
• Accept failure and move on.
• Methodically analyze what went right and wrong on each trade.
• Spend more time nightly looking at charts.
• Learn 10 new chart patterns this year and trade only setups identified by those patterns.
• Apply a consistent decision tree toward every single trade.
• Tune out the noise. No calls during the day. No more “experts”, no more TV and definitely, absolutely and without a smidge of doubt no more twitter.
• Transition from paper trading to live trading.
• Need to read more charts and read less newspapers.
• Assess my strengths and what is working well for me and determine how I can improve. Also, assess what does not add value and eliminate it.
• Stay with low risk, probability based methods.
• Every trade I take requires a one page description of why, how, and at what levels I intend to take action.
• Paper trade new ideas before putting real money at risk.
• Study and read more, establish a trading plan, follow the plan, experiment, re-evaluate and keep learning.
• I resolve to improve myself by: managing my emotions better, become more patient and understanding, define my goals more completely, and constantly review my efforts to these accords.
• My resolution would be to trade/invest during all market conditions. Emotion still has some control over my investments.
• Work on consistency!! (more…)