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CHANGE IS ESSENTIAL

The stock market, just like life, can change on a dime.  In the market, just as in life, we must learn to adapt to change.  What separates the great trader from the rest of the crowd is his or her ability to change based on current market conditions.  In other words, NO EGO ALLOWED.  Mark Douglas, in his first book entitled The Disciplined Trader writes,

“There must be a difference between these two types of traders-the small majority of winners and the vast majority of losers who want to know what the winners know. The difference is that the traders who can make money consistently on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis approach trading from the perspective of a mental discipline.  When asked for their secrets of success, they categorically state that they didn’t achieve any measure of consistency in accumulating wealth from trading until they learned self-discipline, emotional control, and the ability to change their minds to flow with the markets.”

We trade the current market conditions as they unfold with a plan to trade one way or the other.  To do otherwise would be to fight an undefeated foe.

Traits of a Successful Trader

We urge you to use this checklist for your own trading and investing preparation.  We truly feel that these traits are very important for you to understand.  These trader traits coupled with the proper psychology can make a huge positive difference in your overall trading performance.     

•  The ability to act on your decisions.

•  The ability to accept responsibility for your actions.

•  You must have emotional detachment from the markets.

•  The ability to accept risk and take losses (you’ll never be right 100% of the time). (more…)

How to recognise self sabotage in your trading

Self-sabotage occurs in trading in many instances:

1) When you know you should follow the ten tasks of trading, but you don’t.
2) When you know you need to determine if your system will really work, but you just trade it anyway.
3) When you know you should develop a business plan for your trading, but somehow that just seems like too much work.
4) When you know you need to put a stop loss order in on a trade, but you don’t.

Hmm, guilty as charged. 

I have yet to hear anyone say, “I don’t make money picking stocks – I make money by cutting my losses short and letting my profits run. And more importantly, I meet my investment objectives through the judicious use of position sizing.”So, less focus on the system – more focus on self and self discipline.

15 Points for Traders

1. Anger over a losing trade – Traders usually feel as if they are victims of the market. This is usually because they either 1) care too much about the trade and/or 2) have unrealistic expectations. They seek approval from the markets, something the markets cannot provide.
2. Trading too much – Traders that do this have some personal need to “conquer” the market. The sole motivation here is greed and about “getting even” with the market. It is impossible to get “even” with the market. Trading too much is also indicative of a lack of discipline and ignoring set rules. This is emotionally-driven.
3. Trading the wrong size – Traders ignore or don’t recognize the risk of each trade or do not understand money management. There is no personal responsibility here. Typically, aggressive position sizes are used, however if risk is not contained, then it could spiral out of control. Usually, this issue comes from traders wanting to make a huge killing. Maybe they do win, but the point is that a bad habit emerges if a trader repeats this behavior.
4. PMSing after the day is over – Traders are on a wild emotional roller coaster that is fueled by a plethora of emotions ranging throughout the spectrum. Focus is taken off of the process and is placed too heavily on the money. These people are very irritable akin to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (something I wouldn’t know about personally).
5. Using money you can’t afford to lose – Usually, a trader is pinning his/her last hopes to make money. Traders fear “losing” the “last best opportunity”. Self-discipline is quickly forgotten but the power of greed drives them, usually over a cliff. Here, the rewards are given more attention and overall personal financial risk is ignored.
6. Wishing, hoping, or praying – Do this in church, but leave this out of the market. Traders do not take control of their trades and cannot accept the present reality of what’s happening in the market.
7. Getting high after a huge win – These traders tie their self-worth to their success in the markets or by the value of their account. Usually, these folks have an unrealistic feeling of being “in control” of the markets. A huge loss usually sobers them up pretty quickly. It’s important to maintain emotional restraint after wins, just as you would for losses.
8. Adding to a losing position – Also known as doubling, tripling, quadrupling down, typically, this means that the trader does not want to admit the trade is wrong. The trader’s ego is at stake and #6 comes into effect as the trader is hoping the markets will “work in their favor”. If you are wrong, you have a near 0% chance of making a full recovery. (more…)

The 'Self-Factors' of Successful traders

  •  – Knowledge of oneself and how one acts and behaves in situations and environments.
  • Self-Belief; – Self-Confidence – assuredness in one’s actions, judgments and abilities.
  • Self-Trust; -The ability to have faith in oneself under duress and pressure.
  • Self-Reliance; – Ability to depend on one’s own capabilities, judgment, and resources , and acceptance that nobody else is responsible for profits and losses.
  • Self-discipline; – A structured approach that keeps a person focused and grounded against negative forces and pressures.
  • Self-Control; – Is the ability of exert mind muscle and will-power to overcome the negative effects which can so easily distract and distort perceptions and judgments.
  • Self-Motivation; – Describes the initiative to undertake risks and activities when the mood and environment have been counterproductive.
  • Self-Esteem; – High regard, respect or value for one’s self, but not to the level of being conceited, or having an over-inflated opinion of their worth.
  • Self-efficacy; – Belief in one’s own competency and ability.

In summary, successful traders take responsibility for their own actions, but rarely beat themselves up. – If I was to sum it up succinctly, they know themselves, they like themselves, they believe in themselves, and above all – ‘they are comfortable in their own skin’.  (more…)

The Secret

FireWalkWhat’s the secret of successful traders and how did they make the transition from clueless learner to consistent pro?When the same tools are available to anyone, why do some people out perform others?

 

The successful traders have discovered The Secret.

 

It is not the latest indicator, program or hot tipster. It is something that everyone has inside them already.

 

The Secret is believing in your method and trading it. Believing to the point of having it ingrained into your brain so that it becomes as automatic as breathing. If the charts do this, then I will do that. Trading your plan means cutting losers, riding winners, managing money and risk well. When you arrive at the point of realizing that your self-discipline can only get you so far and that the next step should be reflex trading then you will have found The Secret.

 

Having to exercise self- discipline to me means that there is still something inside you that you must fight to control. If emotions are still in control of your trading then you must find a way to turn that fear and greed into a move productive energy. Trading your method as a reflex means that there is no struggle to control wayward thoughts. (more…)

FEAR

Fear has a way of making us focus on unfavorable headlines and price action. Fear impacts our ability to evaluate alternatives as it clouds objectivity. Fear is why profits are taken too quickly. Fear is a four letter word that comes in many flavors.

Fear of losing: Nobody wants to lose—doesn’t matter if it’s a spelling bee in the 5th grade or a newly entered long position in a stock that just broke through resistance. Losing sucks. Losing reminds us that perhaps we aren’t as good as we thought (hoped).

Fear of being wrong: Remember that time you blurted out the wrong answer and everyone laughed? Still sticks with you after all these years and screws with your mind. That new short position you just took is about to get squeezed—or at least that’s the thought running through your mind, right?

Fear of missing out: This is where we can really let our imperfections shine as we buy at the top and sell at the bottom. But hey, we didn’t miss out on the action!  Succumbing to the fear of missing a potential move and jumping in mid-stream trumps any good trading plan or preparation. This is a lack of self-discipline and causes much of the psychological damage seen in the markets.

Fear impedes our ability to be creative. Fear suffocates, debilitates, and causes many to wonder “what if…” rather than “why not…” Hope is used as a remedy by the fearful, but often gets smashed and is soon replaced with self-help books, talk therapy and medication.

Courage is what’s needed—the courage to fail.  With proper planning, risk can be managed and success can be found. Having the courage to step off the curb lends itself nicely to creating who you are as a market participant. Define your risk, adhere to your trading plan and fear becomes a fleeting thought rather than a debilitating one.

It’s OK to lose.  Just make sure that it’s within your defined risk/reward and move on.

It’s OK to be wrong. What’s not OK is to be stubborn and stick with a losing
position.

It’s OK to miss out. There are thousands of other names out there, find your trade.

If you want to become a better trader you need to realize that fear cannot be eliminated. It can, however, be used as an edge in your market participation. For me, one of my favorite times to sell premium is after a large, quick move—puts for fear and calls for greed.

“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” ~ Bertrand Russell

Bernard Baruch: 10 Rules of Investing

“Being so skeptical about the usefulness of advice, I have been reluctant to lay down any ‘rules’ or guidelines on how to invest or speculate wisely. Still, there are a number of things I have learned from my own experience which might be worth listing for those who are able to muster the necessary self-discipline:

 
1. Don’t speculate unless you can make it a full-time job.
2. Beware of barbers, beauticians, waiters — of anyone — bringing gifts of “inside” information or “tips.”
3. Before you buy a security, find out everything you can about the company, its management and competitors, its earnings and possibilities for growth.
4. Don’t try to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. This can’t be done — except by liars.
5. Learn how to take your losses quickly and cleanly. Don’t expect to be right all the time. If you have made a mistake, cut your losses as quickly as possible.
6. Don’t buy too many different securities. Better have only a few investments which can be watched.
7. Make a periodic reappraisal of all your investments to see whether changing developments have altered their prospects.
8. Study your tax position to know when you can sell to greatest advantage.
9. Always keep a good part of your capital in a cash reserve. Never invest all your funds.
10. Don’t try to be a jack of all investments. Stick to the field you know best.

16 Goals

Kansas State University’s Bill Snyder’s 16 goals:
Commitment–to common goals and to being successful
Unselfishness–there is no “I” in team.
Unity–Come together as never before.
Improve–everyday…as a player, person, and student
Be tough–mentally and physically.
Self Discipline–do it right, and don’t accept less.
Great Effort
Enthusiasm
Eliminate Mistakes–don’t beat yourself.
Never Give Up
Don’t Accept Losing–if you do so one time, it will be easy to do so for the rest of your life.
No Self-Limitations–expect more of yourself.
Expect to Win–and truly believe we will.
Consistency–your very, very best every time.
Leadership–everyone can set the example.
Responsibility–you are responsible for your own performance.

Personality Traits

16780The research of Costa and McCrae suggests that personality traits fall into five broad categories, with each category displaying a number of facets. Their NEO-PI personality trait inventory labels these categories and facets as follows:

* Neuroticism – Anxiety, Angry Hostility, Depression, Self-Consciousness, Impulsiveness, and Vulnerability;

* Extraversion – Warmth, Gregariousness, Assertiveness, Activity, Excitement-Seeking, Positive Emotions;

* Openness – Fantasy, Aesthetics, Feelings, Actions, Ideas, Values;

* Agreeableness – Trust, Straightforwardness, Altruism, Compliance, Modesty, and Tender-Mindedness;

* Conscientiousness – Competence, Order, Dutifulness, Achievement Striving, Self-Discipline, and Deliberation.