How expectations will destroy you.

How expectations will destroy you.:

In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed. – Charles de Montesquieu

That great quote came across my twitter feed from @PhilosophersSay via @eminiplayer.  It best sums up expectation and is extremely useful in trading.  The most simple thing I can say about expectations in trading is that at first you should have low expectations and than accelerate them.
It is easy to see others around you that are successful and just see two points.  Where you are and where they are.  It is easy to miss or skip what took place between.  Everyone would rather fly from New York to LA than drive.  If you look at trading as driving that distance chances are you are not going to have the time, money, or patience to do it. However, you have to get in a car to get to the airport.  How long that drive is ultimately up to you.
Getting off on the right foot.
Many traders get in the car not knowing where they are going.  Some of the time it leads them to the airport.  Most of the time it leads them in the complete opposite direction.  The do not know what they do not know. Chances are during this period they have had enough moments of success to keep them going. That amount of time, energy, and money was used to find out what they do not know.  Only they did not realize that or refuse to realize that.
Now what?
It is time to own your mistakes.  You can tell by the money and time that you burnt up that you made a mistake. If you try to make it all back at the wrong moments than the hole will get bigger.  This time you paid to learn what you already know.  Insert definition of insanity here.  Doing the same thing expecting different results.  Once again, you are at the cross roads and once again it is up to you.

• Own your mistakes
• Learn from them
• Make them cost you less
• Divide and conquer your losses

Moving on.

If you are still making the same mistakes and not making progress read the above paragraph. If not, chances are you are starting to make progress.  You are seeing things better, making better decisions.  You are starting to take more from them than they are taking from you.  This is when trading starts to get fun again.  But it comes with great responsibility.  You now know what is possible.  You have a choice.  You can go back to the beginning or start building on your success.   Now there are no excuses.  You can either do it or not.

• Don’t let up
• Accept the responsibility to yourself
• Don’t let yourself fall into the traps from earlier in your career

Keep doing it.

The difference between a professional and retail trader is the duration and frequency they spend in the stages or if they ever get to next stage.  Every day I have the ability to trade like it is my first day.  I have proven that many times before.  So I come in at stage one everyday and work my way through them.  Each day spending  only as much time is needed. But always starting at the first.
Conclusion.
I get in the car each day.  The expectation starts low and explodes depending on how well I follow my process and rules.  Same should be true with your trading career.  The same things happen over and over again what you do with them in trading and life makes all the difference.
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