Does variance mean scatters or is it a precise statistical term? Also, I don't look at market direction when placing the body on single names, just from their own information, like charts.... I have not scaled up, so far only a couple of flies a week.
Update: Two more flies, both losers. Conclusion: It looks more and more like randomness + bull market rather than skills. What next: Unwind all my trading positions and retire from trading. Like a lucky gambler, I should not push my luck any further and should quit while I am ahead. I had a great run starting from 2009 until today. The only negative year was 2011. Investable capitals have gone up so much I don't need any more money. ET has been a great help and I wish all of you the very best.
What makes a good trader good is their ability to stay focused on the trade. It makes sense to take a break when you feel distracted. However, based upon your record, I would say you probably have skill. Where you could improve is by figuring out a way to hedge out underlying beta. For example, butterfly’s pinning expected variance between your single name and a benchmark (or a pair). Another example would be managing your trade to keep it profitable (adjusting a wing, etc.).
Compare the following payoff matrix of a bullish structured iron condor to owning the underlying. The right most % column represents the return on the underlying for a given price. The other numbers represent the estimated return on maximum risk for the iron condor based on price and date: http://opcalc.com/ue9 Notice the leverage, the profit range, and the fact this is a defined risk trade. My guess is you could find a way the make options work for you if you really wanted to. In any event, best wishes to you.