I'm guessing (from what you've said) that your win/loss ratio is low but your winners are big. You probably have a lot of trades that lose a little or make a little or scratch and then very few of the big runs - but when you hit them they're big. May I ask, what is your average hold time for your winning trades (or at least those that make more than 3 ES points)?
My win/loss ratio never was low, but when i lost , i really lost. But that's over since 1994 ( after a huge loss). I now respect my stoploss . At least 85% of my trades are profitable. Average hold time depends on the trend. If there is a move of 3 hours i stay in three hours, if the move is from opening till close, then i stay in from opening till close. I normally do 1-3 trades a day. I think (but i never calculated ) my average profit per trade is between 3 and 4 points. From all the profits i make i give back between 10 and 15%. My stoploss is always at 2 points.
My worst loss was $4000 trading Globex EUR.The money didn't seem real at the time.(Maybe they'll give it back if I ask nicely)
Interesting that you can't calculate your average profit. It would drive me nuts if I couldn't do that. I have all my trades in an Excel spreadsheet and you can get the average profit in 5 seconds - and tons of other stats - like average time in trades that were more profitable than 3 points - and stuff like that - really quickly and easily with a couple of clicks.
I didn't say i can't calculate it, i never did it because i don't care. I know my system works well, and don't count anymore every day how much i made. I've done that for years, now i turn on my computer when the markets open, i trade and after the closing i close my tradestation. But if you feel the need to calculate, you can calculate 24 hours a day. You can even calculate how rich you can become if you are able to fine tune your system by 0.25 points each trade. It's like driving a Ferrari. When you buy him you get up at night to go watch your beautiful car. You know exactly the top speed, the horsepower etc etc... You get exited each time you drive it. But after 5 years, your Ferrari is just a Ferrari, a car to drive. No exitement anymore. BTW how long you stay in a trade has no statistical use. The trend defines how long i stay in or get out.
Just take one big gamble instead of trading for years... because otherwise if you trade properly it would take years before you have $100.000,-.
For some this is true, for others not. I have a friend who is training to ride on a bike 70 miles with an average speed of 15 miles an hour. After years of training he concluded that it is impossible. You know why? Because HE can't. Does that mean it's impossible?
Comparitively speaking a flea can jump farther than any human an ant is stronger than any human Should I set my goals reachable? (or should I try to evolve)