Last Pieces of the Puzzle Journal

Discussion in 'Journals' started by ps0013, Oct 5, 2008.

  1. ps0013

    ps0013

    I am a great trader. I thought I would take a moment to pat myself on the back. As I look at the worksheet that I keep over the last 4 months I have most of my days highlighted green. And although I've had some big drawdowns during this time I have been able to build the account in a very consistent manner.

    MON -($396.50)
    TUE -($1,425.27)
    WED -($487.92)
    THUR +$30.16
    FRI -($1,133.65)

    WEEK TOTAL = -($3,413.18)
    That was my trading results for the week of Sept 24th - 28th 2007.

    I wanted to show you my results for this same week of November last year but Sept 28th, 2007 was the end of my account (KABOOM) until Nov 13th. Another deposit. November 28th, 2007 (KABOOM) Then no trading until Dec 31st. One more (KABOOM) in 2008.

    So, if you've read this far down you may be able to tell that the 1st sentence of this post is really bullshit. but I'm working on it.

    NOW-FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PAY EXTRA HERE ARE THE "REAL TIME" RESULTS:

    FRI. +$435.85 net
    9:43 am

    Week Total: $2,700.75 net

    Have a great weekend fellow warriors.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u05Qot_yh9c
     
    #31     Nov 14, 2008
  2. ps0013

    ps0013

    Builder, thanks. Sorry to hear about a couple of bad months for you. I'm sure that if you have a passion for this you will do the right thing and find a way to rebound.
     
    #32     Nov 15, 2008
  3. ps0013

    ps0013

    Posting early because I had a bad morning and I want to move on, get ready for Tuesday. I was above my goal of +1point = $400 twice today, but was gready for what ? $50 more, then my positions dropped, dropped, dropped, and I added pore positions and more size than I wanted, and hit my stop.
    -(around $2,200)
    I'll post exact net on Tuesday.
     
    #33     Nov 17, 2008
  4. ps0013

    ps0013

    I think one of the main differences between having a losing day now or having one 6 months ago, or much further back, is that now I do not lose my confidence. Before I thought I could trade. Now I know I can, I just have to keep on the plan.
    It really sucked Monday, spending the whole day & night after getting closed out for the day, knowing that :
    1) I was above my goal for the day twice +1 point or $400 and didn’t lock it in
    2) I went from a +$400 gain to a –($2,200) loss or a –($2,600) swing.

    Today my game plan was tight once again.
    ANR +1.04 @ 400 shares = $417.
    HPQ closed at 0 +/- @ 400 shares = $0

    +$403.28 net
    Total time = 4 minutes
     
    #34     Nov 18, 2008
  5. ps0013

    ps0013

    Not much of anything today. I’m happy I did not hesitate to close my trades when I hit my daily goal of +1.00 point = $400
    When my account size reaches lofty numbers I will stay in the game and “play” a little, but now it is all about the daily goal.

    FDS +.73 @ 400 shares = $292.
    PKX +.03 @ 400 shares = $12.
    SJM +.30 @ 400 shares = $119.

    +$402.64 net
    Total time = 9 minutes
    :cool: too much exposure can be harmful...
     
    #35     Nov 19, 2008
  6. ps0013

    ps0013

    I haven’t posted in about a week…I was stuck in the washing machine on the “spin” cycle.

    I had been going about a good 10 days of meeting my daily goal before I would fade away from “very strict” discipline and have a loss. I had been able to regroup the next day and proceed. But these last 5 days had me fall a few times before I was able to crawl out 2 days ago.

    On 11/20 I made a number of mistakes. First, I raised my share size from 400 to 500, but did not raise my loss accordingly. I had my daily loss set at 5x my share size, but now it was set to 4x. Secondly, I opened too many positions, and hit my daily loss of -($2,000) very quickly. Thirdly, I called and had my stop pushed out to –($3,500) for the day, and being the screw up that I can be at times I hit that too –($4,015.06) net

    11/21 Back on track +$504.23 net

    11/24 Too many positions, but I did drop my share size back down to 400, so my stop was correctly adjusted –($2,061) net TOO MANY POSITIONS AT ONCE!
    I spent at lot of time racking my brain Monday night, contemplating changing my money management, writing on napkins while I was driving home, churning thoughts over and over, trying different formulas on my Excel worksheets, churning, churning…I finally went in circles long enough that I got dizzy, fell over and realized that I have actually been doing really good, but I just have to stick to the plan (as I have stated in this journal, as every trader knows and every trading book will tell you…discipline & money management!!

    11/25 I was back on track, hit my daily goal = +1. point [$400] Later that day a placed a few small trades (100 shares) made a little money…then I saw an opportunity and decided I would risk my gain of the day and have a very tight stop…I went in for 4000 shares and after a half hour of little to no movement I exited with a .50 gain=$2000
    +$2,583.20 net

    11/26 +$562.82 I hit my goal today. In my large trade on 11/25 I stayed in the trade a little too long and gave some of that gain back. Today I was out too early. I pulled +1.43 out of RTP, but if I stayed I could have made +7 more points. Does that make me any smarter? I think not +$562.82 net

    turn up the volume...happy turkey day.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFMuz2zx6-E
     
    #36     Nov 26, 2008
  7. ps0013

    ps0013

    The short trading day always scares me. I fear getting into a losing trade and there not being enough time to work itself out…

    For the first time ever I have posted back-to-back ++$$ months, although just barely. If I didn’t have a few stupid moments the account would be in much better shape. I think about how many months(=years) that I have traded and the fact that I have never put 2 good months back-to-back is surprising and a bit disappointing, and a smack to my ego. Having 2 good months at all is actually been so difficult that I am hopeful that the learning curve is now going in the right direction.

    11/28
    FRO 400 SHARES @ +.60 = +$238.00
    MYGN 400 SHARES @ +.22 = +$88.00
    RIMM 400 SHARES @ +.08 = +$32.00
    SPWRA 400 SHARES @ +.10 = +$41.36
    SRCL 400 SHARES @ +.18 = +$71.60
    TEVA 400 SHARES @ +.08 = +$32.00
    TOT 400 SHARES @ +.12 = +$46.00

    +$507.92 net
     
    #37     Nov 28, 2008
  8. Good job, dude! Keep it up! :D
     
    #38     Nov 28, 2008
    ps0013 likes this.
  9. ps0013

    ps0013

    Thanks Angry, all comments are welcome here…especially nice ones.

    Today started off OK. I was more-or-less green from my first trade. I was teetering around my goal, which is currently trying for +1.0 point on 400 shares = $400. My unrealized profit was going from above $400 to below, above, below. I tried closing as it was above, but closed out at +$388. I thought I would make a quick $20 and be done. (10:16 a.m.)

    Well, I hit a snag…FLS fought with me for a good portion of the day, as I traded other positions. At one point I was down about –($700). But, I stuck to it and ended.
    (1:40 p.m.)

    +$471.22 net

    BBL +102
    DEO +31
    DVN +334
    EOG +194
    FLS --1,374
    FMC +112
    FSLR +1252.45
    GS +95
    HES –343
    NBL –121
    PRU +35
    PX –40
    ROH +76
    RYAAY –15
    SINA +6.40
    SLB +60
    URS +244
     
    #39     Dec 1, 2008
  10. ps0013

    ps0013

    A pretty smooth day.

    TOT 400 shares @ +.48 = +$192.00
    TS 400 shares @ +.60 = +$239.00
    UBB 400 shares @ +.19 = +$74.00

    +$489.60 net

    (9:50 a.m.) east coast
     
    #40     Dec 2, 2008