My Goal for 2008: Trading to Trade Well

Discussion in 'Journals' started by datamerc, Jan 1, 2008.

  1. Update for week ended 4/25/2008.

    Busy with work most of the week, but happy with how I felt on the days I got to trade - pretty smooth and willing to get out when not right.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Monday, April 21, 2008	        $68.01	139.0	90.0	5,000	6	0	3
    Tuesday, April 22, 2008	        -$5.96	-12.5	100.0	5,000	4	2	0
    Wednesday, April 23, 2008	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
    Thursday, April 24, 2008	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
    Friday, April 25, 2008	        $3.15	6.4	40.0	5,000	6	2	0
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $65.20	132.9	230.0	-	16	4	3
    
     
    #61     Apr 25, 2008
  2. Update for week ended 5/2/2008.

    I'm happy with the way I acted this week considering it could have been worse. Especially on Wednesday when I did all sorts of things wrong because I just wasn't in the right state of mind - I was adjusting stops without thought, got whipsawed and wouldn't take losses... until the near the end of the session when I redeemed myself and did the right thing by closing all positions so I would have a fresh start the next day.

    Looking back on the last month I think it was about perfect overall. Each day may have had its ups or downs, but on the whole it was a smooth run up and I gave it my best to break (or at least minimize the effects of) some bad habits and am learning to love the losers.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Sunday, April 27, 2008	        $1.56	3.3	40.0	5,000	4	3	0
    Monday, April 28, 2008	        $10.76	21.4	50.0	5,000	9	2	0
    Tuesday, April 29, 2008	        -$20.49	-38.2	85.0	5,000	7	7	1
    Wednesday, April 30, 2008	$3.36	7.0	10.0	5,000	1	0	0
    Thursday, May 01, 2008	        $2.60	5.6	26.0	5,000	3	0	0
    Friday, May 02, 2008	        $9.34	18.2	50.0	5,000	7	1	0
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $7.13	17.3	261.0	-	31	13	1
    
     
    #62     May 2, 2008
  3. Update for week ended 5/9/2008.

    I just couldn't do much right this week in daily life - everything I touched would break and couldn't do even the simplest things properly. It was topped off by having a mustard dispenser spray mustard all over my hand and not my hamburger! :D I wasn't able to keep my regular schedule, so between the two strikes against me, I did the smart thing by staying cautious and just scalped the entire week.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Sunday, May 04, 2008	        $3.66	7.7	40.0	5,000	1	0	0
    Monday, May 05, 2008	        $4.45	10.0	20.0	5,000	5	1	0
    Tuesday, May 06, 2008	        $5.79	12.1	80.0	5,000	1	1	0
    Wednesday, May 07, 2008	        $14.24	28.7	50.0	5,000	9	2	1
    Thursday, May 08, 2008	        $2.59	5.2	25.0	5,000	3	0	0
    Friday, May 09, 2008	        $0.55	1.0	3.0	5,000	1	0	0
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $31.28	64.7	218.0	-	20	4	1
     
    #63     May 9, 2008
  4. Update for week ended 5/16/2008.

    Mentally better this week and Monday felt real good. But for some reason I was never able to get out of bed on schedule - the alarm would go off at 4:00am and I would just fall right back asleep. So I ended up not playing within my schedule and taking trades whenever I had a chance - don't normally like to do this, but I felt obligated to do at least something everyday (luckily that something was in my favor).
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Monday, May 12, 2008	        $14.26	28.8	50.0	5,000	11	0	0
    Tuesday, May 13, 2008	        $0.87	2.0	30.0	5,000	3	1	0
    Wednesday, May 14, 2008	        $28.05	55.7	80.0	5,000	13	2	1
    Thursday, May 15, 2008	        $21.88	45.8	50.0	5,000	4	0	0
    Friday, May 16, 2008	        $9.57	19.8	40.0	5,000	3	0	0
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $74.63	152.1	250.0	-	34	3	1
     
    #64     May 16, 2008
  5. Update for week ended 5/23/2008.

    Little by little I'm trying to improve and sometimes I'm able to quickly notice the changes and issues that have hurt me.

    Over the weekend I began looking at my P/L for the month - and as I've done before, I began thinking about hypothetical profits given a consistent percentage increase over time. And when I've begun that type of thinking, I most certainly begin to screw up (definitely visible in Monday's trades). But I'm happy because I was able to catch myself and recover more quickly than in the past - it is these small steps I get the most excited about.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Monday, May 19, 2008	        -$27.91	-30.4	80.0	8,000	7	6	0
    Tuesday, May 20, 2008	        $51.46	63.3	150.0	8,000	7	0	0
    Wednesday, May 21, 2008	        $8.53	11.0	300.0	8,000	6	3	0
    Thursday, May 22, 2008	        $1.61	2.1	10.0	8,000	1	1	0
    Friday, May 23, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $33.69	46.0	540.0	-	21	10	0
    
     
    #65     May 23, 2008
  6. Update for week ended 5/30/2008.

    The holiday weekend was a nice break and played the days pretty well - took most loses in stride. Want to work on letting positions run closer to target because I've been taking profit a little too early.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Monday, May 26, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-
    Tuesday, May 27, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-
    Wednesday, May 28, 2008	        $39.29	51.4	90.0	8,000	6	0	0
    Thursday, May 29, 2008	        $17.29	21.4	40.0	8,000	7	3	0
    Friday, May 30, 2008	        $6.92	10.3	80.0	8,000	5	3	0
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $63.50	83.1	210.0	-	18	6	0
    
     
    #66     May 30, 2008
  7. sam0182

    sam0182

    Nicely done, looks good.
     
    #67     May 30, 2008
  8. Thank you - I just keep trying to remind myself to improve just a little more in some way each day.
     
    #68     May 30, 2008
  9. Update for week ended 6/6/2008.

    This was an extremely bad week on the mental side. I've gotten very lazy and sloppy - even putting on lotto ticket trades. I've played this game before, so I need to pull out of the mental rut as soon as possible before damage is done. I will do whatever it takes - maybe take time off next week - I'll see how it feels. Most of the profits this week I should attribute to luck - they were ill received. As for why I was so bad this week - I think I've been subconsciously looking for home runs and that is what some of the lotto tickets gave me - sort of like the crack of trading.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Monday, June 02, 2008	        $15.24	19.9	25.0	8,000	2	0	0
    Tuesday, June 03, 2008	        $58.28	76.3	120.0	8,000	10	2	1
    Wednesday, June 04, 2008	$20.23	25.7	90.0	8,000	8	2	0
    Thursday, June 05, 2008	        $20.51	27.2	200.0	8,000	2	1	0
    Friday, June 06, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-						
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $114.26	149.1	435.0	-	22	5	1
    
     
    #69     Jun 6, 2008
  10. Update for week ended 6/13/2008.

    Things sort of snowballed on me this week, in a good way. Each trade and day grew on another and was able to play off S/R area pretty well (especially EUR/JPY). Thought more about my terrible risk/reward last week and found it similar to a person buying $100.00 worth of lotto tickets for a chance to win $25.00 - it just makes no sense and is only gambling to gamble. I am very happy to see myself catch, and then recover faster, from these mistakes and bad habits. Taking today off and looking forward to making one trade at a time next week.
    Code:
    Date	                        P/L	Pips	Range	Size	W	L	S
    Sunday, June 08, 2008	        -$19.28	-26.5	150.0	8,000	0	1	0
    Monday, June 09, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-
    Tuesday, June 10, 2008	        $47.98	63.2	100.0	8,000	4	1	0
    Wednesday, June 11, 2008	$31.82	42.5	15.0	8,000	2	0	0
    Thursday, June 12, 2008	        $63.04	85.3	130.0	8,000	2	0	0
    Friday, June 13, 2008	        -	-	-	-	-	-	-
    ---------------------------
    Total for the week:             $123.56	164.5	395.0	-	8	2	0
    
     
    #70     Jun 13, 2008