I agree with gnome, goal setting should entail controlling your behavior not attempting to control the market for a set specified gain. BTW: Only losers think they can control market action.
Dude, how do you expect to average 1pt per day if you bail after making only 1pt? (You know, you do get losses, every now and then, don't you?) OldTrader asked you this but you didn't even address it.
O ⦠Come on guys, it was weekend and my goal was to have some fun. I did not mean to kill this thread⦠Ps.my goal is to make 20 pips average per day ,trading EUR-USD in my 6 hours of trading that is 6 AM to noon ,so far I donât even make half of thatâ¦
The magic show is one of the funniest things I've seen in years. Laughed like a hyena. As regards making 1pt /day Flashboy's spreadsheet demonstrating how much money that can be after six months of weekly compounding also made my eyes water, but for rather different reasons. If you have difficulty holding a small number of contracts for more than a few ticks, so limiting your profits, you have two ways of out of the hole. To solve the problem in its own terms would be to go on trading small size and actually succeed in holding for more than a few ticks. The alternative of trading 29 contracts (which is where Flash gets to by the end of the spreadsheet) assumes that one and the same trader is hair-trigger sensitive to movement, but completely impervious to the psychological effects of leverage. Seems to me that the 1pt/day aspiration leads to new and greater dangers than the original problem (folding when you should be holding). As others have said, better to concentrate on the controllable aspects of your own behaviour than create a plan which assumes you can extract a controllable amount of movement from the market.
Thanks growltiger My trading is fine until I start to try to fallow the daily pattern like this guy below I can only dream about it...
The goals we set often dictate our motivation level. In his book, "The Mentally Tough Online Trader," Robert Koppel (2000) argues, "Setting goals is imperative for the trader to enhance motivation and optimize performance. Goals should be realistic and measurable, within one's control, and realized within a specific time frame." Setting high-level goals is the hallmark of success, but on the other hand, if you set your sights too high, you will often end up failing. And repeated failure can damage your ego to the point that you just want to give up. The trick to setting goals is to find the right balance between being unrealistically ambitious and being too modest. In setting goals, it's important for your emotional well being to hold realistic expectations. For example, many novice traders try to turn a small stake into a huge fortune, and end up feeling frustrated. Trading an insufficiently funded account can't possibly cover drawdowns or fees and commissions. Novice traders also trade beyond their skill level. They may use unreliable trading strategies and expect to make a profit even as new market conditions make their methods obsolete. It's difficult to achieve unrealistic goals. It creates a great deal of stress, which itself can produce trading errors. Setting more realistic expectations eases some of the pressure and helps you build up sound trading skills. As you achieve each goal, you feel a sense of satisfaction. You feel empowered and ready to achieve your next goal. Many novice traders also underestimate how long it takes to achieve sustained profitability. For example, they assume they can trade profitably in a matter of months, whereas seasoned traders emphasize that such consistently profitable trading may take several years. And it's hard to achieve. It requires a heroic effort, yet many novice traders think only minimal effort is needed. For example, they may think they can trade profitably by treating trading as a hobby rather than as a serious business. They over-estimate their ability level. They overconfidently think that they have skills and abilities that they do not yet have. Don't ever underestimate the tendency to be overconfident. It is crucial to conquer the tendency to trade beyond your skill level by cultivating a sense of healthy skepticism regarding your trading skills and your trading strategies. Be realistic about what you can actually achieve. In addition to setting realistic goals, it's also important to set specific goals. Many people make the mistake of setting vague, non-specific goals. It is useful to set specific goals and reward yourself as you make progress. Goals don't necessarily need to focus on profits. You may want to initially set goals regarding the development of skills. You can decide to study charts for three hours a day, or read one new trading book a week. As you complete each goal, you'll naturally feel a sense of satisfaction for your progress. As you develop your skills, you can gradually reach for higher and higher goals. Your progress may be slow at first, but over time, you'll make significant progress. The key is to avoid trying to do too much. Take it slow. Work at your own speed and according to your own timeline. Don't make it a race. The only person you need to please is you. If you set goals realistically and strive to achieve them with resolution, you'll master the markets, and achieve enduring financial success.
I agree with the setting of unrealistic goals can only lead to dissappointment and frustration. And in that spreadsheet I posted I show the weekly steps of moving a $5,000 account into a $163,000 account in just 7 months time. Now that does seem very unrealistic to make such a huge return. But when you break it down like I did to show that it would only take 1 pt. in the Mini Russell a day ( or 2 pts. in the ES) it doesn't seem all too unachievable.. in my eyes anyway.. It shows you what huge opportunities are available in the market.. Now of course like someone pointed out in this thread.. trading 3 contracts at the beginning is one thing but when you get to the 5th & 6th month and trading 20 or more contracts, the psyhological pressure most likely will become much much tougher. I hope I am able to find out one day and post it here.. Good Luck everyone.