Most traders lose because their trades are indistinguishable from the trades affected by coin toss. This is probably the most important analysis you will ever read. It certainly changed my way of looking at trading. If you cannot prove that your trading offers a substantial edge over coin toss then commission and slippage will drive you broke. Most traders find out the truth when it is too late.
I am no shame of this because English is not my first language. Shame on you to post fake fact in intenet, try to promote fake dream (aka day trading) to newbie. This is no different than trying to promote gambling in Internet.
Agree it is a very small edge. I don't measure % commission and profits and stop locations vary on the trade.
Bingo, Tim Smith just summed it up right here.... IMO 90% of trading is treading water and being in the right mindset to crush the 5-10 trades a month that will make your entire month. If you overtrade, and force things you arent in the right mindset to take advantage of the good ones, you get beaten up too many times chasing shit and you dont wanna really hammer the good ones. Profitable trading is about grinding, pissing away money on mediocre trades not only bleed your account but they put you in the wrong frame of mind.