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@Handle123 those are good points. thank you! Interesting to read this, after my strategy today was to go for smaller gains. This has been something I have been mulling over.... less risk, smaller gains... aggressive stop placement to reduce risk.

Day #5 - Slept well, but yesterday and this morning I had a slight struggle with whether I should trade or not. I overcame that, realizing that it is how I act after a setback that is important, and if I was my boss, I would be sending me back in to trade. But, I also knew that seeing how I was...

Tonight sucked to read the truth, but if I am going to be transparent and improve then I have got to be willing to see the blind spots and accept the truth. Talked with my girlfriend, and explained about my trading time being so important for focus. She all ready knew that, and that lead to a...

@jas_in_hbca , @Redneck , @wrbtrader First, thank you all for your comments! They really are invaluable, and will be read over many times. You are all correct, and I need to step up and take this more seriously then I was. (There is no room for error like that) In review, I think part of the...

Day #4 - This is post I hate to write. Today, or specifically last night, I was a very unprofessional trader. Taught me a good lesson though... I was relaxing, enjoying the evening, and drinking a beer when I noticed on my cell phone that oil had shoot significantly higher....and then...

Wanted to document today's trading stats... Jan 07.

Day #3 - Woke up feeling good about the day, and ready to try the experiment of static stops and take profits. OMG, was it painful!! I saw at least three trades go 20 to 30 ticks in my favor, and very close to my take profit, only to see them reverse and stop me out fully. The worst was...

I ran the numbers from Day #2 (today) and had I not adjusted my stops on those last three trades I would have washed out with an extra 46 ticks. This would have netted my day out with about $640 after commissions rather than $21. Significant. Had a good talk with my psych coach. Settled on a...

Day #2 - Still have family visiting, but was able to dedicate the morning to active trading. Started the day holding back about getting into a trade. (Actually felt like that all day) and my first trade I took, I scratched it at breakeven... mainly cause my brain was just crazy tense as soon as...

Day #1 - Today, January 5th was the day I planned to start trading the combine. However, my parents are down visiting and then last night my youngest son got quite sick and was up coughing most of the night and interrupting my sleep. So today I had a decision to make, and it was one I...

This is the continuation of the journal from last year, where my focus was on stepping up and trading OPM (Other People's Money), and in this case I am trying out in a continuous 50K combine with TopStepTrader. I past my second combine attempt last year, and then ran into issues that...

WOW! Ok @Redneck wherever you are living... I think its time for me to fly in and buy you a beer, or at least some shots of moonshine.

Looking forward to it. Best of luck. Very feasible with the right methodology and if we get market swings like last year.

@Redneck and @Handle123 taking this a step further, I think I will try drinking beer tonight left handed... all night... while watching the UFC. o_O @Redneck regarding your change from my #4 "Thinking positively" to you recommending "thinking neutrally", would you mind expanding on why you...

Now that is interesting... thanks for sharing @Handle123 I noticed a difference in buying a mouse pad with gel support... hand felt much more relaxed and it was easier to move around the screen. I'll have to try switching hands... maybe FOMC days. lol

@NoDoji thanks for rephrasing that for me, and the book recommendation. It is in stock, and ironically I will purchase it today with some Christmas "gift" money from my parents. :) 2015 is my year, and I am ready to do the work.

@Redneck this is a good exercise, so here goes... Thinking like a professional trader thinking in probabilities thinking in logic, "if this... then that" thinking about what I am feeling throughout the day, and how it affects my trading thinking positive Believing in myself Staying open...

"If I want to be a professional trader, then I better start thinking and acting like one."

@Redneck Not out of line at all... just being very generous. Thanks for taking the time to share. Wish I could buy you a beer or three at my favorite pub on the island here. I am sure I will read your post several times, and reflect on it. I know change is possible... how much do I need to...

I hate hearing that stupid statistic that 90% of traders fail. That is only valid if you make the definition of trader to be so low, that anyone who tries to buy or sell in the financial markets is now a "trader". That is like saying anyone who gives any type of first aid, including bandages...