Monday, August 12, 2019 / 4:30 p.m. PST
Interestingly enough, I find myself pleased with today’s rather mediocre results for about seven different reasons...
First, I spent most of the last 24-hour market cycle relying on a new indicator I plotted on my charts (what I call a "bias line") that I only later determined was calibrated using faulty parameters. I should do better now that this error was discovered and corrected.
Second, this meant that rather than using the perfected system I thought I was using, in reality, I was still using a system that remained in development. Consequently, I am happy to have simply finished the day without incurring an overall loss!!!
Third, this system is meant to be traded full time. So, the fact that it is still profitable even though it is not being implemented as designed (i.e., is being used improperly) is something I find encouraging.
Fourth, my average loss-trade is often double my average profit-trade, but this should change once I am using the system as designed due to my exiting trades as soon as I see the short-term trend turn against me rather than waiting to be kicked out of positions by the stop loss.
Fifth, opening two dozen positions over the last 24 hours is probably over-trading. Once out of development and once implemented properly, four or five well placed trades during each market cycle will probably be plenty, and is also likely to result in my daily win rate once again climbing above 80% (though I honestly believe 90% + is more probable).
Sixth, because I am not trading full-time, I am missing most ideal entry levels and must also set take-profit targets rather than let my wins run—two factors that will enable me to increase my profit margin and daily success rate if and when I do return to monitoring/managing my open positions.
And finally, 1.8% profit per day compounded over 220 days means I must start out realizing a $1.80 daily return. So even today’s lackluster results are more than double what I have set as my initial goal.