Something to ponder from what we drill into the heads of our newer people. Although I appreciate the Rugby example, for Rugby, quite the opposite is true in the case of the markets, IMO.
When I first started on the trading floor, I too wanted to "beat" the other guys, show them that I am as tough or as good as they were....didn't work too well, LOL.
After a while, I thought "hey, maybe if I try to follow the lead of the best traders in the pit, or even the very best exisiting trader, I could do much better." Well, that's what I did, and it worked so much better.
We teach to trade "with" the real experienced traders (MM's, Specialists, CME guys (for direction), etc.). Trade "with" the market, don't try to "beat" the market, simply because no one will ever really "beat" the markets. Extracting money, earning a good living, is not "beating" anything or anyone, it's simply understanding how market mechanics work, and being an active participant.
When all is said and done, all we as traders can do is to provide liquidity to others, and seek out and correct disparities.
Trading is simple, trading psychology is not. But first you need to know "what" to do, and "how" to do it. Sounds trite, but reverberates throughout the industry. Gambling is simple too, winning is not....you have to read books, practice card counting, not just dive right in to the wrong game(s).
Learn as much as you can about what longer term professionals are doing, and do your best to replicate their techniques and strategies...but be sure that you're attempting something that fits your personality as well, not just theirs. A serious, calculating guy shouldn't try to "ride the wave" of an intuitive trader, and vice-versa.
And
don't over-complicate trading, it's not complicated.
Again, FWIW...
Don
