It seems that we are debating what "edge" is defined as and I think the OP just wants to know how long did it take to become profitable.
Assuming that definition,... it has taken me 3 1/2 years to be profitable. I studied charts for 8-9 hrs/day for most days of the years. I studied everything I could get my hands on and always tested my newest startegies using real money in a small account I could afford to lose. I am a firm believer that you should examine a strategy in old charts as some form of back testing but that you must try it in forward testing for a while. Essentially you need to get behind the wheel to learn to drive. Just theorizing/simualting it will not get you far....you must have money in the trade to know how you would react when the ticks start going against you. Review your system at least monthly and evaluate every trades. Do more of what is working and less of what is not working. In time you will become profitable.
The last thing I will say is that I learned everything I could about trading until it is now quite simple in my thoughts and all those minutia details I looked at before are now boiled down to a few key things I look at to keep it simple. So dont be afraid to get into the little details on a chart because with clearer understanding you can eventually achieve simplification and efficiency.
At least that's what's worked for me.
Assuming that definition,... it has taken me 3 1/2 years to be profitable. I studied charts for 8-9 hrs/day for most days of the years. I studied everything I could get my hands on and always tested my newest startegies using real money in a small account I could afford to lose. I am a firm believer that you should examine a strategy in old charts as some form of back testing but that you must try it in forward testing for a while. Essentially you need to get behind the wheel to learn to drive. Just theorizing/simualting it will not get you far....you must have money in the trade to know how you would react when the ticks start going against you. Review your system at least monthly and evaluate every trades. Do more of what is working and less of what is not working. In time you will become profitable.
The last thing I will say is that I learned everything I could about trading until it is now quite simple in my thoughts and all those minutia details I looked at before are now boiled down to a few key things I look at to keep it simple. So dont be afraid to get into the little details on a chart because with clearer understanding you can eventually achieve simplification and efficiency.
At least that's what's worked for me.
