Quote from ertrader1:
LOL what is this a socialist mentality? What do u want with such a ROBIN HOOD way of thinking.
I know a few successful traders from Elite. They are far from arrogant Bastards.
Rule number 1. If ur a success you dont tell the world your methods.
Every trader should know the basic mental rules. Other than that get the hell out of the game if you can't figuer it out on ur own.
The key to success is the fact that you find a niche that no other has, a system/method that is all your own. Of course the method or system may have some bits and pieces built upon something alreadt tried, but you modify it and build it.
You only tell people when it stops working, you write a book, you go on CNBC and speak about, you do seminars, you do live chats.
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T-REX
Senior Member
Registered: Aug 2003
Posts: 349
09-30-03 03:08 PM
Re: Would you gie up a steady job to Trade?
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Quote from NJ1000:
I curently have a job where I make about 60K a year. I currently have an offer from a proprietary firm that gives you a salary to begin with for the first few months as you learn to trade, would you give up a steady job to take this oppurtunity. Is the risk worth the reward? How much could good prop traders expect to make. Thanks for any advice.
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I have read every page in this thread and this is my opinion.
In 1994 I decided that I would learn everything about Wall Street and determine if I could beat the system. I did research, I read newspapers -i.e. Wall Street Journal & The Investors Business Daily. I read magazines and articles. I researched thousands of charts - tick charts, minute bars, daily, monthly & weekly bars. I read books from famous arthors such as Larry Williams, Ken Roberts, Wade Cook, Linda R., George Soros, Franklin Templeton. I became a Futures Broker (in an attempt to learn about the markets from the inside out & to test my strategies with real money, other peoples money) I interviewed traders from around the world. I talked to floor traders and CTA's, Hedge Fund managers. I talked to traders of ALL walks of life. Male & Female. I researched trading styles, strategies, timeframes, & systems. I backtested Ideas. I've traded everything from Porkbellies to Live Cattle to soybeans to cotton to FOREX to QQQ's to Dow Jones Options on Futures and S&P 500 Options on futures. I've traded complex options strategies: butterflies, condors (off floor), Bull Call & Bear Put spreads, etc.etc.etc. I've watched people trade using voodoo & witchcraft & Astrology & horoscopes & Gann & Elliott Wave Analysis & Candlesticks & Trend lines & support & resistance levels. I've seen people loose their ENTIRE LIFE SAVINGS!!!!!!!
BOTTOM LINE: Trading is the most difficult thing you will ever do in your entire life. The learning curve is phenominal! OVER 90% OF ALL TRADERS LOSE NEARLY 100% OF THE TIME!!!!
It will take you many years to develope your craft provided you last that long. Do I have to remind you of the 1990's. Where have ALL the daytraders gone??? Where are all of the guru's and Daytrading firms????? My point exactly.......they blew up with the bubble. The markets are very volatile and very unpredictable. I've seen people destroyed from one trade!!!!.........need I remind you of the first couple of interest rate cuts when Alan Greenspan lowered interest rates without warning!!!! and even in between Fed Meetings?????
Do yourself a favor. Find a strategy that works IN ALL MARKET CONDITIONS AND ALL MARKETS IN ALL TIME FRAMES. Thats right you need to find the holy grail. What is the holy grail????
Trading the longer term trend combined with short-term timeframes i.e. have a swing trade system running side by side with a robust daytrading system and you will win..
........I'TS THAT SIMPLE.
p.s. To learn more just check out some of the pro's on this site:
AMT - (DAMN GOOD DAY TRADER!)
marketsurfer - (DAMN GOOD!)
T-REX - (DAMN GOOD SWING TRADER!)
harrytrader - (great technical insight)
scientist - (great technical insight)
damir - (DAMN CONSISTANT!)
rezo s - (DAMN GOOD EXTENSIVE TRACK RECORD!)
........and many more!!!!
There is a wealth of knowledge here at ET where YOU can learn alot & see some GREAT realtime trading from the above mentioned and there are a few more but there names escape me @ the moment.
hope this is helpful.
now I'm going to go celebrate my birthday.
I'm outta here!
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pismo10
Junior Member
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 3
09-30-03 03:39 PM
I agree with TRex, it's brutal
I have been trading on and off for 15 years. It is the hardest thing I have ever done....Endless pitfalls. If you lose you kick yourself, if you win you kick yourself for not trading more size. IF you get good at trading then you go up in size and then you have a losing streak and are back to day one or worse. It is a no win senario EVEN IF you make money....The business is also chock full of snake oil salesman who can't make a penny trading so they sell 'advice' for huge dollars and desperate people buy it. Paper trading is worthless, Demo accounts are worthless, only reality with your own money will teach you anything. My advice is to find another career path where you accomplish something tangible, not just monetary, with your life.
I could go on and on.....
Trading is absolutely brutal. Find something else.
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I THINK THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP.
p.s. I just thought it bared repeating.
p.s.s. I'M NOT AN AROGANT BASTARD!!!!
I freely give a "FREE" Daily ES Market FORECAST to ET readers.
