Quote from NoDoji:
Trading for me is like standing at a conveyor belt on which apples pass by and my job is to pick every apple that fits a set of visual criteria designed to segregate apples that are very likely to be labeled Grade A Extra Fancy.
During my training for this job I had to look at many Grade A Extra Fancy apples, and memorize their visual patterns (size, color, and condition of the peel) so I could recognize these particular apples. I then had to practice identifying these particular apples from a pile of apples spread out on a table. Finally, I had to practice identifying these particular apples from among many, many apples passing me by on the conveyor belt, quickly grabbing them and placing them in a container nearby.
I can now identify these apples quickly from the many apples on the belt and I'm able to snare the majority of them as they pass.
The apples I select meet the visual criteria I was told result in a majority of Grade A Extra Fancy apples.
However, these selected apples have to pass a final test in which they are scanned for defects not apparent to the naked eye.
Several of them fail this test and don't make the grade.
But far more of them pass the final test than fail.
This is my job day after day, not very exciting, but it generates a steady paycheck.