Great point. I've learned more from bad traders than good traders because it's easier to see what not to do. By contrast, some good traders may not benefit you because you can't trade the way they trade anyway.
Quote from ARogueTrader:
Actually anyone can learn a lot from losers....just don't do what they do.
The real issue for most people is they need a mentor for their emotions, not their intellect.
Once a trading systems is understood and practice of that system begins the problem is usually in the emotional obstacles to proper execution of the system.
An executioner will do better with a poor system than one who cannot execute does with the best system.
Mentoring execution and mentoring the emotions that prevent execution is a very difficult task.
No one can take the fear and greed away from anyone else, that is an inside job.
Many mentors understood the process, but could simply not overcome their own fear and greed, so while they can teach the process, they can never teach overcoming fear and greed which they themselves have not conquered.
They can explain what needs to be done to get the job done, but they can't transmit what it takes to get the job done.
There are mentors who are also successful traders who offer to help others, but it is not really about the money that they make mentoring, it is about sharing who they are with others.
The best mentors will always be free of charge, in the same way that the best lovers don't charge you for sex. You may learn techniques of sex from a prostitute, but you will never learn about love from a hooker.
I will remember this one.