Thanks, geez! I strive for the discipline you exercise in your trading. If I'd exercised your kind of strict trade management, I'd have saved myself many losses and turned out quite profitable last year. To all the new traders out there: It really is a GOOD FEELING to put in a stop and know that you will not lose more than $x on the trade. It's OK if the stop is hit. It does not make you a failure; it demonstrates wisdom and professionalism. And the ONLY direction you should move a stop is in your favor!
On another note, I just read some excellent advice in Alan Farley's "The Master Swing Trader": "Show a willingness to forgo marginal positions and wait for good opportunities to appear. Prepare to experience long periods of boredom between frantic surges of concentration. Expect to stand aside, wait, and watch when the markets offer nothing to do. Accept this unwelcome state as all successful participants do. The need for excitement makes a very dangerous trading partner."
Bob warned me about this many times, and encouraged me not to worry about missed entries, because more strong opportunities always present themselves with patience. I am JUST NOW starting to honor this advice, and see the incredible wisdom in it. This kind of patience allows you to spend more time letting your profits run, than worrying about losers.
By the way, Farley's book uses the term "swing trader" to encompass day trader as well and it's a truly amazing book. It's not geared to beginners at all. I tried to read it last year, got through very little of it, and was left scratching my head at most of it. I just got it again from the library this week, and several months of solid screen time and analysis has unlocked this book like a magic key. I'm ordering it from Amazon this week!