Why is trading easy for some and hard for others?

Someone with 390 posts and 300 likes I consider worth reading. Respect. Probably achieved via the same important trait as needed in trading, the ability to sometimes sit on one's hands (or here... bite the tongue?) ...
I've been at this for a number of years and I don't know anyone who would call trading "easy". Trading like all complex and demanding endeavors requires considerable effort and determination. And like such endeavors, medicine, law, music, martial arts etc. provides a way to function at higher levels. Most of us mortals have to develop higher measures of focus, patience, discipline and courage to do this for a living. Both the self elevation and the opportunity to make a good living on one's own terms make the effort worth while, but it ain't easy.
 
If you do what you've always done,
you'll get what you've always gotten.

It wasn't easy when I started,
it wasn't easy six years later of Futures trading losing,
it wasn't easy to get use to being profitable-always self doubting.
It got easier after 10 years, automation between Long term and eventually Day trading.

38 years later and Learning options:
It wasn't easy when I started, WTF was I thinking?
4 years later, overall not losing..... "I am so close" LOL

I am done of ever wanting to start something new in trading, the mental anguish and the commitment is such a drain on the mind when you get older, but am doing much more freeflow studying than having to do years of back testing of what works on the underlying. But the Pain still remains of losses but more on the side of being weak on knowledge. But it is fun as day trading has become a job feeling.
 
If you do what you've always done,
you'll get what you've always gotten.

It wasn't easy when I started,
it wasn't easy six years later of Futures trading losing,
it wasn't easy to get use to being profitable-always self doubting.
It got easier after 10 years, automation between Long term and eventually Day trading.

38 years later and Learning options:
It wasn't easy when I started, WTF was I thinking?
4 years later, overall not losing..... "I am so close" LOL

I am done of ever wanting to start something new in trading, the mental anguish and the commitment is such a drain on the mind when you get older, but am doing much more freeflow studying than having to do years of back testing of what works on the underlying. But the Pain still remains of losses but more on the side of being weak on knowledge. But it is fun as day trading has become a job feeling.

What do you mean by day trading though? do you mean intraday trading??
 
What do you mean by day trading though? do you mean intraday trading??

I am scalper, so yes intraday trading. But manually scalp 60-75 minutes in ES, been trading that the longest. Day trading was the very hardest way of trading for me to learn. I day trade other instruments, each has their own personalities and some have two different personalities depending on overnight and day session. Day session tougher to learn cause it is easiest for Algos to mess up newbs, so more false movements and why I prefer to trade around first hour, plus most volume for an hour. Automation though day trades 6/23 but very conservative.
 
As the title says, why is trading such a personal thing? One trader can think it's easy as cake, another trader for the life if him will never be able to do it. I'm still trying to get the hang of it even after all these years. It feels like you get it, then there's always a degree of uncertainty, doubt.

I don't think no successful trader will ever tell you it's "easy as cake" -- because it's not.
The truth is, not everyone/anyone can do it...no matter how hard or determined you are; just like everything in life...most things require a certain kind of person that's optimal for that position.

There's always that constant cloud of fear or uncertainty or doubt lingering over your head as a trader for each trade.

Trading may seem "easy" from the outside looking in at some of the rare successful one's because they have a combination of skills and traits and intuition and/or systems and formulas. But to think the average Joe can replicate and survive in the long run...is quite a stretch. :vomit::)
 
Someone with 390 posts and 300 likes I consider worth reading. Respect. Probably achieved via the same important trait as needed in trading, the ability to sometimes sit on one's hands (or here... bite the tongue?) ...
Yep, can't force what isn't there....biting the tongue can be more of a challenge,:D
 
I'm hoping this thread doesn't get blocked. I wanted to extract some value before things got interesting.
Tell me about it. After you learn to shift through the bs, there is some gold on trade forums and I too am forever a student of the markets.
 
That line of reasoning is total bullocks. So equally when a woman gets raped then it is because she went out? You keep on mixing up completely unrelated concepts. Your points re odds in trading make sense but all else does not but instead weakens your argument

Yes, that is the reality, like it or not!

You are entitled to your opinion, same as everyone else - but that does not mean you are right, or wrong!

I do not argue with anyone - just state my opinions!

Everything that happens has to have a reason, can not be any other way!

J_S
 
As the title says, why is trading such a personal thing?

Because that's exactly what it is for the vast majority of us

No risk manager watching over our shoulder..., no support group were we can air out issues / act as a safety net..., no on staff psychologist to act as a sounding board / our internal fail safe

Just us... our internal voice..., and the mkt


It feels like you get it, then there's always a degree of uncertainty, doubt.

There is no "degree" of uncertainty within the mkt and trading - only total uncertainty

Straddle a barb wire fence - you'll quickly find yourself castrated

As to doubt - that is present when we're not crystal clear on our actions

Or we question the actions we took - after the benefit of hindsight


And certainly with hindsight - our actions could be deemed to be wrong..., or other actions a better choice

We do not have the luxury of hindsight..., we do not have the luxury of a muddled mind..., and most times we do not have the luxury of time to mull over the next action we need take

===============

Trading is easy..., just as easy as one's mind makes it

up / down / sideways

enter / exit / stand pat (while either in..., or on the sidelines)

signal exists / no signal exists

here's my SL / here's my PT - exit when either breached

trade works..., trade breaks down

on to the next one


People will fuck up and anvil..., feel the need to assign more weight to their opinion than is necessary..., or deserved..., need to know the unknowable (even to the point of fooling their self)..., can't manage self worth a shit..., can't accept accountability..., find it damn near impossible to accept losing as the only way to ultimate success in this business

========================

Like I said..., trading is easy


Getting one's mind right..., ego completely in check..., instilling the level of discipline necessary..., comfortable with the sameness (routine)..., accepting and embracing the uncertainty..., coming to know - you don't know..., you never know..., and no one knows..., being able to replicate this over..., and over - iow - throughout all the shit life..., family..., friends..., hell even enemies and strangers - throw at you.., no matter if you happy..., sick..., tired..., bored..., hungry..., don't care..., don't wanna be here..., rather be doing something else..., gotta go..., can't buy a winning trade today to save my ass so I'm taking loss after loss (all be they most certainly small ones)

We can do everything absolutely perfect - the trade breaks down and we lose

We can do every conceivable thing wrong - the trade works and makes us a boat load of profit in seconds

Winning trades don't mean one knows a damn thing / losing trades do not make one a loser - both are simply a part of trading

The level of objectiveness..., detachment..., and centered-ness - needs to be absolute..., unwavering.., and unending


=====================

Ain't trading a hoot :cool:

RN
 
Trading is easy. Most loose $ because they want to make $)))) sounds stupid but... Anyone can acquire the know-how for analyzing market, sending order, and thats easy, but the rest is personal, depending on how you live, who you are, who you grow up with etc. (my personal thoughts). (I have friend lets call him Mike, trades for 5 years and it's still hard for him, he doesn't make money, and he keeps doing the same mistakes over and over, and never learn from it, always EXPECTING to get better)))) And there's another guy Kyle opened his first acct 2 years ago as an amateur and he would never talk about losses, wins, grinding up slowly, by himself, trading his nische setups). So why Mike still didn't make it? and why Kyle is so happy since the very beginning??? only you got the answer) The only thing i can add is if you are not a Moron in your life EVERYthing will be OK! (i don't think it's Risk or money management related)
 
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