How to Get Off the Performance Roller Coaster
by ilene - March 21st, 2010 8:31 pm
How to Get Off the Performance Roller Coaster
Do you find yourself on a performance roller coaster? This is a situation in which you make money for a while, begin to think you have it all figured out, only to fall back, lose money, and feel like a rookie all over again.
A while back, I wrote about the performance roller coaster and some of the emotional factors that sustain it. The gist of that important post was that how we process wins and losses affects our subsequent trading--and sometimes contributes to winning and losing streaks.
I just finished an enjoyable interview with Mark Wolfinger of the Options for Rookies site. One topic that came up was the way in which traders identify with their P/L. Once a trader’s sense of identity and esteem becomes caught up in profits and losses, the trader begins an emotional roller coaster simply due to the natural ups and downs of markets.
See also: Addictive Trading: When Trading Becomes a Problem
Educational Videos
by phil - August 28th, 2009 5:52 pm
The following is a collection of podcasts and videos from the Options Clearing Corporation and selected others.
The cover a lot of ground and new ones are occasionally added to their site. They are not as good as the coursework from MarketTamer, who are Option Sage’s excellent group but these are free (as opposed to $99 a month with Sage’s PSW special) so take a peek at the subjects that interest you:
First up is a very good introduction to options basics from Adam Lass, a very good overview. His next episode is the basics of call options – hopefully he’ll do more. Then we have the podcasts from OCC:
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The Eight Beliefs of Successful Traders
by ilene - July 2nd, 2009 1:13 am
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The Eight Beliefs of Successful Traders
Courtesy of Dr Janice Dorn at Minyanville
Editor’s Note: For those interested in both winners and losers, the 8 beliefs of unsuccessful traders can be found here.
One bright day in the middle of night, 2 dead boys rose to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot one another. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and saved the lives of the 2 dead boys. If you don’t believe this lie is true, ask the blind man, he saw it too.
-Author Unknown
We’re hard-wired to believe — and to hold on to our convictions — often in the face of contradictory evidence. In life outside the markets, this may actually be a source of strength. However, it doesn’t usually serve a trader well. One of the most important questions for the trader to ask every day is: What do I believe that’s not true?
So how do we know the truth? The markets tell us. It really is that simple — and yet, it’s so difficult for most to accept and practice on a daily basis.
It’s important for traders to be able to assess their beliefs regularly, because — at any given market moment — they’re a composite of those principles. Fortunately (for some) and frustratingly (for others), beliefs about the markets are fungible and fluid; they can change from minute to minute.
The successful trader is in the flexible flow with this — and changes accordingly.
Beliefs of Successful Traders
1. The markets provide a constant stream of opportunities.
2. If I miss an opportunity, another will come along.
3. If my position is stopped out, the hypothesis that got me into the trade was incorrect.
4. I take one trade at a time, and stay in the moment with it.
5. I strive for excellence, not perfection.
6. I maximize profits by losing small.
7. I am not my trade.
8. I take complete responsibility for my thoughts, feelings, and actions in the markets.
The Eight Beliefs of Unsuccessful Traders
by ilene - July 2nd, 2009 1:04 am
The Eight Beliefs of Unsuccessful Traders
Courtesy of Dr Janice Dorn at Minyanville
Editor’s Note: For those interested in both winners and losers, the 8 beliefs of successful traders can be found here.
Beliefs of Unsuccessful Traders
1. I must be trading something all the time.
2. If I lose on a trade, I feel angry, frustrated, sad, or sick. If I win on a trade, I’m a happy camper.
3. If I don’t get on board with the hot tip of the day, I’ll miss out.
4. The markets are out to get me.
5. I’m unwilling to take the stop-out, so I’m turning this trade into an investment.
6. If I just keep studying, looking, and reading, I’ll find the magical formula/indicator/guru to lead me to riches.
7. Everything has to be perfect for me to get into a trade
8. If I win, I was skillful. If I lose, I was unlucky.
It’s only through daily assessment of convictions — and with radical honesty -- that a trader grows, develops, and thrives. Diligent examination of beliefs and the courage to change them is an ongoing challenge that must be conquered if the trader is to move to higher levels of success.
Buddha says:
"Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it’s said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it’s said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it."


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Philip R. Davis is a founder Phil's Stock World, a stock and options trading site that teaches the art of options trading to newcomers and devises advanced strategies for expert traders...









Ilene is editor and affiliate program
coordinator for PSW. She manages the Favorites backup site
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