Secret of Successful Trading

Great traders are often thought of Traders having very strict risk management, and very much well versed with their trading strategies . But an often overlooked trait which should always be mentioned is the successful trader’s ability to control emotions and do not get panicked in times of high volatility and do not get greedy when trades are make lot of money .

I definitely think every trader struggles with controlling our emotions from time to time, and it is one hurdle which trips up many would-be traders that never choose to get beyond it. And it is a choice – either you control your emotions, or your emotions control you.

I know traders who broke keyboards over a Rs 10000 loss, and I’ve seen guys who can literally take a nap when up 6 figures on the day they are so cool, calm and relaxed – just total control. The difference between them wasn’t their account size either – it was in their minds.

How to Make Trading Boring

I suppose the simplest approach for getting to where you want to be is that you seek to build that control over time. There’s a natural tendency to treat trading like casino and get excited or depressed, depending upon the outcome of the gamble.

However, the best traders are in their comfort zone. They know before they put on a trade what the worst-case scenario entails, and they proceed with the trade with that in mind, able to accept it if it happens. They stay within their risk limits by doing so. Further, they know that if they put on too much risk, they’ll not only lose more than they should, but they’ll likely make some poor choices along the way by focusing on the loss rather than making the best decision at any point along the way.

A great trader is able to think clearly from start to finish, and while there may be some mild irritation (enduring pullbacks), minor impatience (if the position stagnates), or slight satisfaction (as the trade begins to work), they avoid letting those emotions drive their behavior. They truly do stick with their plan, making modifications to it not on a whim, but only when absolutely necessary.

The best way to achieve that state of control is to chose to trade small enough that the outcome of any one trade doesn’t carry huge meaning. That will help to formulate a good habit of focusing on the trade, not the P&L (which is where emotions come from usually).

As you gain more control, you incrementally add more risk over time as you are comfortable, gradually increasing that comfort zone but not trying to achieve it overnight.