A colleague of mine just returned from a scuba diving trip in Cozumel, which just happens to be one of my favorite places to dive. Anyway, she was telling me about an unexpected difficulty she encountered while swimming around the corral reef down about 85 feet. It wasn't anything serious but her story reminded me of something my scuba instructor used to say over and over again. "Plan your dive, and dive your plan".
When you're down about 90 or 100 feet the nitrogen acts on your body in a way that's not too dissimilar to having one dry martini on an empty stomach. It's called Nitrogen Narcosis, Rapture of the Depths, or Martini's Law. So the thing to do is get your planning done while you have a clear head, (i.e. on the surface). And then when you're deep into it, and you're feeling a bit euphoric, or nervous, you don't have to make any decisions about 'what' to do. You just follow your plan.
This holds true for trading as well. When you're feeling the euphoria or nervousness set in, remember to follow your plan. And, uhm yeah,, also have a plan to follow. Clear heads will prevail.
Years ago I had the good fortune of talking with a trading guru for several hours. This individual is world renowned for his trading saavy and skill. What he elaborated in that conversation had a tremendous impact on me. HE said that when he learned how to trade that his family enforced only one rule that he had to follow. KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET OUT BEFORE YOU GET IN. He felt that the problem that most traders had was that they felt that this simplicity did not apply to them. I remember sitting and speaking with him and thinking about my own mistakes, primarily letting hope take over in my decision making.
Many traders think that crying "UNCLE" on a trade and taking a loss is unacceptable. Since that conversation I have taken numerous losses on trades but it's funny how they don't have the STING that they used to because I PLAN MY DIVE and DIVED MY PLAN.
This is really simple and incredibly workable. Apply it to your own trading and investing.
-Downjonesfully,
Harald Anderson
http://www.eoptionstrader.com
Harald Anderson is the founder and Chief Analyst of eOptionsTrader.com a leading online resource of http://www.eoptionstrader.com. He writes regularly for financial publications on Risk Management and Trading Strategies. His goal in life is to become the kind of person that his dog already thinks he is. http://www.eoptionstrader.com.
detailed home cleaning Lake Forest ..Before they go over the cliff to their destruction these... Read More
I feel that an investment strategy in the stock market... Read More
In one of my previous articles (Investing in the stock... Read More
The Law of Chaos is the theory of random unpredictable... Read More
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show... Read More
Question: How does it get better when it gets worse?Last... Read More
If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More
I know there are a lot of you out there... Read More
Before you buy another car you walk around the lot,... Read More
The stock market has not been very kind to your... Read More
Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This... Read More
Are you paying any attention to your retirement savings? Do... Read More
Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More
Now that you have some money burning a hole in... Read More
There are many good penny stock investments available, which could... Read More
One of the things people are always asking me is... Read More
Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More
You may have wondered why your mutual funds have been... Read More
One of the big advertising kicks today from mutual funds... Read More
Invest in the stock market for the RIGHT reason, using... Read More
Most stock market traders have a favorite technical indicator.The one... Read More
"Buy and hold" is one of the most heralded investment... Read More
Buy high and sell low -- It's not a typo.Millions... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
trusted cleaning company Des Plaines ..Spread trading is a technique that can be used to... Read More
You read and hear a lot about hedge funds. Unfortunately,... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
We have two candidates for president that have really different... Read More
When the stock market is going up and all your... Read More
Let me start by saying that...Most online brokers do not... Read More
With the internet such a huge part of our daily... Read More
Invest in the stock market for the RIGHT reason, using... Read More
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a group of passive index... Read More
How many people went to a cash position this week?... Read More
How often have you come across an advertisement or e-mail... Read More
"Buy and hold" is one of the most heralded investment... Read More
Just about everything you have been told about Social Security... Read More
We've all heard of the stock market and probably have... Read More
How is it possible that trash Companies are posting less... Read More
Today's society gives special recognition to alcoholics, sexaholics, binge-aholics, shopaholics,... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
On Monday, November 25, 2000 Investor's Business Daily listed on... Read More
Its dinnertime and the phone rings. It's Joe Noname with... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
On Friday or Saturday evening my wife gets a movie... Read More
Ever have one of those sample boxes of candy? Each... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
There are many important things you need to know to... Read More
On November 17 I bought 7 different mutual funds and... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |