trading and writing, my .02
It took me years to learn to write. I'm not alone. Everyone takes years. Everything must be learned: penmanship, spelling, grammar, structure, arguments, notations, and eventually style.
I know, too, it takes years because I've taught many writing classes. (I know. No one could guess it from the error-prone prose I sometimes let loose on this forum). In classes, I have presented all I know, including my tricks. Students seemed to understand during classes; they solved the problems I gave them; they worked in groups; they made presentations about some aspects of writing and so forth. However, when I received their formal essays, I would find mistake after mistake that I had specifically taught them not to make. This was always expected but still very disappointing.
Eventually, I would teach my students to write from simple structures first. Subject, verb, object. Subject verb object.... Such an emphasis on the ABCs of writing rarely went over well with students. People generally don't like enforced humility. Ultimately, anyone who truly develops the capacity to gather and develop an idea within the conventions and structures of a language has learned to execute with the precision of an advanced computer program. No one learns entirely alone, but everyone who succeeds learns to learn how to write.
I think something similar happens with trading. All the experienced traders in this group have learned to trade. Some do so with flare; others are methodical. We lesser traders should be in awe of their fluid and focused talents. But, based on my experience, I guarantee that many of us would not achieve the same results as the masters here even if we were told exactly how to trade. I know this as a teacher of writing, but I also know this as a trader here. I have yet to replicate precisely a robot trade without leverage from start to finish! And yet, the back tests and the experienced traders all say the same: over time the robots will work. They also say that the market is itself a relentless and unforgiving teacher; it provides perfect and very timely feedback. But when one does it right, the rewards are heavenly.
So, dear friends, we need to straighten up and fly right. If we can't achieve good results with the robot guiding our every choice, we should either resolve to follow more precisely or choose another writing instructor. The flare and the grace of experienced hands will come only to the dedicated and only to those are willing to take the time necessary to discipline themselves to the dictates of the market. How long will it take? Answer: as long as it takes!
1 Attachment(s)
Being in Harmony With The Market and the Robots
I found the attached pdf as conveying important fundamental truths about trading the robots.
I'm sure it will address many concerns discussed in this thread for a discretionary use of the robots signals.
[B]You need to get the execution of trades correctly day in and day out,
because there’s just one or two missed opportunities which get away that could have made your
month or there can be mistakes that can take away weeks and weeks of profitable work. This is
where the use of good automated trading software can control some of these variables.[/B]
Billy
[ATTACH]12504[/ATTACH]
Robot and what comes to mind
Nick,
I saw your original post on this thread -- One sentence I read a couple of year ago came to mind.
"You never can be a free man if you don't trade your own systems" -- the article went further that if you needed others for trading signals you run the risk of one day finding yourself without a business; just because an 'outsider' decided to go another route.
Daily I appreciate Billy's and Pascal's post - their discipline is a guiding example (I fall short on the discipline to the repetitive aspects of our chosen profession). Mike and Paul are also examples (to me) on how to stay the course with a set stock picking method.
My start in this profession has been an uphill fight. It took me several YEARS to find a niche which worked and fitted my personality. For instance IBDs works - I am convinced years ago - It doesn't work for me because after analyzing hundredth charts I see a cup and handle in everyone of them. Trend follow works, but again not for me - I close the working trades to early so I never have a great runner and a great winner. Example I made "great" money with CMG and NFLX between 50 and 55 (lol); completely missing out on the rest of the run.
It is only after I found my niche and found the discipline to concentrate my trading towards that discipline that I started to make some head way.
I feel your frustration and can only say "stay the course" and try to claim your corner in this market. Tell me if I can help.
Ernst
