Do you remember when you first wanted to learn to drive a car, to climb that rock face, to run that marathon?
What was it that actually made you get off your butt and do something about it? Of course there was the desire to do it, that intrinsic feeling that you simply want to do it, but what else? Say you wanted to trade the markets as a profession, to become wealthy doing it. Would this be different to learning to drive?
For most people, yes, it would be different. And the difference would be that we all know someone who has learnt to drive, many of us know someone who has climbed rock faces or run a marathon. But very few of us indeed know anyone who has becomes wealthy trading the markets; it¡¯s usually someone on the evening news, some guru who has somehow learnt the art of trading and become rich.
So the critical difference is ¡°belief¡±.
If trading was as common as being an electrician then no doubt exchanges would grind to a halt with the number of people wanting to trade. You see we all need an example to follow, someone who has been there, done that. We need to ¡°believe¡± that the challenge ahead is surmountable and that there is help available when we need it.
I remember when I decided to run a marathon, I¡¯d run about 5 miles tops at the time; what made me decide to run a marathon, and what made me believe I could do it? Well my ex. PT instructor from school had just done one. So I firstly felt a bit challenged, ¡°if he can do it so can I¡±, and secondly I knew I could ask him questions and get help as I progressed through the training. And I did it!
When I decided to become a trader, some 10 years ago, I had neither of the above. All the information available was written by someone I didn¡¯t know, I had no idea whether they actually did what they said, I didn¡¯t know anyone who actually traded.
So, it was tough, expensive, and lonely. I only finally started to be successful when I met a real-life professional trader who shared some ¡°secrets¡± with me. From then on I¡¯ve progressed to full time, successful trader.
If YOU want to trade successfully then you NEED a mentor, a guide along the very rocky path that is trading. Get one, the same as you would look to a driving instructor to teach you to drive. Learning alone is a route to failure.
Matt Sharp is a full time professinal trader with 10 years experience . He trades indicies such as Dow and S&P and also the Forex market. He has produced 2 courses to help traders trade safely and profitably.
http://www.fivetictrading.com/MattSharp/mattsharp.html