I have been helping people learn to trade/invest for nearly two decades, mostly by showing them when the “time” is right to be owning stocks or funds, and alternatively, when to be short or move to cash.
Those who stick around and take some time to learn, generally get it and do very well, what's puzzling however, are those who stay stuck, and would rather just keep watching.
It seems to me that they are also people who have learned to be “afraid” of taking action in other areas of life too. I can tell by their emails and excuses. Perhaps that's due to unreasonable expectations, or fear from costly past mistakes.
Consequently, they wait, and wait, and wait. They wait until the one time they feel it's perfectly safe to get in.
Unfortunately, that secure “feeling” couldn’t be more wrong. Their waiting has brought them to the precise time when smart money has begun selling their profitable positions to all late comers.
Rather than take responsibilty and USE methods that could really help them take powerful control of their future, many instead will ask if I would just go ahead and handle their money for them. No wonder fund managers make millions.
The amazing thing here too, is that fund managers tell me, as long as they don’t LOSE too much of the clients money, their clients will stay put, year after year, all the while managers keep making their 1-3% on accounts that aren't even growing. It’s crazy.
But it does point out pretty clearly to me, that desire isn’t enough. Learning isn’t enough. Believing in the outcome isn’t enough. Being prodded isn’t enough…
I think successful investing/trading boils down to this one thing: You've got to do “it” as if you had no choice. Do it for real, or die, perhaps.
Maybe like a new skydiver, who was just nudged out of a plane…
Pulling the ripchord to the chute isn’t an option, or something to “think about”, or to learn to do anymore. You just do it. If all goes well, it’s going to be a lot easier next time…
Trading Online
