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Is this a setup based on one certain bar (OHLC) formation?
I do not understand your comments regarding closing the trades. In the first sentence above you say "closed every bar for 50 bars". Then in the subsequent sentences you talk about time based exits and closing of trades after x bars. I have difficulties grasping the method you tested here, in the first place.
But you are right, without context a simple method will have a hard time being profitable even mid-term.
If you want, we can talk a bit more in detail about your method, plan, etc. and I can try to help. Maybe we should do this via PM as this is more specific and not in the spirit of your general question regarding the right path? Your call, as this is your thread anyway.
Can you help answer these questions from other members on NexusFi?
This is a great post, this is right on the money here.
I really think that if you are not someone who automatically thinks in a contrarian way relative to others then you have to consider how on earth you can make money in a zero-sum game doing the same things other do?
Another aspect I found useful in my development was to reframe what you are doing and consider it from different perspectives. For example, your method that you trade with, could you picture Paul Tudor Jones, George Soros or perhaps Ray Dalio using the same method as you? What do you think they would make of it? Why? etc etc
"The primary thing required to obtain what you want from life, is simply the will to pursue it, and the faith to believe it is possible." - Author Unknown
"The ability to maintain discipline and stick to the rules is the hallmark of the experienced successful trader" - Curtis Faith
No seriously though. I've made some money, but not nearly what I need to be truly successful at this. Been battling psych issues ever since I've been doing this. It's been a real chore trying to get the psych up to the level the analysis/method are. Too many other outside factors still affecting how I execute, especially my comfort level (or lack thereof) with non-trading reserves and trying to pay myself monthly. The average month contains 20 trading days and I know a large % of my positions need more time than that.
Oh to be in the position where I was free of that arbitrary time constraint. I'm not willing to increase positions sizes to potentially try to offset the time issues so I may just have to go back out there and get some part time work for a while.
Looks like you have answered some of you own questions or concerns.. If your trading plan will not generate the amount of $$ you need(theoretically) due to time constraints and unwillingness to size up, your trading plan is not meeting your needs(like you have said).
This is not a psychology issue at all; but is a trading plan issue. I have found that many traders(myself included) tend say they have a great trading plan but just can't follow it (implying psychology issues) when in fact their trading plan is very inadequate. Symptoms of an inadequate trading plan can include:
- Large drawdowns leading to lack of confidence in oneself and trading plan
- Entries vaguely defined leading to trader hesitation and confusion on entry
- Exits poorly defined leading to jumping out of trades early
- Excessive risk or leverage for the size of account leading to pressure for every trade to win
There are definitely psychology issues in play in trading, but we should be mindful that some of what appears to be a psychology issue may in fact be a trading plan issue.
no doubt ..... the plan has to be nailed down; numerous other posts and time trading tell me the plan is critical and then comes your head. Pick any setup you like .... are you taking it EVERY TIME with a cold disdain of the market. Pick any one of the few setups you trade, are you taking ALL of those with the same cold calculation ? I know myself and I bet your not. Cheers
I have taken a similar path to many I suspect. Always trying to use other people methods and use their edge.
I knew that if I questioned if I was on the right path with this method I probably wasn't. I finally found a method that at the core felt right- One that actually made sense as to how the market works. Instead of expecting price to react off indicators and instead understanding how participants were trapping traders to move the market.
This was something that resonated to my core and something that I could believe in. This would be my structure. I just could not follow all the other rules to this method I had written a plan - had it approved by the author but
I could not follow it.
Every day I would practice in the market and every night I would go back and redraw my structure.
I can't tell you how many thousands of hours I did this. Then one day I noticed something- an edge that
had been there all along that I had previously missed. I saw it repeat over and over.
I looked at charts archives from several years earlier- It was there as well. It was a night I will never forget
I stayed up all night that night and I had my system. It was then I knew I was in the home stretch.
I had been given the house structure but it was up to me to install the windows the stairs and finish the
interior.
So for me I knew I was on the right path when I could answer why and what made the market move and toss out the indicators. When I found the pieces to complete my edge I knew in an instant.