“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. Whole steam of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way.” Goethe
The most important step one needs to take to become a successful trader is to make a firm commitment to trading. Further, commitment needs to travel the 18-inches from the head to the heart to make it real and enduring. Webster’s defines the verb “commit,” as pledging oneself to a certain action. Those who pledge to commit a chunk of time and resources to their trading career, then commit to developing a plan and the discipline to follow it, have a much better chance of succeeding in this business than those who take a “potshot” and hope for the best.
Why can’t you just “dabble” in this arena? Why can’t you just saunter into the trading day at will, scan a few charts, and throw a trade-in if you feel like it? Because, when you trade half-heartedly, you are telling yourself, your account, and the world, that whatever the outcome–it doesn’t matter. (If you have money to burn, and lackadaisical trading provides your entertainment, by all means, ignore this article and enjoy yourself.) Further, in many occupations or undertakings, a slapdash attitude will mean simply that you don’t excel. In most situations, you can shrug that off. In your trading career, though, this mindset almost assuredly will devastate your account and take your self-esteem with it.
If you decide that trading is your part- or fulltime occupation, commit with the passion for becoming the best trader possible. Then, as Goethe says, situations will present themselves to you, “which no man could have dreamed would come his way.”