ARTICLES 4

What's more important: Trading Method or Trading Psychology?

Ancient argument:

What's determines success in trading:

1. A successful methodology 
2. Psychology and discipline? 

Answer: BOTH!

But this is not a "chicken or egg" dilemma. Clearly in this case method comes before mind.

I don't care how much self-discipline you have. If you don't have a viable trading methodology, then you will lose money.

So method is more important.

Well, maybe "more important" isn't the right phrase to use. But it definitely comes first.

The reason I say it may not be more important is because there are many valid trading methodologies available. Yet ironically, traders keep jumping from one method to another ...

• one indicator after another 
• one book after another 
• one mentor after another 
• one seminar after another 

This is the infamous "search for the Holy Grail."

Sorry ... doesn't exist.

Like most things in life, people keep looking for the answer outside of themselves, when the answer was inside of themselves all along.

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz ... You had the power all along.

Okay, we've all heard that the psychological aspect of trading is the key to success. But HOW do you tap into it?

There's only one way I know.

Though the hard work and the daily drudgery of keeping a trading log of every trade you take.

By recording, and reviewing every trade you take (along with the ones you didn't take, but should have), you'll learn more than from any book, seminar or video.

This feedback mechanism is the key to success.

Like all subjects of Master:

You begin by adding. You need to acquire the information, the principles, and rules of successful trading.

After you spend a long time accumulating all the information, then you strip it away. You simplify until you find an approach that works for you.

Then you simplify further by eliminating your mistakes.

Someone once told me: "Successful trading is simply a business of not making mistakes.

We're not aware of how many mistakes we're making until we keep a trading log of every trade, and then review it every day and again at the end of every week.

I haven't met a trader yet, who following this discipline, hasn't been absolutely amazed at what a large percentage of their trades broke their own trading rules (the definition of a "mistake").

Beginners work on trading.

Masters work on themselves.

- Dr. Barry Burns
http://www.topdogtrading.com
barry@topdogtrading.com
(c) 2007

ACCEPT THE GIFT OF THIS TRADING SECRET

... and Learn How To Trade with Complete Confidence

Dear Trader,

You can get, absolutely free, one of my favorite trading setups: "The Rubber Band Trade."

You'll get it on day 4 of my free 5-Day Trading Course:

"Make Money by Breaking Every Trading Rule
You Ever Learned!"

Have you ever felt it's uncanny how the market does exactly the opposite of what it's "supposed to do?" That's not surprising. You probably already know that trading is very risky and most people don't make money

While that's true, and I can't guarantee your success, I'm happy to share with you this trade setup that's working for me. And I'll let you "try before you buy!"

Here's what you'll get in my Free 5-Day Video Course:

• Video 1: The Trend is Your Enemy! An up trend is NOT measured by higher highs and higher lows. In this video you'll see why amateurs often have their accounts sucked dry by trend trading ... and you'll get the trend indicator that works!
  14 minutes and 33 seconds.
• Video 2: How Pros Trade Against Amateurs with Double Tops and Double Bottoms ... and how you can trade with the pros. 17 minutes and 20 seconds.
• Video 3: The Simple Secret To Make Head and Shoulders Patterns work and when they don't (don't dare trade head-and-shoulders without this!). 17 minutes and 42 seconds.
• Video 4: YOU GET THE RULES FOR MY FAVORITE TRADE SETUP (The "Rubber Band Trade") 16 minutes and 33 seconds.
• Video 5: My "Five Energies" Trading System. Simple scorecard method - count how many "energies" align out of 5 to determine the probability of success.
  23 minutes and 22 seconds.
• This course also comes with chart illustrations and ONLINE INTERACTIVE QUIZZES at the end of each video so you can make sure you master each lesson.

TO RECEIVE THE RULES FOR MY FAVORITE SETUP: "THE RUBBER BAND TRADE," your free subscription to my newsletter and the 5-Day Course ...

Simply fill out the short, easy form below. You'll instantly receive an email with the link to your first video lesson TODAY!

I respect your privacy and will not share your information with anyone else. It will be used to contact you about more free videos and articles, as well as offers on products for purchase. You may opt out at any time by contacting me at: barry@TopDogTrading.com.

After you request the 5-Day Video Mini-Course, check out my free Trading Blog.

"High expectations exceeded again... An incredible value. Clearly superior to other courses I've taken."

- Anthony A.

"I found Barry's material more useful, primarily because it was presented as a "complete" methodology, taught in progressively more detailed stages. The organization of a "total package" method was very positive. Barry is a natural teacher with an innate ability to present complex information easily and simply."

- Mike M.

"Excellent. Clear explanations, good charting examples, well organized."

- Glenn S.

"Congratulations on the newsletter -- it's already the best of its kind, particularly in the superposition of a very sound methodology onto current and ongoing examples. You're now the first read of the day ..."

- Steve S.

"... this is the best material on trading I have come across and like your approach. I too have spent lots of money on seminars and books and some other courses and highly recommend your material for both the novice and the experienced trader. Kind regards," 

- Theo K.