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TRADING ON TARGET Adrienne Toghraie, Trader's Coach |
Adrienne Toghraie, Trader's Coach - Adrienne@TradingOnTarget.com Phone (919-851-8288) - Fax (804-768-6890) Trading On Target - 12112 Hadden Hall Drive, Chesterfield VA 23838 |
The Right Fix by Adrienne Toghraie |
Many traders begin looking for the wrong fix when something is amiss in their trading. The result is that they often try to fix things that are not broken while missing completely the one thing that is. Recently, I worked with a trader who started our session by telling me all about his personal problems with his spouse, his family, his associates, and even his pets. One by one, we worked out solutions for these problems. Finally, he said, “Now, let’s talk about the problems I’m having with my trading.” To which I responded, “If you followed your rules, would you be making money?” “Of course,” was his reply. As you can see, he was attempting to fix what was not broken. At that point, I said, “You know, you are anchored to a very high level of peak performance in your trading which, in turn, is tied to your trading system. When you are not in a state of peak performance, your neurology will give you a message to stop trading. However, you are the most important part of your system. So, if you are not working properly, it is just as though your computer, or software, or any one of the trading tools you use is not working. In this case, the thing that is not working is you, not your system, which is doing just fine. What is happening to your trading is a result of all of the things that have pulled you down into a lower level of performance.” This highly experienced trader was ready to fix the wrong thing, rather than face the real problem in his trading. But, why do so many traders want to fix their system when it is clearly the trader, himself, who is not operating well? Many years ago now, my very first client also began by telling me all of the things that were wrong with him while informing me that his system was perfect although he could not follow it. Then, in a spectacular feat of Double Think, he proceeded to ask me, in so many words, to fix his system so that it would make him money. I observed in this first trader what I have seen repeated over and over again - most people are looking for a magical, technical formula for success. Trading appeals to several different groups of individuals, probably the largest group is composed of people who like math, logic, and technical things. These traders feel very comfortable around technical things because they operate on the basis of rules. The idea of fixing a problem by fixing something technical is very familiar and comfortable for them. Although the technical fix might require a great deal of work, it is what they understand. What they do not understand and do not feel comfortable doing is fixing themselves when you tell them that the problem is in their own lives. To make matters worse, fixing things in themselves and in their lives might require these techno- traders to make major life changes such as giving up non-supportive relationships, getting a divorce, moving, or quitting a job. Sometimes people are so attached to the way things are that they would rather keep things the same and continue to fail rather than make those changes. Keeping things the way they are can also protect these traders from feelings of failure, inadequacy, insecurity, and loss. So, it becomes clear how fixing the wrong thing can look very right when so much is at stake! For this reason, it is important to ask yourself the next time you want to fix your trading problems by fixing your system, how well your system would work if you could actually follow it? |