20130207
Long 1 TF 907.9, -0.2
Short 2 NQ 2744.25, +2.0, +4.0
Short 2 YM 13883, +3, -2
Long 1 YM 13884, -5
Long 1 TF 905.9, -0.5
Long 1 TF 904.4, -0.3
Long 2 YM 13820, 13822, +13, +7
Long 1 TF 900.5, +1.3
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM +16
Total TF +0.3
You have to be ready when the market is. A big selling day has been due for weeks. And although you might be on vacation for awhile or have become mentally accustomed for the market to be a one-way trend, it never is. Be ready when the market is. Two early short signals, one in the NQ, the other the YM, positioned me for the decline. But instead of sticking with them, I didn't give the bear a chance to develop, and at the first sign of hesitant action, I dumped them. The breakdown signal for the short YM position was especially clear... except after I got in it. Then my mental game was not ready for the slow stalling beginning, and was dissatisfied when an immediate plunge did not develop. ...but it did, just minutes later. And I subsequently left the best opportunities to capture that decline on the table. Know your game plan. Know your trade models. Sometimes it's true they don't work out. But you have to give them their fair due, or what's the point in having a plan in the first place? The point is to take the mental trepidation out of the decision process. That aspect of trading is always awaiting in the background to mess with your game. You have entries. You have stops. Execute the plan. Position yourself to be surprised. Don't over-think it. Give it a chance to develop, or take your stp-outs as planned. Be the plan.... not the tape.
