Ingot54

Thanks Certenotti - I like very much the philosophy of MK Ghandi - the Wikipedia article I found was very enlightening - thank you for inspiring me to read it. Another whose music I enjoy was an Irish singer-song-write, Raymond Edward O'Sullivan. You might not recognise him until I post his professional name - Gilbert O'Sullivan. He was a popular musician/singer in the early 1970's, and from Wikipedia: "Worldwide he has charted sixteen top forty discs; including six number one songs, the first of which was 1970's 'Nothing Rhymed' " My favorite amongst his songs, would be "Clair" which I present for you today. It is light and touches the heart in a warm way, unlike his popular "Alone again (Naturally)" which had deeper and more sombre overtones (which I equally enjoy, along with "Vincent", which I grade as another classic.) But let's enjoy "Clair" : (Listen as he refers to himself in the lyrics as "Uncle Ray" - his real first name) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU9fClvdo5s&feature=related]YouTube - Gilbert O`Sullivan - CLAIR - ( The Sweetest `Clair ` video Ever !) - And Clair answers back ![/ame]

Long from 1.0256 SL = 1.0214 TP = 1.0297 Interesting that the spike that took me out bounced off the 30period EMA on 4H Cheers

Hi Chris I have registered for the call, but I am afraid I will miss the call by 2 hours due to work commitments. Re: daring to ask Rob to repeat the offer ... that was just a bit of cheek! It is unreasonable to put such things on people, and I wouldn't do that. But what I would like someone to ask Rob, on my behalf, is how he would place Stops on the higher TF trades. I am sure we could thrash this out ourselves, but it would be interesting to hear his take on that. I was stopped out by 16 pips before the AUDUSD rallied about 24 hours ago and I decided that I should be looking at ATR rather than Support/Resistance in certain circumstances. Would you mind broaching this question with Rob on my behalf? "How would you determine the level to place SL on the 4H (and higher) TF? Is a multiple of ATR - an arbitrary level - a valid utility for determining this?" Cheers

Hi Steve - sorry for not acknowledging earlier the good info that you and others have shared through discussions on this thread. It has created a lot of "work" for me in that there are new concepts to be explored. I too analyse the market (Forex) from the Monthly right down to the 15Min, skipping only 1H and 30Min. But because FX is different from ES (eg you can trade the EURUSD in exactly the inverse way you trade the USDEUR if that chart existed - and it does if you know who provides it) Supply and Demand may be different, can they not? It is a question I raise, because the ES has a different "short" momentum to the "long" momentum. That is - stocks fall faster than they rally. But FX rises and falls the same - there is no "sell-off" as such - one pair acts as the base currency and the other the "supply" currency, depending on which of them is being bought or sold. The roles switch (base/supply) according to buy/sell positions. I hope I have explained that. If I got that right, it means that the supply demand can not be used in FX the same as it can with ES. For myself, I use the Daily and Weekly Pivot Points - they are just arbitrary levels - zones more than specific levels - and they deliver a measure of consistency for me in the way I trade. I call this "Support and Resistance" ... but again, rather than being a specific point of rejection or a buy limit, I see these as zones, and allow a buffer around the level when trading. I hope you can confirm I have this "close enough" to being correct in interpreting your meaning. If not, could you please elaborate a little more on the difference between a support zone and a demand zone and a resistance zone and a supply zone.

I dare Rob to offer that prize again! ;)

A Golden Oldie ... from my high school years ... one of their early best! I present The Bee Gees (an Aussie group who made it to the top!) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp_24KHvb0E]YouTube - Bee Gees - Don't Forget To Remember[/ame]

So ... shall we proceed? I think that even a small group can learn something from a trading comp ... do we have the numbers? What's the next step? I haven't gone ahead with opening a demo a/c with Oanda yet - waiting for specific guidelines that will link me to your spreadsheet for compilation of results.

JohnW - a very good post in many way - just as I see things, though you may have been a little harsh here and there. I do it too Without looking at that thread, I think it may have been me who stated that I would not be trading if I could afford not to. On the thread, I attempted to be a bit more curt with my response than I usually am, and thus no qualification was added ... I thought it was just a poll thing with a little comment, and that would be the end of it. Here is the qualification, though no one should really give a toss! I love trading with a passion ... but I also love doing other things equally as much. I have ambitions to earn my private pilot's licence, and to write a couple of novels - have already started. I write poetry and play the guitar. I love panning for alluvial gold. I love reading the work of John Steinbeck. I want to study the Libertarian system of governance, and compare/contrast with Democracy and Anarchy. I want to understand more of what the Bible has to say about why we are here, and where we may be going. I want to become more spiritual and less religious. And so on ... there is also a bucket list of things. So you see, not everything in my life is defined by how well I trade. My current commitments allow for me to trade and remain engaged in my career ... two of the loves of my life. I have a beautiful French wife whom I neglect a little more than a man should, and grandchildren in other cities who need to know their grandfather - but not as much as he wants to know them, and watch them grow. It may be that none of these things will come to fruition as per their potential, but at least I will have had a fairly full life trying. As far a remaining focused on trading ... much of what I write has an ulterior motive - in the act of showing that I have shortcomings in the way I trade, I am aware that there is an unspoken readership out there with identical struggles. The replies and responses I received have been fantastic - I asked for it because I understood months ago that this was a forum where one could safely ask simple questions and not get destroyed by the rush to be sarcastic and witty from a bored, old-boys gallery. That assessment remains as true now as it was when I realised it. People like yourself are making great contributions by staying on course and being objective - even if the truth stings just a bit sometimes. My self-disclosure exposes me to ridicule, yet no one ridicules me. Inviting the critique of others does not threaten me, though the human side of me recognises the vulnerability of doing so. Yet instead of falling, I feel I am actually providing a platform for others to feel secure in contributing much of the same. In that respect, we are slowing building a powerful forum - not in the sense of a website ... but in the sense that members can post away whatever is bothering them about their trading, and do so in the knowledge that SOMEONE is listening and caring. Someone will respond, and someone will help. The "forum" I speak of, is a place in the collective mind of the membership of this site, where frank and meaningful discussion takes place without intentional detraction. Isn't that great. Precious. Now all the things in the last paragraph have NOTHING to do with live trading, or remaining focused on trading and its difficulties. But they have everything to do with the development of this forum as a place of learning. It is not possible to discuss ONLY trades and trading on a forum - otherwise the thing would die. We could simply use Skype etc to chat about live trades, strategy etc. No - a forum has to be a place where traders can evolve from the newbie to the mature and successful practitioner of the art. That's why Traders Laboratory would be the top forum in the world in my view, and that's why your comments are so very accurate and right in-context. It's all here - or at least someone knows where it is, if it is not. My long-winded posts put people off reading, I guess - far too long. But I can not help getting it on paper, so to speak - I am compelled to ramble on! I enjoy your contributions - and I welcome the cutting edge of your views.

... and his prices!!!

No - I would be writing novels and spending more time with family and friends. I might even get to meet some of you blokes and gals!

Rande - You don't mention that Jan Arps carried other baggage he might have needed to deal with. Perhaps he struggled with the discipline his father imposed on him "from an early age" and perhaps he secretly loathed the trading industry and really wanted to be a sculptor. We are not informed of this side of Jan Arp's psyche - only the feel-good bit that justifies achieving the state of fearless trading. My philosophy of trading is based on such a strong and passionate commitment to mastering my chosen field, that I will endure whatever it takes to become a skilled trader. I believe that the protective methodology I utilise is based on crashing, or crashing through. I and many like me did not have the fortunate (or unfortunate) upbringing that Jan Arps did, and to be honest I have probably enjoyed my trading journey as much as Jan Arps has his. Perception and gratitude are everything in measuring satisfaction and contentment. Success in life, to me, is NOT measured by the dollars I have banked by the end of they year. It is measured by the difference I have been able to make in my journey towards achieving my dream. I am averse to risk (at the moment) because this is how I am dealing with my fear. But - wonder-of-wonders, I AM overcoming my risk-shy nature, and every trade I take teaches me boldness I never knew I possessed. I can NOT get this from a course, a book, a mentor or (and you probably knew I would say this) from a Psychologist. But I AM enjoying the breakthroughs and the small successes. I am not in a hurry, nor do I have an urgency to "succeed." What I do wonder about in those times when I am having difficulty finding "safe" trades (and I have said this publicly here) is whether I am cut from the cloth of a trader. In those times I wonder if I will ever truly reach the status of "good" trader. But such moments are fleeting - I know I am on my true path, my passion and my destiny. My greatest fear is that I may one day forget my roots, and look with some shallow disdain, on fellows who will be then, where I used to be. God save me from ever suffering that arrogance, and from having the temerity to believe I am somehow better than others for having "arrived." Not sure if it really is: "a very different world than Jan Arps" at all. You say so, but I believe at whatever level we exist, we will STILL need to deal with the same kinds of fears and challenges. We just move into more complex challenges, in my view. Having a fear, or facing a challenge need not be pathological. I think what we really need to work on is the courage to face these things and be "over-comers." I am not so sure about: "At some moment, a person has to choose how they will take the bull by the horns and change their perceptual map ..." Maybe it is possible to overcome the challenges without taking those kinds of decisions. Maybe enlightenment is an inherent result, spawned by the process of facing challenges. I think that once one decides to truly COMMIT to solving a problem, then the answers will come. That is a different process, in my view, from one where one solves the problems by association with non-related analogies. You really can not substitute the thrill of participating in mountain climbing with watching it on DVD. As much as the photographer makes you feel a part of the experience, it can never match the achievement of the climber who actually and truly succeeds in the climb. To "make the climb" by proxy (3-D or Blue Ray DVD) is to somehow cheat oneself of the real thrill of crashing, or crashing through. To me, trading is the same - the value is in the journey - success is secondary ... important ... but secondary. Agree - and I choose to use my God-given gifts to benefit others while achieving the breakthroughs. I am well aware of the possibilities of achieving a breakthrough by OTHER means than staying the course. I have eyes wide open, and face all challenges. I have been born with certain inherent abilities to exercise courage. And I have been born with human intelligence - not an ounce more ... or an ounce less - just an amount of intelligence that can not be measured nor compared to others, because we are unique. What did the "good teachers" teach you that cost you money? Are you talking about trading, academie, psychology, language, sport? And in what way did "not seeking out teachers cost (you) time and money" - this is what you could build your case on. This is worth knowing, and this would be really helpful to readers. Yes - I agree: "The choice is always yours/(mine)." And I don't think I have been influenced in any way to take anything BUT my own choices in these matters. It is NOT belligerence nor stubbornness - it is perception and decision based on assessment, opportunity, goals and outcomes. If you could walk in my shoes, I think you would agree. I aim for the thrill of achieving the goal the adventurous way, AND reaping the rewards of owning the goal. That's a grand disposition with which to endow one's life.

Perhaps ZDO - you may be right. Keep in mind the title is a play on words - nothing scientific intended at all - just like the forum is not really a scientific "Traders Laboratory". Hope you didn't take any of the figurative language literally. If you have read much of my ramblings you would at once see that I use anecdote, analogy, allegory and now alliteration, to make my points I stand by the dump on TRO - all he did was post up a one-line criticism, plus a big advertising splash of what you can read on 19 out of 20 of his posts on his own thread. There was no invitation to dialogue, nor opportunity to discuss. Counter-productive. If you read my original couple of posts, you would understand that this is not about me - I got the ball rolling with an example of my own, and as you can see there has been much useful input following that. But soon we will be done with Ingot54 and his trading setup - I have already resolved and defused much personal trading angst this week, purely by allowing scrutiny of my setup and trading rationale. I hope to respond later today to those with the generosity to bother to comment on what I have disclosed. Just as the vulnerabilty associated with self-disclosure carries risk, so too does it offer rewards, and I believe I have received those from the forum membership. Next, the thread is hopefully going to move on to other traders with problems, and I would like to throw worth into the discussion to help them too. Sorry if my play on words appeared to be alluding to scientific analysis, and pathology in a literal sense - it was merely/only tongue-in-cheek to attract interest. Obviously it has achieved that, and next I hope the true objective will be achieved - that of really getting down to serious problem-solving. This forum is going places. I am pleased you have chosen to contribute - thank you.

I agree the snapshot does not provide much information, which makes it fairly difficult to make an objective assessment. I have added another chart with more detail. The idea was to conceal the currency pair and TF, but I see there is as much to be gained by knowing at which stage of the trend our trade occurred. I have added a chart with more disclosure ... the GBJPY 15M from 10th March 2011 @ 2000 hrs. Two of the indicators are "compulsory" triggers. In order for a setup to be valid, we must be seeing the crossing of the 4EMA with the 10SMA. Put these on a chart and you will notice the reliability of the combination. The other is the 4 - 21 - 1 - 5 MACD. The other two indicators are for fine-tuning. For example, the Multi-stoch needs to be crossing 23.6 from below, or 76.4 from above, or have recently achieved this. As well, the stochastic lines need to be fairly tight, or at least orderly. If the stochs are fish-netted, then it indicated range-bound price, and it is not a good time to enter. This would be evident on the chart anyway - eg as price seen to be oscillating in a 40-pip range. By the way - the RED line in the Multi-Stochastic indicator is simply the 14-3-3 stoch. The RSI also confirms timing of entry - the RSI trend needs to be strongly towards the zero line, or have already crossed. It is the weakest of the indicators, and may be ignored if strong signals occur from the others. Note that I have not seen a conflict yet, but I have been saved from a poor entry by RSI not being "ready". You can clearly see that after the down-move ending around 133.00 price began to be range-bound. The Indicators - particularly RSI - dissuaded me from attempting to re-enter. MACD was rising, slightly counter-trend if anything, which is typical of consolidating price - no momentum. See earlier comment for part of reply. Exit is achieved when MA's cross again in opposite direction, or if crossing seems inevitable. At the same time, the MACD signal line will be confirming the weakening of momentum. If not then I re-check the higher TF - we might only be witnessing a pull-back. Stochastic and RSI usually play no part in exits, though a re-crossing of the 23.6/76.4 for stochs, and the zero line for RSI, would be strong positive exit signals. But this will not occur before the MA cross, or the MACD exit signals anyway. It is like baking a cake - you get to know the mix of ingredients, and you get to know when the oven is hot enough, or too hot/cool. You can't leave out an ingredient without risking spoiling the result. Explained above. This is something I could probably investigate to yield very useful information. This afternoon (our time) I managed to squeeze 27 pips from the GBPCHF on the 15M TF, as price dropped through the DAILY PP. I didn't trade the bounce, where around 75 pips could have been very easily harvested. I need to be aware of these sharper reversals as excellent opportunities too, and trade what I am seeing, not what I am expecting. Having said that, I do frequently refer back to the higher TF to "keep in touch" with the strength of the overall trend. I like that last quote of yours: "Anger maybe, but not damage." I can see how that is true if one is prepared for all possible outcomes and combinations. Where there can be no surprises, there can be no loss of confidence (damage). Thanks for those comments MM. Will respond to other comments tomorrow - have to sign out for now. All comments noted and much appreciated.

That could be a possibility Tradewinds, but what happens with fake-outs and false breaks? Should we be requiring confirmation of the move before entry? What about whipsaw activity, or range-bound prices? I can follow your reasoning on it, because there is that nice hammer candle signaling a higher probability of a reversal there. I guess this comes with experience. I would have seen that long tail (which would have been red at the time) as a continuation of the current (then) downtrend - particularly with the Stochastic being in strongly trending (under 20) territory. But then, I wouldn't have been in at that point - it was 5 candles too late for entry in the short direction. Aah! Yes - good point - price action opportunity for entry - a higher high following that long tail! Thanks for pointing that out. That confirms the need to be THINKING at all times - not just blindly following indicators. Exactly - and this is why I do an analysis that includes the higher TF. If the higher trends are showing continuation, then entry on pullbacks in lower TF can be a high probability play for entry. I like your thoughts on taking a long entry on a price drop. It takes experience and a bit of guts to take those entries, but I am not sure of the proportion of each that is required. Obviously the more experience, the less guts required ... and only screen time can deliver that. Thanks for the input - that has broadened my mind.

TRO - what you have done on this thread is spread your own thread all over the top of this one. Anyone that can read has probably read all of the above from you just about every time you post. For that reason I no longer read your thread - the repetition is exasperating. I have already read your methodology and rejected it as unsuitable for my trading approach and style. However, it may suit others - unsure about that, because I see very little discussion on your thread. Are you asking me to discard my methodology entirely and to adopt yours? I do not see that as a technical solution, given that I asked for a discussion on the technical setup in the chart that was posted. You seem to have misread the intent of this thread - we are looking at the technical pathology of a setup. We are attempting - any of us - to place a trading situation "under the microscope" - so as to help each other with ideas about what is wrong with particular setups. I find nothing educational or diagnostic about your statement: which then fails to elaborate on W-H-Y the "squiggly lines" might be "wrong" ... in your view they are "just wrong" ... period. I am aware - well aware actually - of your trading philosophy and business model. I am also apprised of the way you treat those who disagree with you in any way. And it is small wonder that few venture onto your threads to attempt to engage you in meaningful dialogue regarding any technical enlightenment. I see your method if discussion has always been "Avery's way or the highway", and since it has worked so well for you, I will adopt the same tactic. I invite you to leave your proprietary-and-for-sale indicators and strategies at the door as you come in here. Otherwise, collect them as you leave - the highway is over to the left! Meanwhile - the invitation remains: You are welcome to present any setup that you are having difficulty with, so that the members of TL can examine it, and see whether any consensus view can be reached. We are willing to help you with your trading problems. Now - please don't come back with any of your "Jumbo-747-cockpit" instrument/indicator mazes and ask the readers to try to understand it as an "alternative" setup, or as a solution. Most of us are not in the market for your latest pip-hoover! We are looking at trades in this light: By the way - there are other more appropriate sections of the forum where you may post strategies ... just not here. If you are having technical difficulties with your own approach, feel free to post a chart, and request help ... that's what we are doing on this thread. Thank you for your interest - please stick to the defined topic.

Safira - I would be extremely pleased if the use of Pivots DOES become outdated and obsolete - that means that those of us who use them will once again have an edge!

Far from being bored, Chris - I find this kind of information extremely helpful. In fact I see that just the R3/S3 strategy could be enough to keep a trader happy - a one-a-week trading situation. I too find the DD too much waiting for the Weekly Pivots to be hit, but the R3/S3 is a different matter. Interesting phenomenon ... thanks for sharing.

Yes Steve - I did note those charts - thank you. My main issue is that I have been trying to get away from the computer - out to 4H or Daily trades. To do that you need large SL orders, and when we are seeing huge volatility, it makes trading the 4H untenable for retail traders. I don't have the ticker to attempt 4H at the moment. Sure it would have been great for scalpers, but the higher TF guys would also certainly need to have been on the correct side of the move, or they would be toast. Fortunately I did not see the volatility personally, until I turned on the charts next day. But I became quite frustrated at the loss of trends. I have not had enough experience to manage volatility-in-trending markets, so I am afraid the opportunity was totally wasted on me. The CHF is only today resuming its down-trend (for USDCHF traders) or uptrend for Globex Futures traders, but who knows how long that will last, in view of the situations in Japan and Libya? World events seem to be conspiring to keep traders close to their mouse-pads. We could turn on the news later to find some 400-pip knee-jerk has wiped all the gains off the Aussie, or the Swissie. I don't trade volatility - at least not the chop. I don't mind if the movement is spread a little more casually - allows me time to detect the trends etc. Thus my questioning whether I really want to be a part of this insanity for much longer. I have become a very much different and more focused trader over the years since I began, but markets too have become more incorrigible too. It is like a constant game of "catch-up" which can not be won. If I can't get to enjoy this, it is pointless participating. Might be better to scalp oil, like I did 3 years ago!

OK - here is an unknown setup in an unknown time frame. I have purposely left out those details so that no one would check to see what happened, and give advice after the fact. The point is that I took both trades. 1) What was the risk with the first (successful) setup? 2) What is wrong with the second setup. Remember we take all trades as they present from the RHS of the screen. We do not know what the next candle is going to do. So what are the grey areas - points that need special care? Defining possible risks AT THE TIME OF analysis can go a very long way towards building confidence in trading the setup. It is only when the unforeseen occurs, and the trader has no clue why it occurred, or how to be prepared for it that damage to confidence can creep in. Would you have taken this second setup? (or indeed the first?) Why ... ?

This forum wouldn't truly be a Traders Laboratory unless we placed trading situations under the microscope for diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. In this thread I propose to attack the pathogens of trading by coming at it from a different direction. Usually we assemble our favourite indicators on our charts, and stalk the trades, until we think we have the target situation confined and controlled. It does work out enough times to keep us interested, but frequently not well enough to make us contented as traders. So what I hope to do on this thread, is to present a "great" setup, and freeze the frame right there. I say "freeze" so that before we take the setup, we actually submit the setup to the "panel of scientists" (membership of TL) for their views on what they see as "wrong" with the trade. This is in contrast to finding setups first, taking the trades, and later looking back to see "what went wrong?" Let's see if we can spot the difficulties before they occur - diagnose the disaster before it becomes toxic to the account. Note - we do not have to play the trade out - that would be good to see the results of course. But the value in this should be in the varied input from traders, because we are all going to see trading setups differently. Feel free to add trades of any instrument - this is the FX section - but because of the nature of the discussion, I hope we can tolerate a little cross-pollination this time.

Here is the link to the new thread: Traders Laboratory - Professional Traders Community - Forum Rules I hope I am not hijacking your intention here Steve, and am happy to continue here if you think the thread can be saved. But I am truly hoping for participation in more specific think-tank stuff.

Hi Steve I recognise that you have spent quite a lot of time and energy to try to generate interest in methods that you have clearly found useful. I have read with interest many of your posts and enjoy the simplicity of the approach. I have also shared links to your threads with a friend who is not (yet) a member here, but who trades the ES. However I admit to not understanding your setups well. And I guess this is due, in part, to the fact that I am a bit one-eyed - I trade only Forex and occasionally Oil and metals. I hope you don't pull the plug here. If your employer is influencing you to not post on certain markets, then would you consider a thread on any of Forex, metals or oil/energy? I would find that of value. Your style of posting is quite authoritative, and this can sometimes cause others to react, rather than be persuaded to join in positively. I would rather spend energy nailing the markets than in nailing each other, so if you have any suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Having now come so close to getting control of my trading, but not quite kicking butt yet, I am reluctant to change instruments. But I do recognise a lot can be learned from traders like yourself, Mysticforex, TheNegotiator, Tams, Siuya, MighyMouse and others who don't post frequently. I am going to start a new thread, and I invite you to contribute if you will - as well as any other member of course. This might be a different approach to trading diagnostics, and I will link back to it here. Thank you for your time and input to this forum - I am certain I am not alone in recognising what you are trying to share, and putting our personalities aside, I hope something useful can come of future discussions. I am not a good range trader, and this is probably costing me, because I tend to constantly see breakouts as the beginnings of trends. It hurts particularly when I believe I have entered a good early trend, only to have it snap back and stop me out. This does not happen when I scalp the 15M TF for 20 - 30 pips, but I can not nail the higher TF as I would like. My next post in this thread will give the link to the new thread. Cheers

What a brilliant insight $5DAW. What a reassuring and timely post this is. In a trading world where we are just bleeding to get the most powerful hardware with the fastest software execution, here is a guy who says: "Whoa there guys! Take 5. Take a breather. You can do this - but don't try to take them on at the tick level. Let them reveal their play, and run with them." I find this kind of attitude and insight precious beyond words. Thanks mate - this is the thought for the week, for me.

Thank you John. We have not been here long - it is very "country" in the Provincial sense, and suits our needs at the moment. We like it. I think people who Google "Hervey Bay Queensland" will get an amazing surprise when they view the satellite map of our area - truly amazing fishing, and a quiet lifestyle with city services (mostly). I believe all people are the same - we just want to get to the bottom of things, and then share what we have found with others who are also seeking. I believe in the goodness of human nature - but sometimes the human being can lose sight of the bigger picture, when they opt to take the easy road to a few quick dollars. My goal in trading has never been to become wealthy, though if I ever get a decent handle on it, I would surely welcome that outcome. No - my goal is to make a smooth transition from my current vocation, to trading for a similar income. It is not such a big ask ... but at the same time, it is not an easy thing. The next step is to reach out to help others do the same. Why would I want to do that? Remember Abraham Maslow's "Hierarchy of Human Needs"? (Google it for greater understanding) 1. Physiological needs 2. Safety needs 3. Love and belonging 4. Esteem 5. Cognitive needs 6. Aesthetic needs 7. Self-actualisation 8. Self-transcendence ( this one does not appear on the pyramid attached below, but is recognised today as a legitimate need). The latter couple of points have become a little blurred over the years, as people have sought to add to the list. But it matters not whether they are in the correct order, or whether we have them all, or whether we have stuffed the list around in other ways. What really matters is that we understand that there IS a list, and that if we can achieve the steps upwards as we live our lives, then we "should" be living a fairly contented existence, and perhaps we might call ourselves "happy." I hope so - because I do get a buzz out of making some kind of difference - even if my approach is sometimes too verbose, or even if I am sometimes too simplistic, too altruistic, or a bit too wide of the mark. It does not matter - I am teachable ... like the rest of us I hope - and learning persists throughout life. The point of this essay is to highlight why it is that people don't just keep good stuff to themselves. And this is where Maslow comes into it ... in my view ... ... Transcendence This is the bit where we get out of ourselves and our selfishness, and reach out to others ... not with a "hand-out" but with a "hand-up." To me, there is no greater buzz than to be able to help a fellow human being to achieve a little better situation than he might have otherwise had. Don't you agree? Whether he deserves it or not does not come into it. The fact that he is needy, is everything. We simply do not know when an act of kindness will have a knock-on effect for goodness, and when it might make a mighty difference in the world. In January it was reported that the Tunisian President's wife took 1.5 tons of gold with her when they fled the country (Google for it). Whether this was true or not is immaterial. The situation is, that somebody thought they were privileged, and that this entitled them to steal from the country and the people who supported them in their corruption over many years. The people suffered so much that finally they rebelled and ousted the these privileged and corrupt ones, according to reports (who really knows?) Now tell me - how much longer will these people live - and how good will they truly feel about themselves? Where do you think they sit on the Maslow Scale? I would put them at about position 2 - "Safety Needs", because as sure as apples, they can not have Love and belonging Esteem Cognitive enjoyment Aesthetic enjoyment Self-Actualisation and certainly their actions have shown that they are bereft of any Transcendence of self. This is not to judge them - there is only One Judge. No - this is to illustrate the futility of living for greed's sake. The futility of living to rip people off, and to profit through beguiling others. In my work I see the demise of the physical human being in their last days and hours. I can tell you - they don't call for their gold, or their accountant in those hours. No - they call for family and friends. We only have today. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is a dream. Make it count for goodness, and for goodness' sake. Anyway - back to trading issues - I apologise for the digression.

Interesting, Kaiser. Could you please elaborate on : a) "various self-improvement methods starting from past-life regressions" eg what do you mean by that? and b) " using vibrational essences" eg what are these "vibrational essences" and how are they applicable to successful trading? How did it help you? What else, other than "past life regressions" and "vibrational essences" do you think might be required in order to be a good trader? How did you discover that you were "pre-programmed to losing money"? I too would be interested to know the answers. We could be looking at some major breakthroughs here ... or not! Obviously Rande has not picked up on these kinds of issues that you have - but he is very happy to offer you his help anyway, regardless of whether you might really be a suitable candidate for learning to trade well or not, through his therapeutic approach and intervention . I would have expected a trained psychologist to have asked the questions that I raised - but he seemed to skim over everything you said, and went straight into his marketing spiel. You will learn how to confront demons - psychological ones - and you will get a free webinar to convince you of your pathology, plus a book which you must pay for. By the time you have: 1) experienced the free webinar, and 2) read the book, you will indeed be: a) convinced your trading problems are in your head and b) Rande has the answers and the exact therapy you will need to get you to the success club. Obviously all you have taken away from this thread is that you need someone to hold your hand while you excuse yourself from taking responsibility for your failed trading experience. I strongly suggest you heed the clues that the esoteric Mr Howell has given you, that he is truly unable to assist you: but it should be a fun time anyway, as you spend your way to the end of the course, only to discover that everything you need to do is already contained in this thread ... for free ... particularly in post #1 ... here: http://www.traderslaboratory.com/forums/f37/your-mama-doesnt-trade-so-wise-9278.html There are indeed golden keys that fit the door to the executive washroom ... but they are earned, not bought.