• iTunes
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Home
  • Courses
  • eBooks
  • Library
  • The Empowered Trader Club
  • BST LIVE
  • About
Better System Trader

Better System Trader

Better System Trader is the podcast and blog dedicated to systematic traders, providing practical tips from trading experts around the world.

A trading lesson from the ‘slow walkers’

In my younger days, I was impatient. VERY impatient.

I was living in Sydney (Surry Hills) and every day I would walk to and from my job in the city (Martin Place).

During my walk there was one thing that really bugged me almost every single day…

The ‘slow walkers’.

Indecisive people who were strolling along in a daze, not sure where they were going, what was happening around them or the line of frustrated people stuck behind them trying to get past.

Then I’d get to work and I’d be working at a cracking pace, getting slightly annoyed at people who were taking too long to get their tasks done, or just couldn’t keep up.

Everything was rush, rush, rush.

In my trading however, one of the strategies I was trading at the time was a weekly rotational system, where I’d only check the trades on the weekend and enter/exit on Mondays.

It was a fairly profitable strategy; however it was SLOW – some trades would be held for months as they slowly ground higher (or lower for shorts).

For an impatient person like me, it was the equivalent of watching paint dry.

Boring!

You can probably guess that I didn’t stick with that strategy for too long.

It didn’t match my personality or beliefs, so I couldn’t trade it.

I wanted things to happen quickly, I wanted to be busy taking loads of trades, not sitting around waiting. I wasn’t a ‘slow walker’.

Over time I’ve mellowed out a bit and my views on life and trading have changed (it happened pretty quickly once kids arrived on the scene and lack of sleep became the norm!).

And I’ve realised how important it is to have a trading approach that really suits you.

Sure, you can fight it for a while, just like I did, but it’s frustrating and tiring, and the odds are pretty good that eventually you’ll lose.

So why not turn it around, use character “flaws” to your advantage:

  • If you like to take it easy – look at longer timeframes, trade “lazy”
  • If you like to be right all the time – look at mean reversion trading, where you can have higher win rates that other trading styles (this is what got me into mean reversion trading)
  • If you’re an adrenaline junkie who trades just so you can have a good ’10-bagger’ story to share at barbecues, try pennystocks. (just kidding – get your thrills outside of the markets)

Don’t try to trade a particular style just because someone else told you to or that it works for them, figure out what works for you.

It may take a few “learning experiences” to really figure out what works, but it will be worth it.

If you’re just starting out and would like to learn more about trading styles, markets, timeframes and much more, download the ‘ultimate roadmap road map for beginning traders‘. It’s free.

Andrew.

Click to download your copy

Released:

15 January 2018

  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • google+
  • pinterest
  • stumbleupon
Too much of a good thing?
The 'Amazon Model' for traders

Related Posts

  • 164 – Performance Accelerators – Steve Ward
  • 061 – Foundations of Trading with Dr Howard Bandy
  • 142 – Mastering the Fundamentals with Martin Lembak
  • 104 – Pulling the trigger in paradise
  • 106 – Can meditation give traders an edge with Adam Grimes

Comments

  1. Trin

    January 16, 2018 at 1:38 am

    Great post! So why not turn it around, use character “flaws” to your advantage? A question most traders could benefit from pondering this question.

    • Andrew Swanscott

      January 17, 2018 at 7:16 pm

      thanks Trin!

Next issue (Apr 2021):

Get the new "The Empowered Trader" monthly newsletter, direct to your door (yes it's printed!)

Click here for more info

Just starting out?

Finally end the frustration and confusion of getting started in system trading...

Download your free copy now

What pro traders are saying about BST

"What really makes the BST podcast stand out is that Andrew is also an experienced trader and can therefore provide incomparable quality and depth in any interview. Thank you for endless inspiration."

Tomas Nesnidal systemsontheroad.com

"The right questions to the right people at the right time."

Nick Radge thechartist.com.au

"This podcast provides unique information, from real traders, interviewed by an experienced trader."

Kevin Davey kjtradingsystems.com

"Andrew is a master at asking difficult and relevant questions."

Perry Kaufman perrykaufman.com

"Professional, to the point and relevant content. Better System Trader should be followed by anyone with an interest in our field."

Andreas Clenow followingthetrend.com

"Andrew has interviewed some great people and I have picked up some useful new insights. His integrity, trading knowledge, light-hearted attitude, curiosity and enthusiasm shine through and enhance each of his podcasts. Given the quality of the information and the price (free!) any serious trader would have to be a fool to not take advantage. Keep it up my friend."

Bob Pardo pardocapital.com

"Andrew seems to have a knack for getting the world's most famous traders to share valuable insights about how they trade for the benefit of the trading community."

Andrew Gibbs halifaxonline.co.nz

"If I had to listen to one trading podcast only, it would be Better System Trader. I am always learning new things and getting research ideas from Andrew’s guests."

Cesar Alvarez alvarezquanttrading.com

"I really enjoy listening to the Better System Trader podcasts. Even though I am in the industry for over 15 years, there is always something new to learn from these. Thank you!"

Martin Lembak striker.com

"Andrew loves traders and draws the most informative and engaging responses out of them."

Art Collins artcollinstrading.com

"The key to better system trading is information.  As a system trader himself, Andrew has unique capability of asking insightful questions that extract the skills of each guest."

John Ehlers www.mesasoftware.com

"I get some of my best ideas from listening to other market participants and Better System Trader is a great resource of conversations with trading professionals."

Michael Cook thetradingmasterclass.com

"Being a trader himself, Andrew drives insightful conversations that uncover gems of practical knowledge that can improve your trading today"

Kris Longmore robotwealth.net

"If you have been looking for that little extra nugget to transform your trading, you will find it at Better System Trader."

Laurent Bernut alphasecurecapital.com

"Listening to BST is a requirement for everyone on our team."

Bert Mouler profluentcapital.com

"I really enjoy the wide variety of topics and perspectives shared in the podcasts and with the interviews done by someone with real life trading experience"

Tim Rea thetradingmasterclass.com

"Knowledgeable and credible guests talk about useful topics in an interesting and engaging discussion. What's not to like?"

Robert Carver systematicmoney.org

Trading stocks, options, futures and forex involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

© 2015 Better System Trader · Disclaimer & Terms · Privacy Policy · Sponsor