"AH HA" moment

Fellow Traders - (and gamblers. )

I am fairly new to this game, but have been making improvement over the last few months.

I keep reading that there will be an AH HA moment, where I suddenly learn something that could possibly turn everything around. The moment where I "get" it.

So my question is this: When was your moment? And what was that moment? (I just read where someone noticed specific patterns normally lead to specific changes in price. In fact they don't use any indicators beyond trend lines.)

I would love to hear your moment, as I am still awaiting mine.

this thread exists already: that said, if you have only one of these moments, you arent done yet.

I agree with november15th...once you start having these "Aha" moments...they really don't stop happening, as long as you continue to focus, work hard, and have a conscious/subconscious/unconscious burning desire to improve your trading skills and ideas. For me, the only "single" defining moment of truth, was when I decided to dedicate my life to this endeavor.

My first of many was learning that $1000 in a mini account was a poor idea. I'd almost bust it, replenish, bust, replenish and on and on. When I switched to microlots I could focus on learning to trade without the stress of losing 15 or 20% of my account 3 days in a row. I call it surrendering to proper MM. I fought it hard for two years, then finally gave in to the wisdom of those that are doing it right. That first epiphany opened the door to many more.

http://www.forexfactory.com/showpost...20&postcount=1

(It's good) (Hi-five!)

My Aha moment was when I realized that trading with the trend really is the best of the two options out there. I still will go against the trend, but I risk a fraction of what I put on a trend trade. It took me years to get that simple fact even though I read it countless number of times. We humans can be pretty damn thick at times.

This was my AHA moment as well I'm waiting to fully master trend trading first, then I might look at counter-trend trading. ATM, I prefer to watch my account grow using the little bit of skill I have. Fortunately, I found this place quite early on, and saved myself some time, and grief.

AH HA!
It is EASIER to lose money in 4X than make it! ! ! !

Since that moment I have had more light pass through my brain down to my wallet. I have had about 5 other AHHAs. Most of them are about controlling the trading impulse.

Now, making a consistent profit is sooooo nice.

My first Ah Ha moment was when I realised two things at almost the exact same time many years ago.

1) Dont look for trades that aren't there.
2) I'd rather be sorry I missed a trade, than be sorry I made a trade.

Thank you to all who answer this post.

I don't know that I will learn some great new insight from it, but it helps to know how others progress, if nothing else, it gives you a benchmark on yourself. But then again, I receive great input from the strangest places.

I have learned that if my 2 year old son buys the AUD/USD pair, it's going to be a winner. (He has done this for daddy 3 times, up 14 pips. )

I have only been doing this for about 6 months, and yes....I have tried to reinvent the wheel a few times.

As far as humans being thick, I can fall into that category. After all, I had no other experience trading at all before Forex. My thought was something like this: "If I can MASTER (see, I was being thick by even thinking that.) this Forex thing, the other markets should be easy."

However, since I only trade what I can afford to lose, I guess it's all good on this end. If nothing else, this can be a fun hobby. I am sure it will be an even more fun hobby when I am making 22 billion dollars a month, and my biggest job is to not get too hungover whilst drinking $5,000/bottle champagne and lighting my Cuban cigars with 500 Euro Bills. Oh, and don't forget the 7 Gulfstream jets, each a different color, because I always prefer red on Mondays, green on Tuesdays, etc.

Thank you all who have replied, and those who will. One thing I have learned is that someday I would like to be another Jacko, I would like to be in the place to offer insight to the generation after me. I feel that you should always give what you receive. This is what makes FF a good site.

clockwork

The traders who consistently make a profit in forex aren't focused on a huge mountain of cash that will be theirs. They have learned one basic thought to start with -

It is easier to lose money in Forex than it is to make it.
Therefore, I will focus on finding the best set of conditions and entry for my next trade. That's what traders do who treat Forex like a business. If you want to make money in Forex you will not do it when it's a hobby and when you are focused on how you are going to spend money you have not earned yet. Focus on how to spend your time looking for best entries and exits. Your path to your first million is made of a long string of best entries and exits.

No risk No gain.I think Forex market is a risky market...

My "AH HA" moment was when I came to the conclusion that one with little knowledge but using that knowledge wisely in an efficient way will make the same, if not more benefit out of the market then the one with tons of knowledge but not using that knowledge in an efficient matter.
In short, its more about solid procedures and confidence which will overshadow extra knowledge of elliot waves/patterns whatsoever.

I had this as one my Ahas.
Just knowing and appreciating this, is completely a different thing.
The simplest wisdom are often the hardest to follow.

I had my equity slapped me so hard in the face and ego that i submit to the wisdom. Now i only trade 1/4 of normal position size when it does feel really good countering, to satisfy the thirst of being a bad boy.

hooked by euphoria "the high" when something seems to make sense quickly replaced by despair "the low" when proven wrong... and back again

Trading the forex is the perfect hobby for the bipolar personality.

I will soon have this Ah ha moment in my trading career, and then I wont look back. iA Ameen

When I started thinking like W.D. Gann and Jesse Livermore. I quickly became a contrarian and figured out the mathematical laws of the market.

- trade only when you are 'sure' - which means when you are confident about that trade (preserving money and know when not to be in trade is very important)
- trade only when risk control is good, don't try to catch move when it's already gone 'cause good risk control is gone with it
- don't trade just based on price action, PA must be around some resistance or support
- you don't have to catch every move, just part of some move in which you are confident, which you recognize... (this still frustrates me sometimes, when i sit and waitting for higher probability setup with good r:r and recognizable pattern around S/R, and watching price moving gets me wanting to capture just 5/10 pips of all that moves i watch whole day even if i don't have my setup, but that would be gambling, i still gotta work on that one)

I had about 30 AH-HA moments before getting things straight.

Hint: if you still are excited about forex system you are not there yet.

Have a great weekend folks!