Bruce Lee once said,
I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks. I fear the man who has practiced one kick, 10,000 times.
To get good at trading, all you need is one method.
You don’t pick an indicator for three weeks, stop for one week, then use another indicator for two months, then give up and try something else.
You have to find ONE method that you like, and STICK with it until you’re consistently profitable.
You have to practice relentlessly, and improve the bits and pieces along the way.
If you want to learn a new language, it doesn’t work to buy a “Japanese for Dummies” book and study it for two weeks, only to get bored with it and then try to read a Spanish novel.
Instead, you’ll have to choose one language and pour everything you have into mastering it. You might even want to move to a country where people speak the language.
In the same way, your success in trading will be determined by how focused you are.
Focus Before Mastery
Unfortunately, it’s not fun to practice the same kick 10,000 times.
But you see… the problem with practicing 10,000 different kicks is that none of them will help you win a fight.
Instead, when you keep drilling just ONE kick 10,000 times, you master a skill that could put someone through a wall.
Repeated Practice Is Boring, But Effective
Naturally, such determined practice won’t be easy to follow.
New indicators will pop up. You’ll meet another trader with a method that looks better. You’ll get tired. You’ll get bored. You’ll want to quit.
And it’s your willingness to keep pushing through the drudgery of focused practice, that will determine your success.
So choose a trading method you want to master, and don’t pay attention to anything else.
Keep practicing it day after day, month after month, year after year.
Just like how focused sunlight sparks a fire, focused practice lights up your path towards an explosive success.
Totally agree Chris! Thanks for the reminder.
Glad you like the post, Duane.
Great Post lee..
Its really true..
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Well stated Chris!
You’ll get bored, you’ll get bored.
I want to try out new things all the time Chris!
Not because what I’m doing doesn’t have edge, but because I like tinkering.
I think I need to learn how to code, just satisfy the need to experiment and create new systems without being burdened with having to trade them.
Hi Jess, yes in that case learning to code will be very helpful.
When i was a kid Bruce Lee was the king of martial arts,I was just getting ready to quit. thanks for your advice!
Chris,
You are quite on point.
Good to spread the message worth practicing.
Regards/Eniola
Everyone, thank you. I hope this post made a difference to your trading.
Wise words indeed and absolutely spot on.
Great piece
Peter
Hi Chris
Fantastic article – love, love, love it!
I noticed when i did the same got results better than i EVER expected…but when i thought no it’s too easy lets expand knowledge and try other strategies…that’s when it hit the fan!
My most important lesson in forex:
Never underestimate the power of simplicity…!!!
Thank you!
Infinite blessings!
Hi Naseema,
Yes, I find that whenever I try to get ‘creative’ with my trades, I get my ass handed to me by the market.
I could not agree with you more Chris and I am in the process of doing just that but must confess that sometimes I find myself “salivating” for setups that are not part of my Trading Plan.
So thanks very much for your valuable confirmation in my case.
Hi Abel,
Yes, I face the same temptation all the time. I’d just have to let go of them.
Hi Chris, absolutely agreed with your statement. We need just One good method.
Can I say that I am the student trader that has profited more from sticking with Chris strategy for years and I have seen the fruits:
Same three years ago my account was $10,000.00. Now this account is over
$30,000.00, just because of adopting Icarus in my own style and sticking with the same strategy of our Mentor, Chris Lee.
Hi Terry,
That’s so great. You’ve stuck to one method and made it your own.
As you know, Icarus is about developing your trading skills, and I’m very happy to hear what you have achieved with them.
🙂
thanks Chris yet again for another insightful precise to the point blog post on trading!!!
Really enjoyed reading all your works & proud to be a fellow Singaporean as well!
Thank you for doing what ya doing “)
Hi Javier,
Thank you, I’m glad you find these posts to be useful. 🙂
Nice post Chris, timely reminder for traders that are having drawdown period. Just stick to it, the sun will rise for sure.
That exactly THE KEY TO SUCCESS in all ENDEAVORS.Thanks a lot Chris!!!