I listened to Ben Sturgill's webinar today, on the psychology of trading. It was really great. Takeaways:

1) The #1 thing to do as a new trader - is RISK MANAGEMENT. Not blowing up. As a new driver, not killing anyone on the road, or yourself. Isn't it true?

To quote Warren Buffett - CLOSE the door. Ignore outsiders. Groupthink. Really... it boils down to planning a trade and trading the plan. Actually executing the mechanics of a plan to get in, and when to get out. 

He made an interesting analogy about poker players and how the best players have managed to continue through endless rounds that we do not see. Only the most exciting rounds make it on TV. I forgot what he called it but it was an interesting comparison to make. To survive trading is actually the key, particularly at the start. The reality is that there is a psychology to trading I have to face - within myself - that stops me from executing when I know I should. Why don't I? What makes me believe I can beat the market, that the stock will come back, that I'll win and beat the odds? Notably the odds are NOT in my favor as a new trader. It's getting the mechanics and understanding the entire ecosystem, and getting better incrementally, and cutting losses quickly that will keep me from losing all the gains I've made.

Slowly building an account is like building muscle and shedding fat. Of course it will take time. Of course it requires patience, for someone who wants things yesterday. But the only thing I've got to beat is are my own statistics, not someone else's.

For me - it's managing to ignore the noise and focus on the fundamentals of a stock pattern. The candles. What I am focused on to dictate whether I'm in, out, or still in.

Practice makes permanent...not perfect. Practice improvement, not perfection.