|  FEB 1991

Keeping A Trading Journal by Thom Hartle

Keeping A Trading Journal by Thom Hartle Success in trading the markets does not come overnight. It is probable that the novice who profits early and easily in his trading career will view the gains as the easiest money he or she ever made. It is also very likely, however, that the trading newcomer stumbled into a powerful bull market, in his innocence buying the market, either placing stops very far away or not using stops at all and watching mistimed entries become profitable only because of the continued strength of a bull market. Emboldened by his success, the new trader will increase his trading equity and, unfortunately, acquire habits along the way that backfire sooner or later, returning the easily gained equity and more back to the marketplace. At this point, the new trader will be forced to conclude that perhaps this trading business is a lot harder than it appeared at first. The novice has learned a valuable lesson, moving from the blissful but dangerous stage of not knowing what one does not know to the stage of knowing that one does not know. At least now the new trader will not be as dangerous to himself. The novice trader may undertake any number of steps to gain trading experience and wisdom. Of all the approaches that are possible, one of the best to improve trading technique is keeping a trading journal.

by Thom Hartle