Trading Psychology  |  FEB 2004

Deep Freeze by Adrienne Toghraie

Deep Freeze by Adrienne Toghraie Having trouble pulling the trigger? Stop it right now! At a recent professional basketball game, a 14-year-old girl was preparing for a great honor. She had been selected to sing the national anthem in front of a large and enthusiastic audience. Instead of experiencing the thrill of a lifetime, however, she froze, suddenly unable to remember the lyrics. Seconds ticked by, with the humiliation and embarrassment sweeping over her adding to the whirlwind of fear that consumed her. Then, Maurice Cheeks, the coach for one of the basketball teams, appeared at her side and started to sing, encouraging her to follow his lead. This kind and courageous man coaxed her out of her fear and she managed to finish the song triumphantly. Just as this girl was gripped with fear at the very moment she needed to be performing her best, traders frequently find themselves freezing at the moment when they should be trading their best. Instead of pulling the trigger to take that trade or exiting at the predetermined stop, they freeze. As a result, they stand by helplessly as a tremendous opportunity passes them by or their losses pile up into a financial catastrophe. Afterward, filled with remorse, guilt, and self-recrimination, they search for the reasons for their failure.

by Adrienne Laris Toghraie