As you may have been able to tell by now we don’t spend time on this blog pretending that we do not make mistakes.  We do.  But is your attitude that of Phil Mickelson who views every mistake as a learning experience?  Or will you blame your failures on anyone or anything else other than you?  I got out of my routine at the beginning of the week and my results consequently have suffered.

I grabbed dinner Monday night with a friend at Josie’s on the UWS of Manhattan (try the fettuccine and seared Mahi Mahi…delicious!).  On the way home we were discussing my trading of late.  And I jinxed myself.  As soon as the words came out of my mouth I wanted to take them back immediately.  My friend asked how I have been doing this month and I responded, “I have been positive every day this month.”  I mean seriously, why even bother going to work the next few days.  Talk about setting yourself up for a ripper.   Did you ever wonder why pitchers jump the chalk lines when they leave the mound heading to the dugout?  As I vetern trader I completely understand.

The last few weeks I have been very sick.   I don’t really get sick.  I drink a ton of green tea and this seems to stave off any illnesses.  And I wash my hands religiously, which for those who work in a city is vital.  To finish my recovery I slept in Tuesday and Wednesday.  I figured the extra rest would be needed to fully recover.  But I arrived to the office later than normal.  And Tuesday and Wednesday I was just not as prepared as I normally am.  And both days were not very good days for me.  I was negative on Tuesday and I scratched the entire day on Wednesday.  Yesterday was a rip.  And today has not started so well.

But there is a reason for my underperformance.  I changed my routine.  I have not spent the time carefully selecting the stocks that I was gonna trade.  I was in GS when I should have been in APPL yesterday.   That was a mistake.  I was in AAPL this AM instead of JPM during the Open.  Another mistake.   You are only as good as the stocks that you trade.  And by changing my routine I have hindered my stock selection.

I will spend some time finding some good stocks FOR ME to trade into the Close.  I will make One Good Trade and then One Good Trade.  Perhaps the market will let me put together a nice Close.

Best of luck with your trading!