• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Locke In Your Success

Locke In Your Success

Learn how to create income from options trading

  • Home
    • About
    • Testimonials
    • Our Team
      • Sherri Locke
      • Stephen Hammit
      • John Locke
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Coaching
    • Fundamentals In Trading Library
    • Options Trading for Income Weekly Webinar
    • GO Ask A Trader Sessions
    • Trading With The Pros
    • Trading Performance Sessions
    • Market Outlook Weekly Webinars
    • Personal Coaching Sessions
  • Become A Member
    • GO Membership
    • PRO Membership
    • Trading Performance Membership
    • Market Outlook Membership
    • Basic Membership
    • Membership Level Comparison
    • Trade Alert Services
  • Trading Courses
    • Options Trading Strategies
      • The Bull
      • Quick & Dirty Broken Wing Butterfly
      • The Super Bull
      • The Bear
      • Unbalanced Butterfly 1 and 2
      • M3.4u
      • V32
      • X4 System
      • Bearish Butterfly
      • M3
      • The ROCK
      • M21 System
    • Trading Performance Courses
      • Advanced Personal and Position Management
      • Broken Wing Butterfly Master Course
      • The Trading Triangle
      • Trader Transformation Workshop
      • Ultimate Income Trader Workshop
      • How To Best Utilize Calendar Spreads
    • Enriching Sessions
      • Performance Parking Portfolio
      • Boost Trading Results Through Proper Back Testing
      • Managing Risk When Entering, Exiting, or Rolling Positions
      • Far Out M3
      • How To Build Winning Trade Plans
      • Reading Your T+0 Line
      • Trading Lab – Design a Trade
      • Trading Lab – M3LT
      • ROCK’in 2018
      • Trading Lab – Roll Baby Roll Index
  • FREE Resources
    • Free Options Trading Consultation
    • Options Trading FAQ
    • Trading Performance Podcast
    • The Winning Trade
    • Successful Trader Presentations
    • TRADING SUCCESS BLUEPRINT
    • FREE Basic Membership
    • Calendar
    • Recommended Reading List
    • Brokerage Firm Selection Process
    • Fundamentals In Trading Definitions
    • Trader Inspiration
    • Financial Freedom Classroom
  • Blog
  • Log In

A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skillful Sailor

December 18, 2014 by John Locke 4 Comments

ID-100265535People are made for challenges. When we respond to challenges, we become alert. As we move and think to overcome those challenges, we build physical and emotional muscle. We open up our bodies and minds to new possibilities. We learn and grow at an astounding pace, becoming stronger and creating amazing things.

In the absence of challenge however, the opposite happens. We become lazy. With no need to move or think, our strength and skills deteriorate.  Our reflexes become slow and our minds close down.

This is why I warn of the dangers of a smooth sea. Everyone is a great trader when the market is calm and predictable. When things are going favorably the money comes easy. Even new traders can do extremely well with poorly designed trading systems in these types of environments.

This is dangerous for both the beginner and the expert. The beginner who does well right off the bat thinks trading is easy. He often becomes overconfident and scales up in size too quickly for his skill level, often setting himself up for disaster. The seasoned trader also has problems in calm markets. The lack of challenge for extended periods of time allows him to become lazy. This dulls his senses and weakens his skills, also resulting in overconfidence. Not because the trader never had skills but because his skills have deteriorated and he often isn’t aware of it. This once again can be a set up for disaster.

In a choppy market however, trading is much more difficult. Difficult times separate the dreamers who are looking for success, if it is convenient and easy, from the people who are absolutely committed to changing their lives and becoming professional traders.

This is why I love the choppy markets both as a mentor and a trader.

The “convenient and easy” traders will either quit or jump trading systems when times get tough. Good riddance. Don’t get me wrong. I care deeply about people and want to see them succeed. However, at the same time I know they’ll never succeed as long as they‘re looking for a “convenient and easy” way to do so. They’ll have a much better chance of succeeding if they stop trading now, reevaluate what they really want, and become committed to that rather than wasting all their time and money looking for a lottery ticket in the market. If they ultimately decide to commit to being a great trader, I welcome them back with open arms.

What about the committed traders? Yes, choppy markets can be frustrating. You may feel stressed. You may even lose money. But welcome the experience. Trading is a high-performance, high stress game. It’s not for everybody.  But for those who are committed to learning the skills and proper mindset, for those who love the challenge, for those of you who love the excitement and growth associated with becoming financially independent though trading, tough markets will accelerate your learning and bring you closer to your dreams much faster than a series of easy, profitable months.ID-100283191

Treasure the challenge; it will mold you into the person you need to become to reach your dreams!

John Locke

For more information on how to thrive as a trader visit lockeinyoursuccess.com

 

“Storm Warning Signpost Represents Forecasting Danger Ahead” image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Ships in Storm” image courtesy of winnond at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Trading Psychology Tagged With: $rut, $spx, bearish butterfly, calendar, capital, complex, condor, discussions, iron, john locke, Locke In Your Success, m3, Market Commentary, Option Trading Education, options, options education, options trading strategies, psychology, SMB, spreads, technical analysis, trading triangle, training, tribe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chan says

    December 22, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Awesome. Love the M3. Happy holidays and may the new year bring in a lot of health, wealth and happiness to you and yours. Thanks for teaching the M3 to all of us.

    Log in to Reply
    • John Locke says

      December 22, 2014 at 10:23 pm

      Thanks Chan! Happy Holidays to you as well!

      Log in to Reply
  2. Ray MacHardy says

    December 21, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Very well said, and thank you for saying it.

    Log in to Reply
    • John Locke says

      December 21, 2014 at 10:52 pm

      Thanks Ray!

      Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Winning Trade Episode 84
  • Stock Market Emotions!
  • The Winning Trade Episode 83
  • Trading Reality Distortion
  • The Winning Trade Episode 82

Categories

Search

Copyright © 2022 · Locke In Your Success, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide · Site Maintained by Nustart Solutions