Thanks for your thoughts on this, I couldn’t agree more. And the memory of an account high is an added motivator not often used in an appropriate way, I’m glad you mentioned that as well.

Trying to get back to even is, in my opinion, a loser’s mindset. Your task as a trader is to make money with your current positions.

If you get off to a poor start one day (week or month), it may be appropriate to take a break from trading and clear your head. It is NOT appropriate to increase size and risk in an effort to get the portfolio value back to some level it had reached earlier.

Concentrate on each trade as a stand alone item and avoid trying to squeeze extra profits in an attempt to return to those ‘thrilling days of yesteryear’ when your account was larger. You are not the Lone Ranger.

You are working as a trader and your JOB is to make money today and tomorrow. Your JOB as a risk manager is to see that your trader persona understands this issue.