SOME EXCERPTS FROM MARK DOUGLAS' BOOK
'TRADING IN THE ZONE'
While this may sound complicated, it all boils down to learning to believe that: (1) you don't need to
know what's going to happen next to make money; (2) anything can happen; and (3) every moment is
unique, meaning every edge and outcome is truly a unique experience. The trade either works or it
doesn't. In any case, you wait for the next edge to appear and go through the process again and again.
Trading successfully feels the same way. On any given day, week, or month, the markets make
available vast amounts of money to anyone who has the capacity to put on a trade. Since the markets
are in constant motion, this money is also constantly flowing, which makes the possibilities for success
greatly magnified and seemingly within your grasp. I use the word "seemingly" to make an important
distinction between the two groups of traders. For those who have learned how to be consistent, or have
broken through what I call the "threshold of consistency,"the money is not only within their grasp; they
can virtually take it at will. I'm sure that some will find this statement shocking or difficult to believe,
but it is true. There are some limitations, but for the most part, money flows into the accounts of these
traders with such ease and effortlessness that it literally boggles most people's minds.
...any trader is taking a risk when you put on a trade, but that doesn't mean that you are
correspondingly accepting that risk. In other words, all trades are risky because the outcomes are
probable—not guaranteed. But do most traders really believe they are taking a risk when they put on a
trade? Have they really accepted that the trade has a non-guaranteed, probable outcome? Furthermore,
have they fully accepted the possible consequences?
The answer is, unequivocally, no!
'TRADING IN THE ZONE'
While this may sound complicated, it all boils down to learning to believe that: (1) you don't need to
know what's going to happen next to make money; (2) anything can happen; and (3) every moment is
unique, meaning every edge and outcome is truly a unique experience. The trade either works or it
doesn't. In any case, you wait for the next edge to appear and go through the process again and again.
Trading successfully feels the same way. On any given day, week, or month, the markets make
available vast amounts of money to anyone who has the capacity to put on a trade. Since the markets
are in constant motion, this money is also constantly flowing, which makes the possibilities for success
greatly magnified and seemingly within your grasp. I use the word "seemingly" to make an important
distinction between the two groups of traders. For those who have learned how to be consistent, or have
broken through what I call the "threshold of consistency,"the money is not only within their grasp; they
can virtually take it at will. I'm sure that some will find this statement shocking or difficult to believe,
but it is true. There are some limitations, but for the most part, money flows into the accounts of these
traders with such ease and effortlessness that it literally boggles most people's minds.
...any trader is taking a risk when you put on a trade, but that doesn't mean that you are
correspondingly accepting that risk. In other words, all trades are risky because the outcomes are
probable—not guaranteed. But do most traders really believe they are taking a risk when they put on a
trade? Have they really accepted that the trade has a non-guaranteed, probable outcome? Furthermore,
have they fully accepted the possible consequences?
The answer is, unequivocally, no!
