These 5 quotes can be useful to anyone in any field but they ring very true for traders.
#5: Be always yourself and to express yourself, have faith in yourself...
Traders, this can't be a better quote for a trader. Even if you buy a trading system make sure it suits you. You shouldn't have to conform to a trading system or style. The trading system should feel like it's made for you. With so many trading styles it's impossible that one won't fit. You will never be successful until your trading style/system is a reflection of you. And once you got it down pat have faith in yourself. How many times has second guessing yourself costed you money?
#4: Don't think! Feel... Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.
This goes to the first point a little, trading a system that fits you becomes almost second nature. you shouldn't have to think much about what to do in a given situation i.e. when you don't know what's wrong get out of the position!! You'll think much better once your out of the position. If you try to think in the middle of a bad trade you will miss all that heavenly glory. Because 9 times out of 10 you will lose money, get out of the trade and a lot of times you'll instantly see what you should have done, or what the problem was. When money is on the line don't think, act. And if you don't have the system down pat to where you can do that, don't trade until you do.
#3 I do not believe there is a Chinese way of fighting or a Japanese way of fighting... Styles tend to not only separate man because they have doctrine that became the gospel truth and you can not change.
Don't be a bull or a bear traders. be a successful trader. Don't be a Keynesian or Austrian economists. Don't be a system traders or a discretionary trader, be a successful trader. These labels are toxic in this ever changing market traders. George Soros called his book 'The Alchemy Of Finance' because he had to fuse together so many different aspects to be successful. This is true of all trading because no one system works forever all the time.
#2 You know what I want to think of myself as? A human being.... Under the sky, under the heaven there's but one family...
When looking @ macro events traders it's easier to figure out likely outcomes if you keep in mind that it's a person somewhat like you on the other end of the situation. Ask yourself what would you do and why. If you were stuck in a shit load of long US bonds with the market changing to an equity friendlier market, what would you do and how? If counter party risks are reduced like crazy would you stay long volatility? No.... Chances are no one else will either traders.
#1 Be water my friend
When it's a bull market be a bull traders, and when it's a bear market be a bear traders. When Keynesian-ism is working traders trade accordingly and the same goes for any other market condition. The market is gravity, be water my friends. You never see water fight gravity so you should never fight the market. It's a losing proposition that goes against rule number 1 of trading, don't lose money.