The Fastest Way to Successful Forex Trading

I recently got an email from a new student who sent me a month of their trading prior to joining my course. Their story is just like many others – they traded well on demo, went live trading, and lost a fair amount of their account. Now they are trying to get back their losses in the quickest way possible.
Sound familiar?
I can appreciate wanting to make gains as quickly as possible. Who wouldn’t?  He asked me ‘what is the fastest way to successful forex trading’?

Without a doubt, he had a sincere desire to trade consistently (most do). But two crucial things were missing from their plan.
These two things when done well, will lead to success in trading (and perhaps any skill) faster than hunting for that ‘magic system’ which will  make back all your losses. Without this necessary pair, what you want to accomplish (making money / trading successfully), will not happen. The results will not come.
So what are these two crucial things you need to focus on?  Process and Progress.
Although the goals (making money, trading from home, consistent profits) are what we strive for in trading, when results become the sole focus, your ability to make money trading becomes hindered.
Why?
In order to reach the level of trading profitably and consistently, you have to build the abilities and skill sets necessary to get there. It sounds obvious, almost easy when you hear it, but it is nothing of the sort. It is one of the most elusive aspects of the trading mindset which new traders fail to understand.
How do you get there?
Process First -Then Progress
This starts with focusing on the process by a) doing the steps necessary to build the skill set, which b) allows you to perform.
Do you think an architect started off by creating buildings? Or do you think they had to learn the math, geometry, and basic skills needed to build a structure?

If you focus on results only, you will skip steps because your focus is not on the task at hand. It sounds counter-intuitive, but your goal in the beginning should not be to make profits. It should be to acquire the abilities (through training and practice), which allow you to perform and trade well.
Remember this next statement well, but a trader will not gain the results wanted BEFORE obtaining and building the necessary skills to reach that result. This comes after you have built those skills.
This is why so many traders fail. They focus on result, not process.
If you think focusing on the process is not important, ask yourself;
‘When getting a complex heart surgery, do you want the doctor focusing on the money he makes from the surgery, or the very complex precise cut he is about to make around your heart?’

Focusing on Progress
Moving on, once your focus is dedicated to the process, it’s time to track your progress (e.g. end of the trading week analysis).
In the very beginning, I have little concern for a traders profits or losses when they first come to me. My main concern is identifying what parts of the process they are missing or skipping. Then I have them refocus on that so they build the base skills needed.
For example, if a trader (you for example) has trouble keeping risk consistent, and fail to use the risk of ruin formula, you will not make money. So my first goal is to have you focus on keeping risk consistent (process). If you show improvement in this, I’ll have you track the ‘progress‘ you are making.
This latter focus gives you confidence. It communicates to your self-image and mindset you can improve, get better and grow. It self-reinforces you focusing on the process, which helps to see the progress you are making.
If you keep this focus, and don’t skip any steps – it is only a matter of time before you are making money trading.