There are a lot of things to learn, and unlearn, if you are to become a successful self-directed trader and stay in that category. Yes, staying there can be harder than getting there… It’s a never ending journey because companies, technologies, the economy, and even markets as a whole keep changing and it is not always clear how they are changing. Never mind that the more things change the more they stay the same, as the saying goes…
Here is a little list on what typically separates beginners from more experienced traders. This is not meant to poke fun on newcomers in the “game”. Everyone was a total beginner at some point in his investing career. And most traders (including self) will occasionally keep doing some of the “awful” things in the left hand column.
It is useful as a kind of checklist where you can score yourself from time to time. It’s a way to figure out what to work on more in the coming months or years. Scoring oneself from time to time is important if you want to get better.
Good luck.
LunaticTrader 