I'm often asked how one should study a market, so here are some thoughts:

Studying a market is different, from learning how to trade.

Learning how to trade includes everything from managing risk to managing yourself.

Studying a market is simply the process of looking for an edge.

Once you have identified an edge, you still have to learn to trade it.

The best way to study a market is to watch it as closely as you can but always using a frame of reference.

You should pick a frame of reference and exhaust its possibilities.

For example, you could use a time-based approach.

You could study how the market moves at certain times of the day, week or month.

I knew of one trader who made his money (and he made a lot of it) by studying specifically how the ES behaved at the end of each month. His entire edge was created around this.

I know of another successful trader who focused exclusively on the 8am open in FTSE futures.

22 years trading.

Here are some of the most important things I've learnt (Part 1/2):

1. There is often a huge difference between what you want to do and what you're good at doing.

Some traders may want the excitement of scalping but don't have the time or the mental agility. They may be better suited to another style.

Play to your strengths to find your niche.

2. To make it this business you're in for the fight of your life.

And the biggest enemy is you.

3. If you desperately need to make money to pay the bills or support your family, get another job first.

Needing to make money with urgency puts huge pressure on a trader. This pressure is not conducive to making effective trading decisions.

4. If you want to hit the summit, then you’re going to have to make the climb.

Climbing takes a lot of hard work.

Your aim should be to take money from traders that haven't put in the work you have and make sure that very few are putting in the level of work you are.