Why am I comparing investing to mountain climbing? Because successfully attacking the mountain and coming back alive from the trading floor, requires exactly the same basic elements. You must have the right knowledge, advance preparation, the correct tools and equipment, and plenty of perfect practice. You can increase your odds of success even more if you associate with other experienced climbers and you have a team member that has already made it to the top. While on the mountain (in a trade) you need to be ready for unexpected changes in your environment. You must be mentally ready for the challenge, you need to develop the right instincts and you need to have total self control. Even more important, you must be able to admit defeat quickly, so that you can live to climb another day, with as much of your equipment as possible. You do not need to be super human and you are not required to walk on water, read minds, or have a perfect sense of direction.

"OK, what will it take for ME to be one of those people that make to the top?" Are you sure that you are ready for the answer? I mean, really, do you want to know the truth? I warn you, the answer is not going to be what you want to hear! Here goes, so if you choose to read on, you do so at your own peril. I warn you once you have the answer, there will be no turning back. If you read on, you are agreeing to leave the world of the confused and to enter the secret chamber of the few who know the magic powers of applied knowledge. What is the real secret? When you become a master of the basics you can conquer the top of anything - mountain or the stock market. "That's it? That's your BIG secret? I don't get it. Know the basics, give me a break, there has got to be something more, what did you leave out?" I warned you! Didn't I tell you that you might not want to hear the truth?