I broke the rules and I lost...thank god

As the title implies I broke my rules today. I came in all antsy-in-my-pantsy, thought, "I know EVERYTHING I AM JEFF!" So the rules I broke: 1) I did not wait to get into the market I got in immediately. 2) I did not follow my normal entry strategy for the bonds which is separate orders by at least 2 ticks 3) I did not figure out how much money I'd lose if I hit my stops and 4) I was SUPER aggressive when the market hadn't even opened yet.

If I had made money it would've been the worst thing ever but God looked down on me and smiled and let me lose graciously on a simulator. Yes it still sucked. 10,000 down! OUCH!

I gotta repeat:

Don't break the rules, don't break the rules, don't break the rules.

I'm going to make a sign and paste it above my station tommorow. I'll take a picture and post it for everyone to see. DON'T BREAK THE RULES! Unless the rules need breaking.

Man, discipline is hard. Seriously I'm the luckiest guy ever that I get to do test myself in this environment. Test my strategies, my rules, and see them fail and succeed. Okay enough mushy stuff here's another pertenant Bruce Lee quote that applies to trading:

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."

This was in reference to Jeet Kun Do, his own version of martial arts that took advantage of the fact that it was flexible to any situation. Similarly, trading should be this way. I harp on following the rules but, being married to a position, a contract or a direction is bad. Be flexible, never be just a bull or just a bear. Never be just a momo, or just a contrarion. There is a time for everything, the key is being smart enough and open enough to recognize that time.