Trading seems so easy on the surface. Forex beginners are told (and believe), "Just follow the rules of your methodology and trading plan and you are on your way to achieving your dreams. Oh, and by the way, keep your emotions in check."

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military essay credited to Sun Tzu (also referred to as "Sun Wu" and "Sunzi"), a prominent military general, strategist and tactician. Regarded as a seminal military manuscript, it was written during what is known as the ‘Era of Warring States’, which resulted in a unified China under the Qin Dynasty.

By the end of every year people are making resolutions of all kinds. Let us admit that the majority of these resolutions are not practical since an actual planning has never been involved. Let us then talk about resolutions and goals. This is what forex is about, right? It is about setting goals and actually achieving them. Let us first give a definition of setting a goal.

Is that necessary to keep the stops so religiously even before the forex beginner actually starts live trading ? As a matter of fact, the importance of stops is always underlined, emphasized and highlighted by a thick yellow strip. Is that the crucial key to success? Do you hear this distant echo: “Take care of your losses, profits will take care of themselves”.