| I was devastated! | | | | plane out of balsa wood. It was a big plane and so the |
| I just couldn't believe it. I was 10 years old and my | | | | body was quite long. |
| dreams were shattered. I never wanted to look at | | | | The first time I did this I was doing it freehand. |
| another model airplane again! | | | | So I borrowed my Dad's big metal ruler. And I carefully |
| But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the | | | | cut along the line that I had marked on the wood. |
| beginning. | | | | But it was still crooked! |
| When I was about 8 years old my older brother got | | | | I tried once more and then I gave up. And I never |
| interested in model airplanes. He had one that was | | | | made a model airplane again! |
| connected to a control handle by fine wires. It flew | | | | You see I wanted my first model plane to be perfect. |
| around in circles whilst he stood in the middle controlling | | | | But I realized that I couldn't achieve that. And so I gave |
| it. | | | | up. |
| [This was just before radio-controlled planes became | | | | Years later I can still remember the frustration and |
| popular -that's showing my age!] | | | | disappointment that I felt at that moment. |
| And occasionally he would let me fly it. | | | | Now what is the point of my telling you about my |
| The first time I flew his plane I was hooked! | | | | childhood traumas? |
| I can still smell the fuel and hear the high pitched wine | | | | Novice traders often fall into the trap of wanting |
| of the engine as I caused it to rise and dip as this fast | | | | everything to be perfect before they place a trade. |
| moving object tried to pull my arm off! | | | | They want all their indicators to line up and they |
| I wanted one for myself. But I guess my parents | | | | demand a perfect candlestick setup pattern. |
| thought I was too young. So it was some time later | | | | Perfectionism has no place in the stock market. |
| and after saving my pocket money for what seemed | | | | Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't try and be the |
| an eternity that I finally got to buy my own model | | | | best trader you can be. |
| aircraft kit. | | | | But accept that you will never know all there is to |
| I can remember going into the hobby shop and | | | | know. And that you will have to make your trading |
| choosing which one to buy. And then rushing home to | | | | decisions based on imperfect information. |
| get started on putting it together. | | | | And despite that realize that you don't need to be |
| I was so excited as I opened the box. And I got all the | | | | perfect to be successful. |
| balsa wood and other materials out on the kitchen | | | | Misguided perfectionism robbed me of pleasure as a |
| table and studied the plans. | | | | 10 year old. Don't let it rob you of trading success. |
| The first task was to cut the sides of the body of the | | | | |