Richard Dennis was interviewed nearly 20 years ago. His thoughts and insights are timeless. Ignore his wisdom at your own peril.
On Trading Plans...
I'm relaxed at what I am doing [trading] because I have a plan. I know what I want to do, and I am really trying to execute it. I think most traders do too much thinking on the spot. They should come in with 90% of the decisions made and just be putting the frosting on the cake.
On What Others Think...
I suppose I didn't like the idea that everyone thought I was crazy or going to fail, but it didn't make any substantial difference because I had an idea what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.
On Being Different...
I learned everything the hard way. You are looking at the most anti-intuitive trader in the world.
On Profit Taking...
When you have a position, you put it on for a reason, and you've got to keep it until the reason no longer exists. Don't take profits just for the sake of taking profits. You have to have a strategy to trade, know how it works and follow through on it.
On Uselessness of Fundamental Analysis...
I agree with the metaphysics of technical analysis that the fundamentals are discounted. You don't get any profits from fundamental analysis; you get profit from buying and selling. So why stick with the appearance when you can go right to the reality of price and analyze it better?
On Human Nature...
To follow the good [trading] principles and not let fear, greed, and hope interfere with your trading is tough. You are swimming upstream against human nature.
On Measuring Success...
There's nothing quite as good or bad as trading. They give you a number every day. That's what's good about it, and that's what's bad about it. That's what makes it hard. That's what makes it worth doing.
