As a stock trader, when you strip off what feels natural and learn to do what feels unnatural, you become supernatural. - Mark Minervini
You deserve success! But only if you do the right things; the market has no pity on fools. - Mark Minervini
There are many distractions that can cloud your judgment when trading. Your job is to keep your thinking pure and focused on what matters within your own circle of competence. The hallmark of a pro is to operate within this circle and ignore everything else. - Mark Minervini
When a position moves against you and you’re at a loss, especially right after you buy, it’s simple—you made a mistake. It may be that you’re missing an element in your selection criteria, or your timing could be off. - Mark Minervini
Before I enter a stock position, the first thing I do is decide where I’m going to cut my loss. As the stock moves up, my priority changes to protecting my breakeven price. If I’m fortunate to have a decent gain, my priority shifts to protecting my profit. - Mark Minervini
Every major correction begins as a minor reaction. You can't tell when a 10% decline is the beginning of a 50% decline until after the fact, when it's too late. - Mark Minervini
If you can't manage risk you will never perform really well over time; superperformance will at best, be a hit or miss affair. - Mark Minervini
In time, there will always be a trade that meets your criteria and delivers easy dollars... and over time there will always be fools that rush and lay the groundwork for such opportunities. - Mark Minervini
During a difficult trading environment your gains will be smaller and less frequent than during a healthy market. When this occurs, remember three words (with a nod to Nike): Adjust Do It! Always think risk in relation to reward. You must adjust your risk as a function of potential reward. - Mark Minervini
Expectancy is your percentage of winning trades multiplied by your average gain, divided by your percentage of losing trades multiplied by your average loss. Maintain a positive expectancy, and you’re a winner. My results went from average to stellar when I finally made the choice that I was going to make every trade an intelligent risk/reward decision. - Mark Minervini
I want to be at a profit immediately. If I don’t see a profit very soon after I buy the stock, I’m inclined to just get out. - Mark Minervini
I went from mediocre to a stellar performer when I told myself: To heck with worrying about the money and obsessing over the scoreboard. I’m just going to focus on being the best trader I can be and sticking to the rules. Then the money followed. - Mark Minervini
If you don’t have a plan, you will surely experience paralyzing emotions and second-guess yourself at key decision-making moments. - Mark Minervini
If you want success in the stock market, before you do anything, you should develop a plan. - Mark Minervini
If you want to mitigate risk effectively, you simply must acknowledge that stocks don’t manage themselves. You’re the manager, and it’s up to you to protect your hard-earned capital. - Mark Minervini
In the stock market, you can make money or you can make excuses, but you can’t make both. Do whatever it takes to eliminate your own personal excuses. Your road to success starts by taking responsibility. Don’t blame outside factors for your lack of success. - Mark Minervini
Investing styles may differ among successful market players, but without exception, winning stock traders share certain key traits required for success. Fall short in those qualities and you will surely part ways with your money. - Mark Minervini
It doesn’t feel great breaking even on a trade that was once a profit, but it feels a lot better than when you let a good-size gain turn into a losing trade. - Mark Minervini
Long-term success in the stock market has nothing to do with hope or luck. Winning stock traders have rules and a well-thought-out plan. Conversely, losers lack rules, or if they have rules, they don’t stick to them for very long; they deviate. - Mark Minervini