Opinions (or "onions" as I like to call them) and gambling. They go hand in hand don't they? Most people (casual gamblers), bet only on opinions. Without these, in their mind, there's no reason to have a bet. Why bet on something that you don't have an opinion on? Where's the fun in that?
Putting fun aside (personally work can be quite boring at times - unless I've just layed a 1.03 shot and they've lost the next 8 points in a row!), we're in this to make money. Anyone serious about making money can't afford to dabble heavily in their opinions. If you are a trader, you'll learn pretty early on that opinions can be a hinderance, but why?
It's pretty simple. Opinions cloud your judgement. But aren't opinions formed out of your judgements? Sure, but the judgement never stops when you are trading. There's always new information to digest. If you form an opinion on early judgements then it's too easy to dismiss the rest of the info you are going to receive, if you even continue to pay attention.
An opinion can be like a pair of rose tinted spectacles. Once you pick a pair up, you continually see only the good things and the good possibilities of one outcome, with potentially disasterous consequences.
You lose the ability to change your mind and to question yourself and the situation. You're no longer at the cutting edge, you're miles behind it and way off the pace.
The best traders are aware of all that's going on around them. Yes, they act quickly, boldly and on instincts, but it never stops there. They can reverse their decision just as quickly, admit they were wrong, yet still continue to trsut their instincts. Opinions don't allow any of this to happen.
When I'm trading, one of my goals is to try to stay impartial as much as possible. I set out deliberately with the thought to relax and watch carefully. I've learnt the danger of starting a match thinking, this person will win or they lost heavily last time I know it'll happen again.
The trader that is calm yet alert, without an opinion on things, is positioned best to act on instinct. And this has to continue along the same lines once you have a trading position. Have humility in your trading, know your "onions", and you won't go far wrong.



