What does it take to become a forex trader?

"Isn’t that what Nick Leeson, the guy who ruined Bearing's Bank, did? I don’t think that’s for me thanks, I’m not really a risk taker or a wheeler dealer."

Talk to most people about Forex trading and that is the sort of response that you are likely to get. People see it as highly risky and only likely to appeal to bright young men in pin-striped suits. But nothing could be further from the truth.

I wasn't the smartest person in my class. I definitely wasn't any good at Maths. In fact, I didn't really shine at anything. I was simply ordinary, and everyone knows that you need to be extra bright and a whiz at figures and so on to be a trader, right?

Wrong - once again, nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of people making money at home from Forex are pretty ordinary. Most are from pretty humble backgrounds. And there's definitely no gender barrier with Forex. I'm a 'stay at home' Mum and a lot of successful traders are women.

In fact, after a recent survey, one Forex trainer stated that women seemed to have an edge over their male counterparts. Whether there's any truth in that or not, it isn’t really about gender. It is true that a lot of successful live traders are women. In fact, in some ways they have a bit of an advantage as they seem to find it easier to just follow the rules than some men. For example, nurses seem to do very well at this, maybe because they are disciplined and understand how important it is to follow instructions precisely.

It's true that some Forex systems do look complex and difficult to understand, but in my experience, it's best and much more profitable, to keep it really simple and follow a tried and tested routine. I'm a firm believer in, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' and all of the members of the trading club that I belong to follow the same principle.

Of course, there are people in the Forex world who want to 'make it big' and want to 'get there fast'. I call these people the 'crash and burn' merchants. A lack of discipline and patience, coupled with a compulsion to gamble for high stakes, will soon bring disaster. And of course, some people do trade like that, they'll never see what a cool head and a businesslike approach with a tried and tested routine can achieve. Unfortunately, for many people, this kind of approach isn't an option. They only have 'big bucks today' in their mind's eye - which leads to - 'crash and burn.'

But it doesn’t need to be that way. My club-member colleagues and I, trade using a simple strategy with simple rules. And we exercise discipline and patience every day. 'KISS' (Keep It Simple and Safe.)

Most of the people I am in contact with on a daily basis, trade for an hour or so before breakfast. Some are live and experienced traders now, living in new homes, enjoying a completely different lifestyle. Some are just starting out on the road and there are all sorts in between. Many plan to quietly build their Forex account, trading a few hours a week, until they reach the point where Forex can replace their J.O.B. Others just want to enjoy the extra disposable income that Forex can bring. Quite a few of us are already at that point.

Being a trader really is something that most people can do. Especially if they set about it the right way and follow a system that relieves the stress associated with risk. Yes, it is possible to trade in a stressless and risk-free manner - and it is possible to be successful at it without spending endless hours at the computer. It's all about the right method and disciplined application.

So where's the catch?

The catch is that you can't just dive in and do it (crash and burn). You need to get a little assistance so that you start right. Starting wrong just isn't an option. Do a little 'due diligence' and pick a simple and honest teacher or training course. Always check it out properly and always try and talk to the person who's going to help you, before spending any money.

Forex is a wonderful way for anyone to get the most out of life. I know, because it's happened to me.

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