Every trader stands on somebody else’s shoulders.

Sometimes it’s a mentor you know personally.

Sometimes it’s an author whose words reach across generations.

And sometimes one idea lands at exactly the right moment and changes the trajectory of your trading career.

After 36 years in the markets, Louise Bedford looks back at the seven traders and mentors who have influenced her most – Jesse Livermore, Stan Weinstein, Nicolas Darvas, Steve Nison, Ed Seykota, Van Tharp and Dr Harry Stanton.

This isn’t a countdown of the seven greatest traders who ever lived.

It’s far more personal.

Each gave Louise something different.

Jesse Livermore taught her that patience isn’t passive.

Stan Weinstein showed her that great opportunities don’t need to be forced — they announce themselves.

Nicolas Darvas taught her to let the market prove itself before committing capital.

Steve Nison opened her eyes to candlesticks and the language of price, ultimately inspiring Louise to help pioneer candlestick charting in Australia.

Ed Seykota showed her why systems protect traders from themselves.

Van Tharp transformed the way she thought about position sizing and risk.

And then there was Dr Harry Stanton.

Harry’s influence began when Louise was just 15 years old, when her sister handed her one of his books at a pivotal moment in her life. Years later, Harry became her mentor, lifelong friend and eventually her co-author.

His greatest lesson?

Change the person making the decisions, and you change the decisions.

This episode is part trading history, part personal story and part thank-you letter to the people whose ideas continue to live inside Louise’s trading today.

Because markets change.

Technology changes.

But patience, discipline, risk management, self-awareness and respect for the market never go out of date.

The 7 Traders and their Lessons

1. Jesse Livermore — Patience
   Sometimes the hardest thing you’ll ever do in the market is absolutely nothing.
2. Stan Weinstein — Structure
   Opportunities don’t need to be forced. Learn to recognise them when they announce themselves.
3. Nicolas Darvas — Confirmation
   Don’t predict. Let the market prove itself.
4. Steve Nison — The Language of Price
   Candlesticks aren’t merely patterns. They’re human emotion painted onto a chart.
5. Ed Seykota — Systems and Discipline
   A good system doesn’t just help you trade the market. It helps protect you from yourself.
6. Van Tharp — Position Sizing and Risk
   Finding a great trade is only part of the equation. You also need to know how much to risk.
7. Dr Harry Stanton — The Trader Within
   Change the person making the decisions and you change the decisions.

Books and Resources Mentioned:

• Jesse Livermore
  Reminiscences of a Stock Operator

• Stan Weinstein
  Secrets for Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets

• Nicolas Darvas
  How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market

• Steve Nison
  Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

• Ed Seykota
  His interviews and work on trading systems, discipline and psychology

• Van Tharp
  His work on position sizing and risk management

• Dr Harry Stanton
  Let the Trade Wins Flow — co-authored with Louise Bedford​

Next Steps:

• Explore Louise’s Trading Made Simple video course, free at tradinggame.com.au, to put these principles into practice.
• For deeper insight into risk management, check out my books Trading Secrets and Charting Secrets.

About Louise Bedford

Louise Bedford has traded, taught, and written extensively about the financial markets for over 30 years, building a reputation as a highly accomplished and experienced trader, educator, and author.

She co-founded The Trading Game and has gained recognition for her unique approach to teaching trading psychology and market analysis.

Louise has authored several successful trading books. In particular, her titles include Trading Secrets, Charting Secrets, The Secret of Candlestick Charting, and Investing Psychology Secrets.

Louise runs her hugely popular, repeat-for-free Mentor Program Pro online course. Through this course, she shows you how to automate your trading so you can retire early and get on with your life.

Other ways to get in touch with Louise

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TradingGame/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTradingGame
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/louise-bedford/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tradinggame
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tradinggame.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradinggame.com.au/

 

Image by AI Google Labs

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