Taking an MBA or even a CFA level 3 status is not the only thing that defines a trader. A trader, a person who buys stocks, options, futures, or whatever exotic derivative you may think of, and sells it in search of short-term profits. Make no mistake that trading the capital markets require the trader nerves of steel and some gut feel perhaps, but trading is really not for everyone.

Crunching numbers and making quick calculations would be a trader’s main edge in the capital markets. Snap decisions with calculated risks and rewards usually makes the career of the trader aside from the information he holds. Start by loving your numbers and learning how to play with them. So, if you hated calculus during your college, now is the time to find a reason how it can be profitable and not boring.

Emotions play a vital role in a trader’s performance. Trading is, by the way, a healthy balance of greed and fear. Too much of any of those two could really burn you out of the market. Often times, successful traders remove emotions in their positions as emotions hamper their judgement and logic. The main goal of the trader is do more right things than wrong, and not to make the most bucks out of the market.

You don’t have to graduate from any of those Ivy League Universities in order for you to have a guaranteed performance in the market. A trader is defined by his discipline to control emotions and his dedication to do things the right way. Being humble with your achievements also plays a vital role in a trader’s performance. These simple, yet hard to follow traits will; most likely define your trading career.

Most Traders use OPM or Other People’s Money as they call it. A few, trade in their monitors at the comforts of their 5 bedroom homes. Either way, a trader usually relies on reliable information to make profits in his trades. Newswire subscriptions, like Bloomberg and CNBC, is one of their best friends as with these newswires, they could see what is happing in the frontlines.

 Trading maybe is a fun and exciting thing to do but, traders and speculators are often sorted out by one thing. A trader operates like a business: there is a trading system being implemented and followed, while, a speculator is often associated with someone claiming to be a trader but bases his trades like throwing darts at the board.