This is a business.

Forex traders -

Please consider this for a moment. (I know it took me about 7 months to realize this, and only after James16 at Forex Factory wrote about it.)

Forex trading is the same as any other business. You have to buy a computer, books, internet access, a desk, a chair, and oh yeah...fund your account.

So if I were going to start an in-home accounting business, I would start with all of these things as well. The only difference would be the funding part, but I like to think about that like paying the tuition to get your degree.

Getting your degree...it IS something us traders have to do. It's not a traditional degree, and I would submit that it is actually much harder to obtain. It's a degree of "hard knocks". It is the time you have to put in suffering through bad trades. Oh, and here's the good news...losses never stop happening. This is harder emotionally than any medical school. This is harder than learning a trade. This is even harder than learning to play an instrument.

This is harder because a large part of this is learning about yourself, and what motivates you. I am willing to bet that most of you got into this with dreams of becoming millionares overnight. (This is certainly one I had......lol.) It was after about 2 or 3 trades that you learned it ain't quite like that.

But, if you are willing to put the effort in, this can be a great AND profitable business. Again with that "business" word. Trust me on this, if nothing else, the taxman considers it a business.

And the effort? I have a great way to start. James16 says demo trade for three months in a row making a profit. I have to say this has changed the way I look at the markets dramatically. I now have a goal, and it's not just getting rich. It's getting it RIGHT. If I can do that, then maybe the getting rich part will follow....

I do have a live account, and it is funded. I was actually trading live, with limited success, but never really could get anywhere. So my business plan includes making deposits while demoing.

See, I have decided that I am going to be a great trader, and I am willing to do whatever it takes. It could take 3 months, it could take 20 years. But the beauty of this plan is I no longer have the pressure of getting it perfect right out of the gate. Plus, as I learn, I will be able to start with a larger balance. (For those of you that don't know it yet, your account balance is a BIG part of how you will do in the end. For example, compare getting a 2% return per week on a $50,000 account, versus a $1,000 account.)

I know some of you will not listen to me, and you will have to lose quite a bit to consider demo trading. And then there will be the others that will simply blow up their accounts, and quit.

Remember this: You are going up against a vast array of people. Some of them are newbies like you, and the ones that actually move the market are professionals with billions at their disposal. Your $2,000 account at FXCM isn't going to run Citibank out of business.

So with that in mind, why risk ANY of your money before you have a fighting chance?

If you doubt me, just read through the forums at Forex Factory. You will see some traders that talk about how they are going for 100% a month returns, etc. You will also notice that they normally quit posting shortly after.

You certainly cannot just one day decide to be a neurosurgeon, so what makes Forex any different? You need to know how to do your job.

Learn to be fascinated with the game. Learn to love the game. Learn to enjoy your ability to play the game. But most of all....LEARN THE GAME.