Making a business of stock options trading is no easy task. Entering into options trading is a business that requires stamina and persistence. True there are some trades that go perfectly in the beginning that can grow your account, but for the most part learing to trade options to win more than loose is both an art and a science. You want to do a few things to enable yourself to have the stamina to get your degree in options trading.

Stock option trading is both rewarding and risky. When you begin you are going to learn basic terminology like what is a "put" and a "call". You also want to learn how to properly enter an order and use an order to protect agaist additional risk. Learing all this requires getting an education and Rule 1: Get some stock options trading education and a mentor or coach to whom you can ask questions. Needless to say that you ought to learn from the best when you learn. Seek coaching from an individual who comes highly recommended and who has a proven record of success or a nine out of ten win record.

When you begin you will not have a nine out of ten winning record. All things take time for the skill to develop and you should think of this as a new business for which you are getting training. It takes time to learn a new skill and you should fund your brokerage account with this in mind. Thus is you prefer not to live on the edge then only fund your account with money you can afford to loose. Not to say you are going to loose, but that is a very real possibility since you are just beginning. Thus Rule 2: fund the account appropriately because the stock options market will teach you a lesson or two. Not only are you getting an education from your stock coach, but you are going to get an education from the market. It's like being a new capitain on a ship on the open seas. You have been instructed as to what to do but you are going to experience it yourself. You are not born anything without developing the skill through practice and your funding the account for trading needs to take the high probability of mistake into consideration.

Which brings up the idea of using a practice account filled with virtual dollars as practice in the beginning. This is great in theory. It does develop your skills as a trader and can turn you into a mighty great trader, but there is one thing missing . . . emotion. The emotions of fear and greed play a big part in the trading training. These emotions have to come into check when in the market so that the plan can be executed without blunder. In the virtual world these emotions are almost null because money traded is not "real". If you can trade with confidence in the virtual world you can apply this to your brokerage account funded with dollars. It will teach you the proper execution of the plan but not the control of emotions in the execution of the plan.

It is going to take some patience with yourself. This is a business and you are going to need some persistance to learn the proper art and science of trading. So stay at it and have fun while you are doing it. The longer you can stay in the game the higher your chances of seeing improvement in your skills as a trader.

In summary, there are three rules you must follow if you are to master the art and science of stock options trading. First, get some education and if you are not too arrogant get an excellent mentor and coach. Second, get your account funded to adequately allow for learning mistakes, or use a virtual account. Thirdly, keep at it and while you do enjoy it all.