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Capture the plan before the outcome

A useful record preserves what you knew and intended at the decision time. Editing the original thesis after the result destroys the evidence.

Trade journal record
Date / market / session / direction:
Playbook and regime:
Location and higher-timeframe structure:
Trigger and participation evidence:
Entry / initial stop / targets / planned R:
Position size and maximum planned loss:
Management rules:
Mood and process risk before entry:
Exit and realized R:
Rule adherence score:
One repeatable lesson:
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Separate process from outcome

Judge whether the decision followed the system before you look at whether the trade made money.

ProcessOutcomeReview
GoodWinKeep the repeatable behavior; do not confuse one result with proof of edge
GoodLossAccept system variance and verify that realized risk matched the plan
BadWinRecord a process leak; profit does not make the decision safe to repeat
BadLossFix the specific rule break before taking the same setup again
Visual Academy E09 · Good Loss, Bad WinAccepted internal asset · Source preserved
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Use the journal and edge commands as a sequence

Each command owns a different stage. The quality of the analysis still depends on honest, complete records.

/logtrade
Save the planned trade fields before or near execution.
/closetrade
Close the record with actual exit and result data.
/journal
Add session lessons and mood evidence, then review prior entries.
/review
Score one trade across process, risk, and psychology.
/mytrades
Inspect your recorded history and find missing or inconsistent fields.
/myedge
Analyze expectancy, profit factor, drawdown, process score, symbols, and sessions.
/systemstats
View aggregate community metrics only after enough closed records exist.
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Measure the distribution, not the highlight reel

Win rate alone cannot tell you whether the system has edge. Pair it with payoff, expectancy, drawdown, adherence, and sample size.

MetricQuestion it answersCommon mistake
ExpectancyWhat is the average result per trade?Assuming the planned target equals the realized average win
Profit factorHow much gross profit exists for each unit of gross loss?Trusting a high value from a tiny sample
Average RAre wins large enough relative to losses?Mixing currency P&L with inconsistent position sizes
Max drawdownWhat decline occurred from peak to trough?Ignoring open risk or chronological order
Process scoreHow often did execution follow the rules?Rewarding a profitable rule violation
Sample sizeHow much evidence supports the conclusion?Calling five trades an edge
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Run the weekly review

Review a group of decisions at the same time each week so the loudest outcome does not control the story.

  1. 01

    Verify that every trade has complete plan and result fields.

  2. 02

    Group trades by playbook, regime, market, direction, session, and rule adherence.

  3. 03

    Compare planned R with realized R, including fees and slippage.

  4. 04

    Save one clean example, one avoidable mistake, and one valid pass.

  5. 05

    Choose one behavior to practice next week; do not rewrite the entire system from a small sample.

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Next steps

Use the review to sharpen one layer of the process.