The initial step to becoming a successful Forex trader is education and there are a variety of different ways to master the workings of foreign currency trading. But, although the knowledge gained through education is essential to your success in trading, it is merely one part of the puzzle for your true success.

So, before tearing straight from a Forex training course into the world of live trading, here are some indispensable bits of advice.

1. Assume the correct outlook. The Forex traders who are most successful know only too well that attitude is critical and that assuming a mind-set to do whatever is needed to succeed is essential.

You can subscribe to all the tips sheets you want and listen to the so-called 'gurus' all day long but success is not going to come until you have the knowledge that is necessary, sit down and carefully draw up your own strategy for trading and then simply get out there and do whatever your intuition tells you is necessary to make money.

2. Select the correct trading method. There are various different methods available to you for predicting the future course of the currency markets, and some extremely powerful software programs to help with this task, and you will need to pick one method and then stick to it.

You will have to learn the skills of charting and mapping and will have to formulate your own system for calculating exactly when to buy and sell. You will encounter gains and losses and you will find yourself questioning your chosen method and being tempted to give it up in favor of an alternative method but you will need to resist this temptation. Once you begin chasing one method after another as a result of a trading loss you rapidly discover that one loss turns into two and then three and so on.

3. Remain disciplined. Although this naturally follows on from the comments made above about sticking to your chosen trading method it is something that you need to assume in all aspects of life as a foreign currency trader. Once you have set down your trading strategy and method you should stick with it and should not allow yourself to be knocked off course either by events or by the opinions of others.

4. Assume the correct mental attitude. Forex trading is extremely stressful at times and the fast moving nature of the market and the inescapable swing between profit and loss on individual trades may and indeed generally does produce considerable mental pressure. Learning to handle the stresses of trading life is of no less importance than learning the technical aspects of trading.

5. Do not be afraid of taking a risk. A common mistake amongst Forex traders is the fear of taking risks. Risk and reward go together like toast and marmalade and you will not be successful if you are always turning away from taking a risk. Taking risks does not of course mean throwing caution to the wind and merely diving in head first, but it means that, having calculated the risks, you are prepared to trade assertively based upon your reading of the market and in spite of the risks.

6. Take your own trading decisions. It is extremely important to focus your attention when it comes to trading and not to be deflected from your course by the thoughts and opinions of others. You will be rubbing shoulders with individuals who are only too happy to offer you the benefit of their advice but you need to remember that nearly all of them will merely talk a good trade. Really successful traders are few and far between and they invariably steer their own vessel to success.

Rushing into Forex trading without the requisite knowledge is a very dangerous game but, once you have gained the knowledge needed, success will depend very much on your capacity to establish a clear course and then to steer to it regardless of anything that might come along to throw you off that course.