Ask mrbaseball about trading for a living

[kimchi]

Many traders who work for a firm and do well often bust out when they decide to become independent.

I know independent traders obviously have a smaller a/c than they traded at the company, but I'm sure they take smaller positions to compensate. You've suggested that most of the trades you take can't really be scaled down to suit a 1-man band. I'm talking more about positional stock/futures traders.

I've also read about many traders who lose the discipline forced upon them by their bosses and the subsequent removal of trading privilages and partial ostracisation by their colleagues should they violate the stingent risk management strategy imposed upon them. This is usually sufficient incentive to stay focused and disciplined.

Why do you think successful traders who trade for a company often fail when they go alone using the same systems and methodologies?