Many of us who trade financial instruments go through a phase where we want to make a killing by ‘playing the stock market’. It sounds like a lot fun, right? Tapping a few keys on your computer keyboard, then a few minutes or days later closing the trade with a huge win on your hands – no work, no sweat, and (be honest!) the adoration or envy of family and friends. But this lottery approach to trading is a sure fire way to lose hard earned money. This article looks at the need to say NO to ‘playing the stock market’, and have a solid business plan, instead.