It is a case of quality not quantity.
If you waste an hour going down the wrong path, it will take 2 hours to realise and come back to where you started from (even longer if you are stubborn). So this is where a lot of time is spent.
There is of course nothing wrong with going down the wrong path, but we must head down there with an idea of what we want to find, and why we are going down there in the first place, if not, how do we know it is the wrong path? If you have no idea of what you are looking for, then you might as well head down the black hole as you will never come back.
Just like in any subject you must also possess/develop the required skill/talent to progress any further than average. This is a simple rule of life; and in trading terms that means the true ability to control oneself. The test of self-control does not always come from the market, but from various events throughout the day, it is a constant test.
There will be those that scoff at the value of self-control/understanding human nature (which is a never ending process), and will focus all their efforts and time on testing out various indicator combinations, back testing pin-bar patterns etc, until they too arrive at the conclusion that "it was me all along".
If at this point, there is still enough energy left to carry on, you will at least stand a chance of "making it".
Your actions will dictate how long it takes to make it, but make sure you have decided in advance what your definition of "making it/learning to trade" is, that way you will know when you get there!
