Why You’re Not Successful as a Trader(And What Nobody Tells You)
A lot of people want to know how to succeed at trading. They jump into day trading thinking it’s super easy. Just click a button and make money, right? And in a way, it really is that simple because every trade has about a 50/50 chance of being right or wrong. But here is the thing most people do not realize.
To be truly successful long term (a month or more) you have to treat trading like a business and perform like a top athlete.
Let me explain why by sharing a story from my own life.
Back in high school I was one of the top two athletes in my city. Imagine a sport similar to tennis. There were others who were taller, stronger, more naturally gifted in every way. But they were not as consistent as I was. That consistency gave me the edge.
Here is what I did differently.
I worked out every day building cardio and training specific muscles in my arms, shoulders, and legs for explosive power.
I practiced really difficult shots hundreds and hundreds of times. When I made those shots during games people called it luck. But I knew better. I had rehearsed those shots so much that there was almost a 99 percent chance I would make them.
I also played mind games with my opponents. I talked to them before matches and gave them false confidence by saying I had injuries or wasn’t feeling great. Sometimes I praised a shot they had but secretly I had studied it carefully and knew exactly how to counter it. I was setting them up to lose.
The stock market is just the same.
It is a competition. The market is full of opponents, other traders, institutions, algorithms, all fighting for an edge. If you want to be in the top 10 percent who consistently make profits you have to be at the top of your game mentally, physically, and emotionally.
That is why so many traders fail. They don’t realize they need to train themselves like athletes. Having the right indicators or a big account is not enough. If you are tired, stressed, or emotionally drained, you are far more likely to make mistakes.
Ask yourself.
Did I sleep well last night?
Am I managing my stress and emotional environment like family issues or distractions?
Am I exercising enough to keep my heart and mind sharp?
Am I fueling my brain with the right nutrition and supplements?
Am I constantly learning and keeping my mind sharp enough to spot patterns and make quick decisions?
For me trading is like those athlete days. I take supplements to keep my mind sharp and my emotions steady throughout the day. I aim for 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily to stay physically fit. I carefully track my sleep with my Oura ring because getting good rest is critical to trading well.
Trading is a competition you show up to every single day. If you are not in your best shape losing that day is expected. And while even top athletes sometimes lose when they are at their best losing because you were not prepared is something you cannot accept.
Knowing the rules is just as important.
I once played a match where the sun was setting right on my side during the game. The other team had sun visors allowed by the rules. We only had hats but hats were banned. That small difference made a huge impact on the outcome.
Trading has its own rules and invisible players too like the Plunge Protection Team which steps in to prevent market crashes past a certain point. There are many hidden mechanics in the market you have to understand.
For example moving averages are not just about the famous 50 and 200-day crosses. There are many subtle details about how they are calculated and used that most traders miss unless they study deeply.
So honestly ask yourself these questions.
Do I really want to succeed in this market?
Am I willing to put in the time and effort it takes?
Am I treating trading like the serious business it is?
If your answer is yes then start treating yourself like the most important asset in your trading business. Train your body and mind. Learn the rules inside and out. Practice with discipline and consistency.
Success is not going to be easy. But it will be earned.
To be truly successful long term (a month or more) you have to treat trading like a business and perform like a top athlete.
Let me explain why by sharing a story from my own life.
Back in high school I was one of the top two athletes in my city. Imagine a sport similar to tennis. There were others who were taller, stronger, more naturally gifted in every way. But they were not as consistent as I was. That consistency gave me the edge.
Here is what I did differently.
I worked out every day building cardio and training specific muscles in my arms, shoulders, and legs for explosive power.
I practiced really difficult shots hundreds and hundreds of times. When I made those shots during games people called it luck. But I knew better. I had rehearsed those shots so much that there was almost a 99 percent chance I would make them.
I also played mind games with my opponents. I talked to them before matches and gave them false confidence by saying I had injuries or wasn’t feeling great. Sometimes I praised a shot they had but secretly I had studied it carefully and knew exactly how to counter it. I was setting them up to lose.
The stock market is just the same.
It is a competition. The market is full of opponents, other traders, institutions, algorithms, all fighting for an edge. If you want to be in the top 10 percent who consistently make profits you have to be at the top of your game mentally, physically, and emotionally.
That is why so many traders fail. They don’t realize they need to train themselves like athletes. Having the right indicators or a big account is not enough. If you are tired, stressed, or emotionally drained, you are far more likely to make mistakes.
Ask yourself.
Did I sleep well last night?
Am I managing my stress and emotional environment like family issues or distractions?
Am I exercising enough to keep my heart and mind sharp?
Am I fueling my brain with the right nutrition and supplements?
Am I constantly learning and keeping my mind sharp enough to spot patterns and make quick decisions?
For me trading is like those athlete days. I take supplements to keep my mind sharp and my emotions steady throughout the day. I aim for 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily to stay physically fit. I carefully track my sleep with my Oura ring because getting good rest is critical to trading well.
Trading is a competition you show up to every single day. If you are not in your best shape losing that day is expected. And while even top athletes sometimes lose when they are at their best losing because you were not prepared is something you cannot accept.
Knowing the rules is just as important.
I once played a match where the sun was setting right on my side during the game. The other team had sun visors allowed by the rules. We only had hats but hats were banned. That small difference made a huge impact on the outcome.
Trading has its own rules and invisible players too like the Plunge Protection Team which steps in to prevent market crashes past a certain point. There are many hidden mechanics in the market you have to understand.
For example moving averages are not just about the famous 50 and 200-day crosses. There are many subtle details about how they are calculated and used that most traders miss unless they study deeply.
So honestly ask yourself these questions.
Do I really want to succeed in this market?
Am I willing to put in the time and effort it takes?
Am I treating trading like the serious business it is?
If your answer is yes then start treating yourself like the most important asset in your trading business. Train your body and mind. Learn the rules inside and out. Practice with discipline and consistency.
Success is not going to be easy. But it will be earned.
📈 Want deeper market insights?
📰 Free Weekly Recap, Outlook & Watchlist → diywallst.substack.com/about
⚡ VX Algo Futures Signals + Mentorship → whop.com/diywallst/
Promo Code Diywallst
📰 Free Weekly Recap, Outlook & Watchlist → diywallst.substack.com/about
⚡ VX Algo Futures Signals + Mentorship → whop.com/diywallst/
Promo Code Diywallst
Related publications
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
📈 Want deeper market insights?
📰 Free Weekly Recap, Outlook & Watchlist → diywallst.substack.com/about
⚡ VX Algo Futures Signals + Mentorship → whop.com/diywallst/
Promo Code Diywallst
📰 Free Weekly Recap, Outlook & Watchlist → diywallst.substack.com/about
⚡ VX Algo Futures Signals + Mentorship → whop.com/diywallst/
Promo Code Diywallst
Related publications
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.