The Lessons That Changed Everything

From Chaos to Strategy

I began trading in 2016 with little more than luck on my side. I ventured into the world of Bitcoin and Altcoins, relying on fundamental analysis without a real strategy. Over the first 18 months, my profits soared and by late 2017 I was confident enough to quit my job and trade full-time. I had no leverage in my trades just spot buys, riding the wave of Bitcoin’s rise to nearly $20,000 towards the end of Decemeber 2017.

However, as often happens when success blinds you, I failed to build a solid trading foundation. My approach was a patchwork of trendlines, Fibonacci levels with random support and resistance zones. I constantly jumped between timeframes without understanding their significance. Worse still, I relied heavily upon others, blindly following market narratives and hoping the market would follow along. I had no process, no strategy, and no real grasp on risk management, I could go on.

I was, in essence, trading without embodying the essential qualities of a true trader.

The Rise and Fall of Leverage Trading

In the early summer of 2018, I started leverage trading both FX and cryptocurrencies, but in reality, I was just chasing excitement without a plan. I had no trading journal, no strategy, no defined risk management, just erratic impulsive emotional trading watching my positions bleed against me whilst being over leveraged, over sized on trading positions and at times risking half my trading balance thinking that was the norm. Every rookie mistake you can name, I made.

By late 2018, the crypto market took its toll. Bitcoin dropped from $6K to $3K, and my portfolio was down -70% from its all time highs. While I was still up from where I started, the loss was staggering. More than the money, it was the realization that I had left a significant amount of profit on the table and squandered opportunities to lock in those gains. I lacked an appreciation for drawdown, risk management, and the discipline to secure my profits when I had the chance. Ultimately I lacked a structured process.

The Turning Point: Building A Structured Approach

After enduring the pains of financial drawdown in the markets, I made the decision to stop trading. I started consuming trading content and tried to learn as much as I could, but the real turning point came when a close friend pushed me towards the development of having a trading manual. This concept struck a chord with me. I delved deeper by researching online, watching videos and understanding why seasoned traders emphasized upon the importance of a written guide to their trading process. It forced me to step away from the chaos, take responsibility for my actions and reevaluate my approach. I spent the next two months writing my first trading manual, a comprehensive exploration of my strategy, my thought process, my goals, and ultimately what I wanted to achieve as a trader.

It was a moment of clarity: I believed that if I can’t clearly explain my trading strategy to another trader, then I have no business calling myself a discretionary price action trader. The manual became the foundation of my growth as a trader, an essential tool for structuring my approach and refining my process. It has evolved ever since.

The Crucial Lessons That Changed Everything

Prioritize Data from Day One

For far too long, I relied on a vague sense of gut instinct. But the truth is, data is your greatest asset in trading. Without tracking your trades, journaling your decisions, and analyzing key metrics, you have no objective way to improve. I realised I was wasting time guessing instead of refining my edges with real data. Journaling your trades is essential. Without data, you have no conviction, and without conviction, you have no profits or consistency.

Reset Your Expectations

When I first started, I believed trading was a quick road to riches based on my initial experience. I thought I could turn a small stake into a fortune within a year or two. The reality, though, is that trading takes time. It takes 3 to 4 years of continuous learning, iteration, and refinement to reach a level of competency. Accepting this early on would have saved me countless frustrations. Trading is a long-term commitment, not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Build Systems That Align With Your Strengths

One of the most critical lessons I learned was that the systems you use should reflect your natural strengths and psychology. For years, I tried to copy strategies that didn’t fit my style, believing that if I followed others, I would find success. But the truth is, you have to create systems that work for you, not for someone else. The fastest way to profitability is to align your trading style with your strengths, not try to mimic someone else’s.

Process Over Outcome

I was too focused on the outcome, on how much I could make, how quickly I could turn a profit. Early wins inflated my ego, while losses shattered my confidence. But both were distractions, short-term results are just noise. The traders who survive and thrive are the ones who focus on executing their process consistently, regardless of short-term wins or losses. The process is the constant, and the profits follow when you master it.

The Next One Hundred Trades

In the beginning, I focused solely on PnL targets. Profit was the goal. But over time, I realized that trading isn’t about chasing immediate gains but instead it’s about the process.

Success in trading is measured by consistency, not by hitting short-term targets. The focus should be on understanding your strategies and in which environment do those strategies work best, refining your mindset, and sharpening your edge. The real question isn’t how much you make today, but how well you’re prepared for the next 100 trades and beyond.

Trading is about survival. One irrational decision can undo months if not years of hard work, as I’ve experienced in the past. That is why the process matters more than the outcome. By mastering the process, refining your strategies, staying mentally disciplined, you increase the probability of long-term success.

Trading isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. The key is to sustain your edge over time, knowing each trade contributes to your long-term growth.

The Foundation: The Trading Manual

Traders need a daily routine that they enjoy, if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it.

At the heart of everything I do is the trading manual. It’s more than a document, it’s a blueprint for my growth as a trader. It forces me to think critically about my goals, my strategy, my strengths and weaknesses. The manual isn’t just about trading strategies it’s about understanding who I am as a trader and what I need to do to succeed.

In the end, trading isn’t about beating the market or outsmarting others. It’s about you versus you. The market simply reflects your decisions and your psychology. The only thing standing between you and success is your commitment to the process, your willingness to learn, and your ability to consistently apply your strategies. Trading is a journey of self-discovery, and the greatest breakthrough comes from mastering the market, your mindset, and yourself.

This is how I went from an emotionally driven trader to someone who understands the importance of having a trading process, data, and discipline. It’s a lesson I carry with me every day and one I look forward to sharing over time.