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Why your mentors advice is keeping you a losing trader.

Jul 31, 2024

Expectations that traders set for themselves, typically based from what they see on social media...

 

...or the narrative that trading is easy, that they're sold from their mentor is what destroys most's hope for reaching profitability.

 

Let's be honest: there is no perfect trading strategy.

 

The true measure of a successful trader is not how perfect their strategy is, but how well they handle losses.

 

While we will all experience periods of winning streaks, the reality is that such success is short lived and unsustainable;

 

Successful trading requires accepting the inherent risks and understanding that losses are part of the journey.

 

Every trader, no matter how skilled, will face losses, and it's how you manage these losses that determines your long-term success.

 

Perfection in trading is a myth.

 

A winning trading system makes money over the long run, not on every single trade.

 

Avoid the pitfall of curve fitting – tweaking your strategy to match past data too closely can lead to failure when market environments inevitably change...

 

Change is the only consistent guarantee.

 

Instead, strive for subtle, data-driven improvements to your system.

 

Trading is dynamic, and market conditions constantly evolve.

 

A system that worked perfectly in the past might not be as effective in the future.

 

Therefore, it is crucial to make adjustments based on robust data and not on a whim after a few losses.

 

Curve fitting, or optimising your trading strategy to fit historical data perfectly, can be a recipe for disaster.

 

When you make your system too specific to past data, it becomes fragile and unable to adapt to new market conditions.

 

This rigidity can lead to significant losing streaks when the underlying market characteristics shift.

 

The key is to develop a flexible system that can adapt to different market scenarios.

 

This involves making incremental changes and thoroughly testing them before implementation.

 

As a trader, you have no choice other than to accept losses are part of the game.

 

Instead of constantly changing your system after every loss, focus on following your system with precision.

 

Excellence in trading means respecting your strategy and executing it flawlessly.

 

This disciplined approach helps you stay on course even during losing streaks.

 

By maintaining consistency, you can better assess whether your strategy needs adjustments or if market conditions are simply unfavourable.

 

Adopting a process-oriented mindset is crucial for long-term trading success.

 

This means focusing on the execution of your trading strategy rather than the outcome of individual trades.

 

By concentrating on the process, you can ensure that you are consistently applying your system and making decisions based on logic and data rather than emotions.

 

During losing streaks, this mindset helps you stay grounded and prevents you from making rash decisions that could further harm your trading performance.

 

A well-rounded trader is equipped with various strategies, based on the same approach, to tackle different market environments.

 

By having multiple setups, you can adapt to changing conditions and maintain profitability even when one of your strategies is underperforming.

 

The trading landscape is always changing, and continuous learning is essential for staying ahead.

 

This ongoing education allows you to refine your systems and adapt to new challenges.

 

However, it's important to avoid constantly chasing the latest trends without thoroughly testing them.

 

Stick to your core principles and make informed decisions based on data and experience.

 

In trading, as in life, consistency is key.

 

Once you find a system that works, stick with it.

 

Contrary to what a lot of traders believe my advice would be...

 

Still to this day when someone asks about my style of trading, my advise is always;

 

"if you've got a system that's profitable and works, stick with it and improve it vs going down a rabbit hole of learning how to read price action through a completely different lens."

 

Usually they'll of told me their style is profitable until I give them that advice...

 

Then the truth is revealed and they still want to hear more. 

 

The typical story is they've been trading the same way 3-4 years but the reality is they still can't make it work.

 

This is where we can step in with Continuum and help.

 

Again, if you're trading strategy is profitable, my advice to you is stick with it, track your data using a journal, measure the correct data points and subtly tweak your current style over time to increase optimal performance. 

 

If, however, you've been trading a style for over 18 months and you are still not consistent in pulling profits out of the market, passing funding challenges and taking withdrawals from prop firms regularly...

 

...it might be time to stop deluding yourself, and accept change is needed.

 

Stay disciplined, stay informed, and keep pushing forward.

 

Happy trading!

 

- Jonny

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