When I first entered the space, wasn’t everyone here hoping to double their money? But it turns out this is nothing like a get-rich-quick game—it's more like a marathon where you’re constantly competing with yourself.

The market will never always be on your side. Those who stick around have pretty much all gone through the cycle of losing money, readjusting, losing again, and adjusting again. It sounds rough, but that’s the reality.

Trend, position sizing, stop loss, execution—everyone can talk about these things. The question is, can you really stick to them? Guessing the market right once in a while doesn’t mean much; the real skill is consistently making money by following your rules. In the end, predictions are just another form of gambling on luck.

Losses are normal, but don’t let small losses turn into deep holes. The people who actually make money are usually the ones who catch a few major trends, not those glued to the screen, trading in and out all day. Frequent trading almost always leads to just one result—getting dragged around by your emotions and then blowing up your account.

It’s often those so-called “zen” traders, who move at their own pace and stay calm, whose accounts remain the most stable in the end.

In this field, what really matters isn’t how much you made on any given day, but whether you can protect your principal and control your drawdowns. The longer you’re in the game, the more you’ll realize: technical skills are just the entry ticket. What really determines success is always emotional management and self-discipline.

I’m Lao Zhao. I trade mid- and short-term contracts and do mid- to long-term spot layouts. Occasionally, I share some hands-on experience and strategic ideas. If you have any questions, feel free to chat with me anytime!