After mixing in the contract market for 5 years, I've blown up accounts that could circle the trading software 3 times, and I've stepped into more pitfalls than the cracks in my home floor—only now can I confidently say: this market is not a 'game for the smart' but a 'battlefield for the disciplined.' Those who earn money by luck will eventually lose it back through skill; but the money earned while adhering to discipline can be securely kept. Today, I will explain the 3 rules forged from real money to help my brothers avoid the detours I took years ago!
1. Making a profit is the real way to earn money; don’t compare who is greedier in the market.
When I first entered, I always made one mistake: hoping for 10% when it rose by 5%, and 20% when it rose by 10%. As a result, when the market corrected, I lost all profits and even went into the red. After suffering enough losses, I set a strict rule: don’t compete with 'buying high and selling low', but fight hard for 'keeping profits'.
Now my iron rule is: after buying, if the increase hits 10%, immediately watch the K-line chart closer than a girlfriend's messages; once it retraces to the cost line, act decisively to close the position—don’t think 'just wait a bit longer', hesitation will lead to defeat; if it rises to 20%, lock in half the profits and transfer that portion to more stable assets, which is equivalent to 'putting the principal back in my pocket'; if luck is good and it surges to 30%, at least keep 15% net profit, and then observe the market for further action.
Remember, in the market, it's not about 'who catches the highest', but 'who can keep the profits'. Those who gamble on price movements based on feelings will eventually be educated by the market; those who survive by clear rules can navigate through volatility with ease.
2. Timely stop-loss is a 'life-saving talisman'; don't get 'involved' with losses.
I call this rule the 'first lifeline of contracts'. Back then, I held onto the fantasy that 'this asset will definitely rise in the long term', and when a certain mainstream coin dropped 15%, I stubbornly held on, only to watch it drop another 20%, leading to a direct liquidation. That time I realized: losses are like wounds; the longer you drag it out, the harder it is to heal; stop-loss is 'stopping the bleeding in time', painful for a moment but life-saving.
Now my red line is: if the drop hits 15% after buying, no matter how confident I am about the target's future, I must decisively stop-loss and exit. Some say, 'What if it goes up again after I stop-loss?'—that only indicates you entered at the wrong time, which doesn’t mean the direction is wrong. The market never lacks new opportunities; what’s lacking is the execution power of 'cutting losses decisively'. Trades without stop-loss are essentially betting your principal on your life; winning is luck, losing is disaster.
3. After selling, don't regret it; if the trend is there, dare to re-enter.
Many brothers who sell too early fall into two extremes: either they watch the price drop without daring to buy back, fearing 'buying at the halfway point'; or they stubbornly hold on when the price returns to the selling price, thinking 'I sold before, now buying means a loss'. In fact, these are misconceptions—trading earns 'money from trends', not 'money spent on personal pride'.
Last time I sold a position, I watched it drop 12%, but the moving averages were still trending upwards, the trend hadn’t reversed, so I directly bought back according to plan. As a result, the number of shares I held didn’t change, and I even had extra profits from the sale, equivalent to 'earning some pocket money for free'. Even if I missed the low point, when the price rises back to the original selling price, I still need to buy—those transaction fees are nothing compared to the frustration of missing out.
Finally, I want to say: staying alive is the key to waiting for the day to 'reap profits'.
Short-term trading is not 'blind guessing', and chasing trends is not 'following the crowd for red envelopes'. There’s an old saying in this market: 'The one who buys is a disciple, the one who sells is a master'—but more accurately, 'Only those who can maintain discipline are the true masters'. Don't always fantasize about 'getting rich overnight', and don’t envy others for 'catching big trends'; everyone has a different rhythm. Keep your own discipline, control your own positions, and you can stand firm in the crypto market.
Next time, I'll chat with you about 'how to maintain a steady mindset during market fluctuations'; after all, if your mindset is stable, the discipline can be executed properly. Follow me, we won’t engage in empty predictions, just talk about practical strategies that can be implemented! After all, in this market, staying alive is the key to waiting for the day to reap profits—don't let the market turn you into a meme; we want to be the ones smiling while counting returns!
