This is about hope.

Remember when you first entered the world of trading?

There was a belief or a concept that you just needed to find a system—put it to work and Boom! In comes the money. Sound familiar?

What happens next?

As a retail trader you enter without knowing the ropes. I know I didn't. There are no *real* courses on it. Right?

Consequently a range of painful experiences follow. Agree?

For instance blowing out accounts.

But do you know it's a cry for help?

You want out because you want the pain to end.

But the pain is misguided.

It stems from not understanding what trading is. People truly don't.

Yet even though the success rate is incredibly low—when you think of how many millions are doing it—the numbers of those who succeed are big. That's encouraging. Agree?

Therefore, do you want to give yourself the best chance possible in your opinion?

Then you have to understand what the job is. True?

Look

Imagine embarking on a journey scaling Mount Everest (just like trading):

  • You'll delve deep into the intricacies of climbing.
  • You'll grasp the essentials of safety.
  • You'll master acclimatization.
  • You'll learn the significance of oxygen supply.
  • You'll climb with experienced guides who ensure adherence to proper procedures.
  • Guides who'll restrict climbing if it's unsafe.

Whether you call it self-love, self-respect, or self-worth, the bottom line is you prioritise doing what's best for yourself. Agree?

Ultimately trading begins with knowing what lies beneath the surface.

It might appear straightforward—but let me show you how it's more nuanced.

Last Wednesday I executed the following trade sequence.

loss-loss-loss-loss-scratch-loss-loss-win.

Did I profit overall?

Before you answer you should know the winner did not move such a massive amount in price that it made up for all the losers. It's deeper than that.

You'll see the answer in a minute. But first a trading quiz.

What's the missing line?

To succeed as a trader you must:

  • First: Learn to Lose.
  • Second: Learn __________?
  • Third: Learn to Manage Yourself.

Before revealing the quiz answer:
Many people believe mastering risk management and self-control guarantees success. However it's not that simple.

In the sequence of trades from last Wednesday:
I massively increased the profit potential during the winning trade without increasing the risk beyond what I risked in the previous trades. Make sense?

Which leads to giving you the quiz answer.
To succeed as a trader you must "Learn to Win"

Now I don't need a crystal ball to know you still need to learn how to do this.

Why?

If you've tried it—you've discovered you require expertise to do it at precisely the right time so as not to experience a Big Fat Loss. Right?

How do I know?
Because it's a skill that only becomes accessible after you've acquired several levels of competency.

I've yet to encounter a single individual through either seeking mentorship, or among the thousands of retail traders I've interacted with during my brokerage days, who has attained this level.

To do what's right by you:

You need to know what a process is—what it consists of and what resources you need. You need to know how to survive losing trades and how to win.

Consider this:
I've had a personal trainer for years. It's a few sessions a week.

I remember my neighbour asking "Why do you spend so much each year on training?"
The answer is I'm not merely logging 10,000 daily steps to stave off premature death. It's about reaching peak vitality.  

A different desired outcome requires a different approach.
My trainer and I went to work on a complete overhaul. It's become a lifetime of change.

It's what trading is for that big number that succeeds—a significant transformation for a lifetime of change. It's what you sought when you initially embarked on this endeavour. Agree?

Your problem was never what you wanted from trading

The problem was the wrong path akin to turning left at a pivotal T-junction instead of right—yet persisting in that wrong direction for so long that you lose sight of your initial motivations for embarking on the journey. Sound familiar?

Did you know everyone who eventually succeeds in trading has also navigated the pitfalls of the wrong path at some point?

While delving into this topic warrants its own discussion...
You're never commencing from scratch—you're building upon past experiences.

And guess what? It's a vital part of the journey.
In the mentoring work I do I refrain from accepting new traders beause they lack this crucial initial phase.

The essence is this:

Your original vision for trading still holds true. But the path differs from what you initially imagined.

Considering why you first ventured into trading can offer valuable insights into your journey.

Explore further:

Discover what awaits you navigating the correct path. See a live trading excerpt of skills and knowledge you can develop.


Forex and derivatives trading is a highly competitive and often extremely fast-paced environment. It only rewards individuals who attain the required level of skill and expertise to compete. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is a substantial risk of loss to unskilled and inexperienced players. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade any such leveraged products you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with trading on margin, and seek advice from an independent

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

USD/JPY corrects further to near 155.80, gives up entire BoJ policy-led gains

USD/JPY corrects further to near 155.80, gives up entire BoJ policy-led gains

USD/JPY surrenders its entire gains made on the BoJ policy announcement day, and retraces to near 155.80. Investors are in vogue over the outlook of the BoJ’s monetary tightening campaign. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by at least 50 bps next year.


Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026

EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026 Premium

What a year! Donald Trump’s return to the United States (US) Presidency was no doubt what led financial markets throughout 2025. His not-always-unexpected or surprising decisions shaped investors’ sentiment, or better said, unprecedented uncertainty.

Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely

Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely Premium

Gold hit multiple new record highs throughout 2025. Trade-war fears, geopolitical instability and monetary easing in major economies were the main drivers behind Gold’s rally.

GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling?

GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling? Premium

Having wrapped up 2025 on a positive note, the Pound Sterling (GBP) eyes another meaningful and upbeat year against the US Dollar (USD) at the start of 2026.

US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation

US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation Premium

The US Dollar (USD) enters the new year at a crossroads. After several years of sustained strength driven by US growth outperformance, aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) tightening, and recurrent episodes of global risk aversion, the conditions that underpinned broad-based USD appreciation are beginning to erode, but not collapse.

Bitcoin Price Annual Forecast: BTC holds long-term bullish structure heading into 2026

Bitcoin Price Annual Forecast: BTC holds long-term bullish structure heading into 2026

Bitcoin (BTC) is wrapping up 2025 as one of its most eventful years, defined by unprecedented institutional participation, major regulatory developments, and extreme price volatility.

RECOMMENDED LESSONS

5 Forex News Events You Need To Know

In the fast moving world of currency markets where huge moves can seemingly come from nowhere, it is extremely important for new traders to learn about the various economic indicators and forex news events and releases that shape the markets. Indeed, quickly getting a handle on which data to look out for, what it means, and how to trade it can see new traders quickly become far more profitable and sets up the road to long term success.

Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know

Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and selling pressure. Chart patterns have a proven track-record, and traders use them to identify continuation or reversal signals, to open positions and identify price targets.

7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams

The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?

What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make

Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.

Strategy

Money Management

Psychology

Best Brokers of 2025