DOGS Main Trend. Tactics of Working on Risky Crypto 03 2025Logarithm. Time frame 3 days. Tactics of working on super-risky cryptocurrencies of low liquidity, which are always sold (without loading the glass), by the creators of “nothing”. In order to increase sales, of course, when they rationally reverse the trend and make pumps at a large % and marketing positive news "have time to buy". On such assets with such liquidity, “killed faith” (at the moment), and control of the emission in “one hand” it is not difficult. Something like in BabyDOGE.
On such assets you should always remember:
1️⃣ allocate a certain amount for work in general on such assets from the deposit as a whole.
2️⃣ distribute money (potential reversal and decline zones) from this allocated amount to each similar asset in advance.
3️⃣ diversify similar assets themselves (5-10 cryptocurrencies), understanding that sooner or later they will scam. The scam of one of them should not be reflected significantly on the balance of the pump/dump group of low liquidity. It is impossible to guess everything that does not depend on you, and it is not necessary. Your miscalculations (what does not depend on you) are smoothed out by your initial trading plan and risk control, that is, money management (money management).
4️⃣ Set adequate goals. Part of the position locally trade 40-80% (not necessary, but this sometimes reduces the risk).
5️⃣ Work with trigger orders and lower them if they did not work and the price falls.
6️⃣ Remember that in consolidation and cut zones in assets of such liquidity, stops are always knocked out, so the size of the stop does not really matter. It will be knocked out, especially before the reversal.
7️⃣ Before the reversal of the secondary trend, as a rule, they first do a “hamster pump” by a conditionally significant %, when everyone is "tired of waiting". They absorb all sales. Then the main pumping without passengers by a very large % takes place to form a distribution zone. As a rule, it will be lower than the pump highs, that is, in the zone when they are not afraid to buy, but believe that after a large pump, the highs will be overcome significantly.
8️⃣ Remember that assets of such liquidity decrease after listings or highs by:
a) active hype, bull market -50-70%
b) secondary trend without extraordinary events -90-93%
c) cycle change -96-98% or scam, if it is a 1-2 cycle project (there is no point in supporting the legend, how it is easier to make a candy wrapper from scratch without believing holders with coins).
9️⃣In the capitulation zone, there can be several of them depending on the trend of the market as a whole and rationality, the asset is of no interest to anyone. Everyone gets the impression that everything is a scam. That is, on the contrary, you need to collect the asset, observing money management, that is, your initial distribution of money and the risk that you agreed with in advance. As a rule, in such zones people "give up" and abandon their earlier vision.
🔟 After the entire position is set (pre-planned, according to your money management), stop and do not get stuck in the market and news noise. Wait for your first goals.
Remember, people always buy expensive, and refuse to buy cheap ("it's a scam", they try to "catch the bottom"), when "the Internet is not buzzing". This all happens because there is no vision, and as a consequence, no tactics of work and risk control . Many want to guess the “bottom”, or “maximums”, and refuse to sell when they are reached. The first and second are not conditionally available, on assets of such liquidity and emission control. But, there are probabilities that you can operate and earn on this, without getting stuck in the market noise. And also in the opinions of the majority (inclination to the dominant opinion and rejection of your plan and risk control), from which you must fence yourself off.
Most people, immersed in market noise and the opinions of others , choose for themselves the price movement, which is beneficial to them at the moment , and to which they are inclined, but do not provide themselves with the tactics of work. This is a key mistake, and the main manipulation that the conditional manipulator achieves, who, by the way, is sometimes not on the asset, to form an opinion and, as a consequence, the actions of the majority.
Because, in essence, most people do not have the tactics of work. Where the news FUD (inclination to the dominant opinion), “market noise” (cutting zones and collecting liquidity), the opinion of the majority, is directed, that is what they are inclined to.
When the price goes in the other direction, it is disappointment.
If these are futures — liquidation of the position. Zeroing out due to greed.
If this is spot — "proud random holders" , without the ability to average the position (no money), to reduce the average price of the position set as a whole, and as a result increase the % of profit in the future.
A trading plan and risk control are the basis, not guessing the price movement. If you do not have the first “two whales” of trading in your arsenal, then you have nothing. It doesn't matter how much you guess the potential movement, as the outcome of such practice is always the same, and it is not comforting.
Trading Plan
How to Actually Do Backtesting?Welcome back guys, I’m Skeptic!
Today, I’m gonna break down one of the most important and fundamental skills every trader needs: Backtesting .
Backtesting is the very first step on your trading journey and probably the most crucial one. It’s all about putting your theoretical knowledge and trading plan to the test by evaluating them against historical market data. The goal? To see whether your strategy actually works — with what win rate, R/R ratio , and more.
But here’s the problem: many traders do it wrong. They end up getting unreliable results, which leads to self-doubt when it comes to forward testing. The real issue is not your strategy but how you conduct your backtest.
Let’s dive into the complete process! 💪
🛠️ Tools You Need
To start backtesting, you’ll need some software that supports the replay feature, allowing you to move through historical data as if it were live.
The best platforms for this are TradingView and MetaTrader . Personally, I use TradingView because it’s super intuitive and has great backtesting capabilities.
Also, make sure to choose appropriate timeframes for backtesting that align with your strategy.
🕰️ Choosing Market Conditions:
You need to backtest your strategy in all types of market conditions:
Uptrend
Downtrend
Range-bound
High Volatility
🚀 Step-by-Step Backtesting
1.Choose the Timeframe:
Make sure your backtesting timeframe matches your strategy’s timeframe. For example, if your strategy works on the 4H chart, don’t backtest on the 1H chart.
2.Select Your Strategy:
Stick to your written trading plan without improvising.
3.Pick the Asset Pair:
Test on at least three different pairs or assets (e.g., EUR/USD, XAU/USD, GBP/NZD) to get diverse results.
4.Define Entry and Exit Rules:
Clearly specify your entry, stop loss, and target levels. Never change these rules mid-backtest, even if it seems illogical. In real trading, you won’t have the luxury of endless contemplation.
🎯 Running the Backtest
Use the Replay Tool to move through historical data.
Never peek at the future price movement. If you accidentally see it, restart from a different point.
Open a minimum of 30 positions for each market condition (e.g., uptrend, downtrend, range).
Record each trade in a spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.) with the following columns:
Date
Time
Entry strategy
Stop loss
Target
Result (profit/loss as R/R ratio)
Exit time
📊 Analyzing Your Results
After completing your backtest, it’s time to analyze the data. Key metrics to focus on include:
R/R Ratio
Win Rate (%)
Drawdown (%)
Losing Streaks
Position Frequency
🚩 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Inconsistent Strategy: Changing your rules during backtesting is a no-go. Stick to the plan.
Incomplete Testing: Don’t cut corners and always aim for a substantial number of trades.
Ignoring Market Conditions: Make sure your strategy is tested in all four market scenarios.
Lack of Patience: Just because the first few trades are losses doesn’t mean the strategy is a failure. Sometimes, a losing streak can be followed by a winning trade that covers it all.
💡 Conclusion
Backtesting is the beating heart of any trader’s skill set. It builds confidence and lays the foundation for a profitable strategy. If you found this tutorial helpful, give it a boost and share it with your fellow traders. Let’s grow together, not alone!
And as Freddie Mercury once said:
We are the champions, my friends! :)🏆
Happy trading, and see you in the next analysis! 💪🔥
Crypto: From "HODL Paradise" to a Speculator’s PlaygroundDuring past bull markets, a simple HODL strategy worked wonders.
Bitcoin and Ethereum set the market trend, and altcoins followed with explosive gains. If you bought the right project before the hype wave, the profits were massive.
However, today’s market is vastly different:
✅ Liquidity is unevenly distributed – Only a handful of major projects attract serious capital, while many altcoins stagnate.
✅ Investors are more sophisticated – Institutional players and smart money dominate, making retail-driven pumps less frequent.
✅ Not all coins pump together – Only projects with real utility and solid tokenomics see sustainable growth.
________________________________________
2. What Matters Now? Strategies for the New Crypto Era
To succeed in the current market, you need a more calculated approach. Here’s what you should focus on:
🔹 Technical Analysis
You can’t just buy blindly and hope for a moonshot. Understanding support and resistance levels, price patterns, trading volumes, etc. is crucial.
Example: If an altcoin has surged 50% in a few days and reaches a strong resistance level, it’s not a buying opportunity—it’s a sell signal for short-term traders.
🔹 Tokenomics and Supply Mechanics
In 2017 and 2021, as long as a project had a compelling whitepaper, it could attract investors. Now, you need to analyze total token supply, distribution models, utility, and vesting schedules.
Example: If a project has an aggressive vesting schedule where early investors and the team receive new tokens monthly, there will be constant selling pressure. No matter how good the technology is, you don’t want to be caught in a dumping cycle.
🔹 Market Psychology and Speculative Cycles
Crypto is driven by emotions. You need to recognize when the crowd is euphoric (time to sell) and when fear dominates (time to buy).
Example: If a project is all over Twitter, Telegram, and TikTok, it might already be near the top. On the other hand, when a solid project is ignored and trading volume is low, it could be a prime accumulation opportunity.
________________________________________
3. Realistic Expectations: 30-50-100% Are the New "100x"
If catching a 10x or 100x was common in the past, those days are largely over. Instead, 30-50-100% gains are far more realistic and sustainable.
Why?
• The market is more mature, and liquidity doesn’t flood into random projects.
• Most "100x" gains were pump & dump schemes, which are now avoided by smart investors.
• Experienced traders take profits earlier, limiting parabolic price action.
Recommended strategy:
1. Enter early in a solid project with clear utility and strong tokenomics.
2. Set realistic profit targets (e.g., take 30% profit at +50%, another 30% at +100%, and hold the rest long-term).
3. Don’t wait for a “super cycle” to make money—take profits consistently.
________________________________________
4. Conclusion: Adapt or Get Left Behind
The crypto market has evolved from a “HODL Paradise” where almost any coin could 10-100x into a speculator’s playground, favoring skilled traders and informed investors.
To stay profitable, you must:
✅ Master technical analysis and identify accumulation vs. distribution zones.
✅ Pick projects with solid tokenomics and avoid those with aggressive unlock schedules.
✅ Set realistic expectations—forget about 100x and aim for sustainable 30-100% gains.
✅ Stay flexible and adapt to market psychology and emerging trends.
Crypto is no longer a game of luck. It’s a game of knowledge and strategy. If you don’t adapt, you’ll be stuck waiting for a 100x that may never come.
So, at least this is my opinion. But what about you? Do you think crypto is still a "HODL paradise," or are we fully in the era of skilled traders and speculators?
Will we ever see another cycle where almost everything pumps together, or is selective investing the new reality?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let’s discuss
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive?123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive?
To make money in trading, you need to control your emotions.
Traders often fall into two emotional traps:
Overly Aggressive: After several wins , a trader may become too confident. They might increase their position sizes or take on riskier trades. This can lead to significant losses if the market turns.
Overly Defensive: After several losses , a trader may become too fearful. They might hesitate to enter good trades or exit trades too early. This can lead to missed profit opportunities.
Maintaining a balance between these states is key. Learn to recognize and control your emotions. Discipline and a calm mind are essential for successful trading.
In trading, you must simultaneously be
defensive and aggressive.
Balance is Key ⚖️
Navid Jafarian
Every tip is a step towards becoming a more disciplined trader. Look forward to the next one! 🌟
Exploring the Main Components of a Powerful Trading Journal
In one of the previous posts, we discussed the significance of a trading journal. In the today's article, I will share with you the key elements of a trading journal of a professional trader.
And first, a quick reminder that a trading journal is essential for your trading success. No matter on which level you are at the moment, you should always keep track of your results.
Let's go through the list of the things that you should include in your journal.
1 - Trading Instrument
The symbol where the order is executed.
You need that in order to analyze the performance of trading a particular instrument.
2 - Date
The date of the opening of the position. Some traders also include the exact time of the execution.
3 - Risk
Percentage of the account balance at risk.
Even though some traders track the lot of sizes instead, I do believe that the percentage data is more important and may give more insights.
4 - Entry Reason
The set of conditions that were met to open the trade.
In that section, I recommend to note as much data as possible.
It will be applied in future for the identification of the weaknesses of your strategy.
5 - Risk Reward Ratio
The expected returns in relation to potential risks.
6 - Results
Gain or loss in percentage.
And again, some traders track the pip value of the gain, however,
in my view, the percentage points are more relevant for studying the statistics.
Here is the example of the trade on Gold:
Here is how exactly you should journal the following trade:
Instrumet: Gold (XAUUSD)
Date: 03.07.2023
Risk: 1%
Entry Reason: H&S Pattern Formation,
Neckline Breakout & Retest
R/R Ratio: 1.77
Results: +1.77%
Of course, depending on your trading strategy and your personal goals, some other elements can be added. However, the list that I propose is the absolute minimum that you should track.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Learn To Invest: Global Liquidity Index & BitcoinGlobal Liquidity Index & BitCoin:
🚀 Positive Vibes for Your Financial Journey! 🚀
BITSTAMP:BTCUSD
Look at this chart! It's the Global Liquidity Index , a measure of how much extra money is flowing through the world's financial systems.
Why is this important? Because when this index is high, it often means good things for investments like #Bitcoin! 📈
Think of it like this: when there's more money flowing, people are often more willing to take risks and invest in things like Bitcoin.
See those "BullRun" boxes? That means things are looking bright! It's showing that money is flowing, and that's often a good sign for potential Bitcoin growth. 🌟
Even if you're not a pro, it's easy to see the good news here. Understanding these trends can help you make smarter decisions.
Let's all aim for growth and success! 💪
Breaking the Trading Matrix: Lessons from The Matrix MovieThe Matrix is more than just a movie—it’s a mind-expanding experience that continues to offer new insights, no matter how many times you watch it. Beyond its philosophical depth and action-packed sequences, the film carries powerful lessons that can be applied to trading.
Just like in The Matrix, financial markets blur the line between reality and illusion. Success in trading requires a shift in perception, a willingness to embrace harsh truths, and the ability to decode the underlying structure of the market.
Let’s break down the key trading lessons inspired by The Matrix.
🕶️ Building Confidence: The Neo Path
Remember Neo’s journey? He started as Thomas Anderson—doubtful and uncertain—before transforming into the confident savior of humanity. This mirrors a trader’s evolution:
• You start hesitant and unsure.
• Greed and ego take over.
• The market humbles you with losses.
• You develop an edge, learning from experience.
• Over time, confidence and resilience grow.
Like Neo, every trader faces setbacks. But every setback is a setup for a comeback. Persistence and adaptation are key.
🏃♂️ Confirmation Bias: Dodging the Bullet
One of the most iconic scenes in The Matrix is Neo dodging bullets, bending reality to his advantage. Traders must do the same by reshaping their biases.
If you only seek confirmation for your trades, you’ll ignore critical counter-signals. To avoid this trap:
✅ Develop a trading system based on logic, not emotion.
✅ Seek diverse viewpoints instead of reinforcing your bias.
✅ Accept that the market moves on probabilities, not personal beliefs.
Dodge the confirmation bias bullet, and you’ll become a more objective and adaptable trader.
🔴 Take the Red Pill: Embrace Reality
In The Matrix, the red pill symbolizes awakening to the truth. In trading, taking the red pill means accepting the realities of the market:
❌ Traders who take the blue pill:
• Chase high win rates.
• Refuse to accept losses.
• Gamble with oversized positions.
✅ Traders who take the red pill:
• Accept risk as part of the game.
• Prepare for inevitable losses.
• Understand that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Those who ignore market realities are doomed to fail. Take the red pill and see the market for what it truly is.
🥄 There Is No Spoon: The Power of Perspective
In the famous "There is no spoon" scene, Neo learns that reality is shaped by perception. The same applies to trading:
• The market isn’t your enemy—your perception of it is.
• Stop trying to “bend” the market to your will.
• Instead, bend your mind to adapt to market conditions.
Traders who develop flexibility thrive, while those who resist change break.
🔢 Understand the Code – Understand the Matrix
Neo eventually sees the code behind The Matrix. Similarly, traders must understand the market’s underlying structure:
📊 Price Action
📈 Volume
📉 Probabilities
Markets move up, down, and sideways. Your job is to recognize patterns and decode them. The more you understand the code, the more clarity you gain in your trades.
👨💼 Agent Smith and Market Manipulators
Just as Agent Smith was a virus in The Matrix, market manipulators exist to exploit uninformed traders. Beware of:
🚨 Extreme volatility
📉 Unusual price gaps
❌ Pump-and-dump schemes
Stay vigilant and avoid manipulated markets that can drain your capital.
🏋️ Training Simulation: Practice Makes Perfect
Before Neo fought in the real world, he trained in simulated battles. Traders should do the same before risking real money:
✅ Backtest strategies to refine your edge.
✅ Use demo accounts to practice execution.
✅ Paper trade to gain confidence before going live.
Mistakes in training are free. Mistakes in live trading cost money. Train smartly.
🕶️ Morpheus’s Faith: Belief in Yourself
Morpheus believed in Neo before Neo believed in himself. Traders must also develop unwavering self-belief:
✔️ Trust your analysis.
✔️ Stick to your system.
✔️ Make decisions with confidence.
Doubt and hesitation lead to poor execution. Confidence, backed by preparation, leads to success.
🏛️ The Architect’s Plan: Strategy is Key
The Architect had a plan for The Matrix—every possible outcome was accounted for. Traders need the same level of structure:
📝 Develop a clear trading strategy.
🎯 Stick to your plan, even when emotions flare up.
⚖️ Adjust when necessary, but never trade impulsively.
Without a plan, you’re just another gambler in the market.
🧘 Free Your Mind: Emotional Control
Neo’s final test was to free his mind. In trading, emotional control is the ultimate skill:
✅ Backtest your system to understand market behavior.
✅ Risk less until you're comfortable with losses.
✅ Trade small before increasing position sizes.
Your worst enemies in trading?
❌ Ego
❌ Fear
❌ Greed
Master them, or the market will master you.
🔥 Final Words: The Path to Financial Awakening
Trading, like The Matrix, is a journey of self-discovery, discipline, and adaptation. If you want to break free from the illusion of quick riches and truly understand the market, you must:
📌 Develop confidence and resilience.
📌 Avoid confirmation bias and seek objective perspectives.
📌 Accept the harsh realities of trading.
📌 Adapt to market conditions instead of resisting them.
📌 Learn to read price action, volume, and probabilities.
📌 Stay vigilant against market manipulation.
📌 Practice before going live.
📌 Believe in yourself and your system.
📌 Have a structured plan and execute with discipline.
📌 Master your emotions to make rational decisions.
The real question is: Are you ready to free your mind and take control of your trading destiny?
Different Shades of DisciplineIn my decade of trading experience I've come to realize through huge number of trials and errors that discipline in trading is a rather unique and not always universal beast.
While there are definitely broad categories of discipline trading like taking high-quality setups, correctly managing risk, taking profits, and so on; There are also many unique underlying reasons and mind-tangled cognitive dissonances that can become the cause of these lapses.
What I understood in my experience is that discipline seems to be transferrable from 1 area to another. Addicted to smoking? Perhaps, quitting can be beneficial to one's trading. However, not necessarily as some traders smoke (and can't quit that habit) for a different underlying reason and thus quitting for them might NOT be as beneficial for the former one. The devil seems to be in the details. Why one smokes? Is it a coping mechanism for stress, or is it a little ritual that one employs to consciously recalibrate themselves?
The key seems to be in action and number of trials and experiments. Attempting to try the routine of other people might not yield the best results for the expended effort. One person may run for many miles and enjoy that time, for another it will be excruciating agony to do that. The discipline required in that example would obviously be vastly different, and thus the effect that action produces also - different.
At the end of the day - the most important thing in trading is consistency, but coupled with PERSONAL unique discipline is something that gives us edge in the markets.
How to Backtest a Trading Strategy on TradingViewBacktesting is an essential part of developing a profitable trading strategy. It allows you to test how your system would have performed in past market conditions before risking real money.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of backtesting using TradingView’s Bar Replay Tool and other key methods. By the end, you’ll be able to analyze and optimize your strategy for better results.
📌 Step 1: Open Your Chart & Select a Timeframe
The first step in backtesting is choosing the right chart and timeframe based on your trading style:
Scalping → 1-minute (M1) or 5-minute (M5) charts
Day Trading → 15-minute (M15) or 1-hour (H1) charts
Swing Trading → 4-hour (H4) or daily (D1) charts
Select the asset you want to test (stocks, forex, crypto, indices, etc.) and ensure there’s enough historical data available.
Enough available data in this chart:
⏳ Step 2: Activate the Bar Replay Tool
TradingView’s Bar Replay Tool lets you scroll back in time and simulate live market conditions. Here’s how to use it:
Click on the "Replay" button in the top toolbar.
Select a point in the past where you want to begin your test.
The chart will "rewind," hiding future price action.
At this stage, you’re looking at the market as if it were happening in real-time. This prevents hindsight bias, which is when you unconsciously adjust decisions based on already knowing the outcome.
Enable it here:
Then choose a point on the chart:
📈 Step 3: Apply Your Trading Strategy
Now, it’s time to apply your chosen strategy. This could be:
Indicator-based strategies (e.g., EMA crossovers, MACD signals, RSI divergences).
Price action trading (e.g., support/resistance levels, candlestick patterns, chart patterns).
Algorithmic or rule-based trading (e.g., entry and exit conditions based on technical indicators).
The strategies above are just some examples so make sure to use your own strategy.
Make sure to document your trade setup, including:
✅ Entry conditions (What triggers a trade?)
✅ Stop-loss placement (Where do you exit if wrong?)
✅ Take-profit target (What is the goal?)
✅ Risk-to-reward ratio (Is it worth taking the trade?)
Here is an example how to draw it out on your chart:
▶️ Step 4: Play the Market & Record Your Trades
Now comes the real testing phase:
Press "Play" or use the "Step Forward" button to move price action forward bar by bar.
When a trade setup appears, log it in a trading journal or spreadsheet.
Record:
Entry price
Stop-loss level
Take-profit target
Win/Loss outcome
You can use a simple Google Sheet, Excel or Notion template to track results. The more data you collect, the better your analysis will be later.
📊 Step 5: Analyze Your Results & Optimize
After backtesting at least 50-100 trades, it’s time to analyze the performance of your strategy. Here are some key metrics to review:
Win Rate (%) → How many trades were profitable?
Risk-to-Reward Ratio → Are your winners bigger than your losers?
Drawdowns → What’s the worst losing streak your system encountered?
Market Conditions → Did your strategy perform better in trends or ranging markets?
🚀 Final Thoughts
Backtesting is a crucial step for any serious trader. It allows you to:
✅ Gain confidence in your strategy.
✅ Identify weaknesses and make adjustments.
✅ Avoid trading systems that don’t work before losing real money.
However, keep in mind that past performance does not guarantee future results. After backtesting, it’s best to forward-test your strategy in a demo account before using real capital.
__________________________________________
Have you backtested your strategy before? What were your results? Let me know in the comments! 💬
Behind the Buy&Sell Strategy: What It Is and How It WorksWhat is a Buy&Sell Strategy?
A Buy&Sell trading strategy involves buying and selling financial instruments with the goal of profiting from short- or medium-term price fluctuations. Traders who adopt this strategy typically take long positions, aiming for upward profit opportunities. This strategy involves opening only one trade at a time, unlike more complex strategies that may use multiple orders, hedging, or simultaneous long and short positions. Its management is simple, making it suitable for less experienced traders or those who prefer a more controlled approach.
Typical Structure of a Buy&Sell Strategy
A Buy&Sell strategy consists of two key elements:
1) Entry Condition
Entry conditions can be single or multiple, involving the use of one or more technical indicators such as RSI, SMA, EMA, Stochastic, Supertrend, etc.
Classic examples include:
Moving average crossover
Resistance breakout
Entry on RSI oversold conditions
Bullish MACD crossover
Retracement to the 50% or 61.8% Fibonacci levels
Candlestick pattern signals
2) Exit Condition
The most common exit management methods for a long trade in a Buy&Sell strategy fall into three categories:
Take Profit & Stop Loss
Exit based on opposite entry conditions
Percentage on equity
Practical Example of a Buy&Sell Strategy
Entry Condition: Bearish RSI crossover below the 30 level (RSI oversold entry).
Exit Conditions: Take profit, stop loss, or percentage-based exit on the opening price.
Dangers of Giving Up Too Soon on a Trading Strategy GOLD, FOREX
There are hundreds of different strategies to trade. Some of them are losing ones, some provide modest results and some strategies are very profitable.
Novice traders often struggle to find the right strategy that suits their personality, financial goals and risk appetite. Unfortunately, they also tend to make some common mistakes that can undermine their performance and confidence.
❌ One of the biggest mistakes that they make in their search is that they give a strategy a very short trial period. It simply means that they are trying to assess the validity of the strategy, trading that for a very short time span (usually a day to a week).
Please, realize the fact that the performance of the strategy can be measured only with extended backtesting - meaning that the strategy should be tested on multiple financial instruments and for a long period of time and applying multiple evaluation metrics.
Moreover, if the strategy proves its efficiency on backtesting, it should be traded on a demo account at least 2 months before the valid performance can be calculated.
❌ Another common mistake is that many traders drop the strategy once it starts losing. And by losing, I mean just 2–3 trades in a row.
Newbies are searching for the approach that never loses.
They may even abandon a trading strategy once they catch JUST ONE bad trade.
✅ In contrast, a smart trader realizes that one bad trade does not define the performance of the strategy. Moreover, such a trader calmly faces the losing streaks and sticks to the strategy.
Take a look at that picture.
On the top, we have the traits of a newbie trader and his equity curve.
He abandons the strategy after he faces the loss, not giving the strategy a chance to recover.
When he changes the strategy, he starts recovering a little bit and a losing period follows.
He drops a strategy again, and he keeps following this vicious cycle till his entire account is blown.
On the bottom of the picture, we see the equity curve of a smart trader.
Even though he faces losses occasionally, his strategy always gives him a chance to recover and with time his trading account steadily grows.
Please, realize the fact that a perfect strategy does not exist. You will lose the money occasionally anyway. What distinguishes a smart trader from a dumb one is his discipline and trust to his trading system and willingness to face losses.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Set Up & Data Collection | Day 1 of 21 | Back Test With Me21-Day Backtesting Plan
A Step-by-Step Challenge to Master One Pair and Develop an Unshakable Trading Edge
Backtesting is the foundation of trading mastery. This 21-day plan is designed to help you deeply understand GBPUSD, refine your strategy, and build the confidence needed to trade with precision. Each day introduces a specific focus, challenge, and takeaway, progressively strengthening your ability to read market movements.
Week 1: Laying the Foundation – Market Structure & Patterns
📅 Day 1: Set Up & Data Collection
Task: Gather at least 6 months of historical GBPUSD data on your charting platform.
Challenge: Define your testing parameters (e.g., timeframe, session focus, lot size).
Takeaway: Clarity in what you’re testing prevents randomness in your results.
Are you up for our 21 Day Backtesting Challenge?
Drop Your Thoughts in the Comment Section, boost the post, share with your friends and follow me on Trading View if you had an aha moment.
-TL
How to pick a benchmark for you portfolio and beat the market What is a benchmark?
A benchmark is an index or a basket of assets used to evaluate the performance of an investment portfolio In the context of portfolio analysis the benchmark serves as a point of comparison to determine whether a fund a strategy or an investment is performing better worse or in line with the reference market.
In the current chart, Bitcoin ( BINANCE:BTCUSDT ) is displayed with a solid and larger blue line in relation to other cryptocurrencies for the current period.
Benchmarks are essential tools for institutional and private investors as they allow measuring the effectiveness of asset allocation choices and risk management Additionally they help determine the added value of an active manager compared to a passive market replication strategy.
Benchmark analysis example: NASDAQ:TSLA - NASDAQ:NDX
Benchmark analysis example: NASDAQ:TSLA - NASDAQ:AAPL - NASDAQ:NDX
What is the purpose of a benchmark
The use of a benchmark in portfolio analysis has several objectives
1) Performance Evaluation: Provides a parameter to compare the portfolio's return against the market or other funds
2) Risk Analysis: Allows comparing the volatility of the portfolio against that of the benchmark offering a measure of risk management
3) Performance Attribution: Helps distinguish between returns derived from asset selection and those linked to market factors
4) Expectation Management: Supports investors and managers in assessing whether a portfolio is meeting expected return objectives
5) Strategy Control: If a portfolio deviates excessively from the benchmark it may signal the need to review the investment strategy
How to select an appropriate benchmark?
The choice of the correct benchmark depends on several factors:
1) Consistency with Portfolio Objective: The benchmark should reflect the market or sector in which the portfolio operates
2) Representativeness of Portfolio Assets: The benchmark should have a composition similar to that of the portfolio to ensure a fair comparison
3) Transparency and Data Availability: It must be easily accessible and calculated with clear and public methodologies
4) Stability Over Time: A good benchmark should not be subject to frequent modifications to ensure reliable historical comparison
5) Compatible Risk and Return: The benchmark should have a risk and return profile similar to that of the portfolio
Most used benchmarks
There are different benchmarks based on asset type and reference market Here are some of the most common.
Equity
FRED:SP500 Representative index of the 500 largest US companies.
NYSE:MSCI World Includes companies from various developed countries ideal for global strategies
FTSE:FTSEMIB Benchmark for the Italian stock market
NASDAQ:NDX Represents the largest technology and growth companies
Bonds
Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index Broad benchmark for the global bond market
JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index EMBI Benchmark for emerging market debt
[* ]BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index Representative of the high-yield bond market junk bonds
Mixed or Balanced
6040 Portfolio Benchmark 60 equities SP 500 and 40 bonds Bloomberg US Aggregate used to evaluate balanced portfolios
Morningstar Moderate Allocation Index Suitable for moderate-risk investment strategies
Alternative
HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index Benchmark for hedge funds
Goldman Sachs Commodity Index GSCI Used for commodity-related strategies
Bitcoin Index CoinDesk BPI Benchmark for cryptocurrencies
A reference benchmark is essential in portfolio analysis to measure performance manage risk and evaluate investment strategies The selection of an appropriate benchmark must be consistent with the strategy and market of the portfolio to ensure meaningful comparison.
Understanding and correctly selecting the benchmark allows investors to optimize their decisions and improve long-term results.
7 Practical Exercises to Build Patience in TradingI often talk about patience, planning, strategy, and money management, yet many of you tell me that you lack patience, can’t resist impulses, and struggle to follow your plan when emotions take over.
So today, we’re skipping the theory and diving straight into practical exercises that will help you train your patience just like you would train a muscle. If you want bigger biceps, you do dumbbell curls. If you want more patience in trading, try these exercises.
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1. The “Observer” Exercise – Train Yourself to Resist Impulsive Trading
Goal: Improve discipline and reduce the urge to enter trades impulsively.
How to do it:
• Open your trading platform and set a timer for 2 hours.
• During this time, you are not allowed to take any trades, only observe price action.
• Write down in your journal: What do you feel? Where would you have entered? Would it have been a good decision?
Advanced level: Increase the observation time to a full session.
✅ Benefit: This exercise reduces impulsiveness and helps you better understand market movements before making decisions.
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2. The “One Trade Per Day” Rule – Eliminate Overtrading
Goal: Train yourself to select only the best setups.
How to do it:
• Set a rule: “I am allowed to take only one trade per day.”
• If you take a trade, you cannot enter another, no matter what happens in the market.
• At the end of the day, analyze: Did you choose the best opportunity? Were you tempted to overtrade?
✅ Benefit: Helps you filter out bad trades and eliminates overtrading, a common issue for impatient traders.
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3. The “Decision Timer” – Avoid Impulsive Entries
Goal: Help you make better-thought-out trading decisions.
How to do it:
• When you feel the urge to enter a trade, set a 30-minute timer and wait.
• During that time, review your strategy: Is this entry aligned with your trading plan? Or is it just an emotional impulse?
• If after 30 minutes you still think the trade is valid, go ahead.
✅ Benefit: This exercise slows down decision-making, helping you think rationally rather than emotionally.
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4. The “No-Trade Day” Challenge – Strengthen Your Self-Control
Goal: Prove to yourself that you can stay out of the market without feeling like you're missing out.
How to do it:
• Pick one day per week where you are not allowed to take any trades.
• Instead, use the time to study the market, analyze past trades, and refine your strategy.
• At the end of the day, reflect: Did you experience FOMO? Was it difficult to resist trading?
✅ Benefit: Increases discipline and teaches you that you don’t have to be in the market all the time to succeed.
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5. The “Walk Away” Method – Stop Micromanaging Trades
Goal: Reduce stress and prevent over-monitoring after placing a trade.
How to do it:
• After placing a trade, walk away from your screen for 1 to 2 hours.
• Set alerts or use stop-loss/take-profit orders so you’re not tempted to constantly check the price.
✅ Benefit: Reduces emotional reactions and prevents overmanagement of trades.
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6. The “Frustration Tolerance” Drill – Train Yourself to Accept Losses and Missed Opportunities
Goal: Build resilience to emotional discomfort in trading.
How to do it:
• Watch the market and deliberately let a good opportunity pass without taking it.
• Observe your frustration, but do not act. Instead, write in your journal: How does missing this opportunity make me feel?
• Remind yourself that there will always be another opportunity and that chasing trades leads to bad decisions.
✅ Benefit: Helps reduce FOMO and makes you a calmer, more disciplined trader.
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7. The “Trading Plan Repetition” Exercise – Build a Strong Habit
Goal: Reinforce discipline and reduce deviations from your plan.
How to do it:
• Every morning, before opening your trading platform, write down your trading rules by hand.
• Example:
o “I will not enter a trade unless all my conditions are met.”
o “I will not move my stop-loss further away.”
o “I will close my platform after placing a trade.”
• Handwriting strengthens mental reinforcement, and daily repetition turns it into a habit.
✅ Benefit: Increases self-discipline and keeps you committed to your strategy.
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Final Thoughts
If you’ve read this far, you now have a concrete plan to build patience in trading. Remember, trading success isn’t just about technical analysis and strategies—it’s about discipline and emotional control.
Just like a bodybuilder follows a structured routine to develop muscles, you must practice patience and discipline daily to master trading psychology.
Impulsive Trading:Understanding the Risks and Regaining ControlHave you found yourself hastily clicking the “Buy” or “Sell” button only to be engulfed by regret almost immediately afterward? If so, you're in good company 😃.
Impulsive trading is a widespread issue that affects traders of all experience levels, often leading to significant financial losses. Studies reveal that a considerable portion of traders battle with impulsive decision-making, which can drastically influence their overall financial health.
Impulsive trading typically arises from emotions rather than careful market analysis or strategic planning. Factors such as the fear of missing out (FOMO), frustration after a loss, or the temptation of quick profits often cloud judgment, resulting in decisions that deviate from disciplined trading practices. This behavior is especially pronounced during volatile market conditions, where emotions can run high. Acknowledging the signs of impulsive trading is essential for fostering discipline and achieving sustained trading success.
Understanding the Risks of Impulsive Trading
The implications of impulsive trading reach far beyond individual poor trades. Each impulsive action can generate a cascade of errors, diverting traders from their predefined strategies. Engaging in impulsive trading often leads to overtrading, where traders make numerous trades in quick succession while hoping for fast returns, ultimately resulting in mounting losses. This not only increases exposure to market volatility but also raises transaction costs, systematically eroding any potential gains.
Another major risk associated with impulsive trading is flawed decision-making. Actions born out of emotional responses lack the rational foundation necessary for sound trading, pushing traders towards choices that diverge from their overall objectives. For instance, abandoning a Stop Loss order or ramping up position sizes following a loss can lead to dramatic financial damage. Moreover, the psychological impact of impulsive trading can result in burnout, heightened stress, and diminished confidence, all of which threaten a trader's long-term viability. Recognizing and understanding these risks highlights the need for self-regulation and a disciplined approach—critical elements for successful trading.
Psychological Triggers Behind Impulsive Trading
The tendency to trade impulsively often stems from various psychological factors that can be difficult to manage. One of the main culprits is the fear of missing out (FOMO); in fast-paced markets, traders may feel an urgent need to enter positions quickly to seize potential profits. This urgency can lead to ill-timed trades, making them more vulnerable to reversals.
Greed is another significant factor that plays a role in impulsive trading. The relentless pursuit of maximizing profits can quickly overshadow a trader’s original plan. As a result, they may prolong a successful trade or increase leverage in hopes of capturing even greater returns, leading to heightened risks. Loss aversion, the instinct to avoid losing money, also contributes to impulsivity. When faced with setbacks, traders might engage in “revenge trading,” making rash decisions in an attempt to recover losses—often dismissing their foundational analytical methods.
External factors like social media and market news also amplify these emotional triggers. The overload of information—from Twitter updates to various trading forums—can create a sense of urgency and spur impulsive behavior, even among experienced traders. By acknowledging these psychological influences, traders can cultivate a more deliberate and strategic approach to their decision-making processes.
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Identifying Impulsive Trading Behavior
Recognizing the signs of impulsive trading is crucial for anyone looking to regain control and establish a more strategic trading method. Indicators of such behavior include:
- Ignoring Your Trading Plan: Frequently deviating from established entry and exit criteria in favor of fleeting emotions can indicate a pattern of impulsivity.
- Constantly Monitoring Trades: Habitually checking price movements or refreshing trading platforms often suggests an emotional attachment to positions, prompting unnecessary reactions to minor fluctuations.
- Execution of Unplanned Trades: Making trades without forethought, especially after emotional highs from winning trades or lows from losses, disrupts a carefully crafted trading plan and exposes one to greater risks.
- Neglecting Risk Management Practices: Exceeding leverage limits or disabling Stop Loss orders indicates a tendency to focus on immediate gains rather than sustainable trading strategies.
By becoming aware of these behaviors and taking deliberate steps to reflect on each trade's alignment with the overarching strategy, traders can minimize impulsivity and foster a disciplined mindset grounded in rationality.
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Strategies for Overcoming Impulsive Trading
Successfully overcoming impulsive trading requires a blend of discipline, self-awareness, and effective strategies. Here are some actionable steps:
1. Set Clear Entry and Exit Criteria: Define explicit guidelines for entering and exiting trades, based on predetermined market conditions or technical indicators. Adhering to these rules minimizes the likelihood of impulsive actions.
2. Employ Stop Loss Orders: Utilize Stop Loss orders to automatically close trades when certain price levels are met. This helps protect against significant losses and allows traders to step back from their positions.
3. Maintain a Trading Journal: Keeping a detailed record of every trade—including motivations, emotions experienced, and outcomes—encourages self-reflection and helps to identify recurring patterns in behavior.
4. Practice Self-Discipline: Establish realistic trading goals and commit to your trading plan. Taking a pause before executing trades can help you refocus on your long-term objectives, minimizing the urge to act impulsively.
5. Restrict Trading Frequency: Set limits on the number of trades you make each day or week to ensure that you only engage in high-quality opportunities, rather than reacting to every market fluctuation.
By adopting these strategies, traders can cultivate the discipline necessary to move away from impulsive decision-making, emphasizing logical and goal-oriented actions instead.
Cultivating a Rational Trading Mindset
Developing a rational mindset is essential for long-term trading success and evading the pitfalls of emotional decision-making. Consider implementing the following techniques:
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Practices: Engage in mindfulness exercises to enhance awareness of your thoughts and feelings. Awareness allows you to recognize when emotions may be influencing trading decisions. Even short moments of focused breathing can provide clarity.
- Take Breaks Regularly: Long trading sessions can lead to fatigue and impaired judgment. By stepping away from your work periodically, you can recharge and return to your trading activities with fresh insight.
- Avoid Trading During Emotionally Charged Situations: If you find yourself facing personal stress or strong emotions, it may be wise to refrain from trading until you regain an even temperament.
- Focus on Long-Term Objectives: Prioritize sustained success over immediate rewards. Remind yourself that while impulsive decisions might provide short-term satisfaction, they often result in long-term setbacks.
Building a rational trading mindset requires patience and dedicated effort, but it is instrumental in improving trading performance. By incorporating these habits into your routine, you can enhance emotional control and make decisions that reflect logic rather than impulse.
I suggest to read also..:
The Critical Role of a Trading Plan
An effective trading plan is a cornerstone for preventing impulsive decisions that can undermine a trader's performance. The emotional responses associated with impulsive trading—such as fear and greed—can derail even the best-laid strategies. A comprehensive trading plan serves as a guiding framework, providing clarity and structured guidelines to help traders manage emotional impulses.
By defining specific goals, a trading plan equips traders with a clear sense of direction, reducing the temptation to chase fleeting opportunities or react to market noise. Furthermore, by integrating principles of risk management into your trading strategy, you ensure that engagement with risks aligns with your personal threshold, thereby minimizing unnecessary exposure. Establishing entry and exit guidelines allows traders to base their decisions on objective criteria, independent of emotion-driven impulses.
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Enhancing Trading Discipline with Tools and Techniques
Employing specific tools and strategies can support a disciplined trading approach and reduce impulsive behavior. Trading software with alert functions can help by notifying traders when predefined conditions for trades are met, ensuring decisions are based on strategic analysis rather than reactive impulses.
Regularly reviewing trading performance is equally vital. This practice allows traders to analyze trades, recognize behavior patterns, fine-tune their strategies, and verify their alignment with their trading plan. Drawing insights from these reviews fosters adherence to disciplined trading and helps traders remain focused and make informed decisions.
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In conclusion..
Achieving lasting success in trading depends on rational thought processes and emotional management. A well-developed trading plan, complemented by the right tools and techniques, empowers traders to avoid impulsivity and concentrate on their goals. Although the temptation for quick gains can be powerful, maintaining a disciplined approach is essential for sustainable success. Remember, trading is a journey rather than a sprint. By remaining consistent and methodical, traders can navigate risks effectively, ultimately crafting a strategy that yields long-term results.
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The Right Questions to Ask Before Entering a TradeEvery day, traders—especially beginners—ask the same recurring question:
❓ What do you think Gold will do today? Will it go up or down?
While this seems like a logical question, it’s actually completely wrong and one that no professional trader would ever ask in this way.
Trading is not about predicting the market like a fortune teller. Instead, it's about analyzing price action, managing risk, and executing trades strategically.
So, instead of asking, "Will Gold go up or down?" , a professional trader asks three critical questions before taking any trade.
Let's break them down.
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Step 1: Identifying the Right Entry Point
Let’s say you’ve done your analysis, and you believe Gold will drop. That’s great—but that’s just an opinion. What really matters is execution.
🔹 Where do I enter the trade?
Professional traders don’t jump into the market impulsively. They use pending orders instead of market orders to wait for the right price.
If you believe Gold will fall, you shouldn’t just sell at any price. You need to identify a key resistance level where a reversal is likely to happen.
For example:
• If Gold is trading at $2900, and strong resistance is at $2920, a professional trader will set a sell limit order at that resistance level rather than shorting randomly.
This approach ensures that you enter at a strategic point where the probability of success is higher.
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Step 2: Setting the Stop Loss
🔹 Where do I place my stop loss?
A trade without a stop loss is just gambling. Managing risk is far more important than being right about market direction.
The key is to determine:
✅ How much risk am I willing to take?
✅ Where is the invalidation level for my trade idea?
For example:
• If you are shorting Gold at $2920, you might place your stop loss at $2935—above a recent high or key technical level.
• This way, if the price moves against you, you have a predefined maximum loss, avoiding emotional decision-making.
Professional traders never risk more than a small percentage of their account on a single trade. Risk management is everything.
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Step 3: Setting the Take Profit Target
🔹 Where do I set my take profit, and does the trade make sense in terms of risk/reward?
Before taking any trade, you must ensure that your reward outweighs your risk.
For example:
• If you risk $15 per ounce (short at $2920, stop loss at $2935), your take profit should be at least $30 away (for a 1:2 risk/reward).
• A good target in this case could be $2890 or lower.
This means that for every dollar you risk, you aim to make two dollars—ensuring long-term profitability even if only 40-50% of your trades succeed.
If the trade doesn’t offer a good risk/reward, it’s simply not worth taking.
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Conclusion: The “Set and Forget” Mentality
Once you’ve answered these three key questions and placed your trade, the best approach is to let the market do its thing.
✅ Set your entry, stop loss, and take profit.
✅ Follow your trading plan.
✅ Avoid emotional reactions.
Many traders lose money because they constantly interfere with their trades—moving stop losses, closing positions too early, or hesitating to take profits.
Instead, adopt a professional approach: set your trade and let it run.
📌 Final Thought:
The next time you find yourself asking, “Will Gold go up or down today?” , stop and ask yourself:
📊 Where is my entry?
📉 Where is my stop loss?
💰 Where is my take profit, and does the risk/reward make sense?
This is how professional traders think, plan, and execute—and it’s what separates them from amateurs.
👉 What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to executing trades? Let’s discuss in the comments! 🚀
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #4: Spot or Futures? Real or Fake?123 Quick Learn Trading Tips #4: Spot or Futures? Real or Fake? 🧐
News : $1.3 Billion has been liquidated 💥 from the FUTURES market within the past 24 hours, as Bitcoin plummeted to $86,000. 📉
Futures leveraged traders were forced to close their positions, realizing a collective loss of $1.3 Billion.
This shows how risky trading with leverage (borrowed money) can be. 💸 ⚠️
Traders who use leverage enter into a gambling game with exchanges, which always win the game. In other words, in the last 24 hours, several crypto exchanges made $1.3 billion in profits.
On the other hand, people who bought Bitcoin directly (spot market) only lost a small amount of profit. This shows that owning the actual asset is more stable. 💎
Traders using leverage lose their money. But for spot investors, this is a good chance to buy more Bitcoin at a low price and make their long-term position stronger. 💰
Like I always tell my students and friends:
Let's go up the spot market stairs, step by step. 🪜 Don't think about the futures elevator. 🏢 It has crashed many times, 📉 and it will crash again. ⚠️
Instead of gambling in the "fake" futures game,
invest your money in the "real" spot market. 💎
Build your investments by owning assets, not by risky leverage. 🚫
Have a nice trading journey!
The Pygmalion Effect in Trading: Expectations Shape Your Resuls!The Pygmalion Effect is a psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance, while low expectations result in poor outcomes.
This concept, often explored in education and leadership, also plays a crucial role in trading psychology.
Your beliefs about your trading abilities, strategies, and the market can directly influence your results.
But how can you use this to your advantage, and when does it work against you? Let’s explore.
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How the Pygmalion Effect Applies to Trading
At its core, the Pygmalion Effect suggests that what you expect tends to become reality—not through magic, but through subconscious behavioral shifts. In trading, this can manifest in several ways:
🔹 Confidence in Your Strategy – If you genuinely believe in your trading system, you're more likely to follow it with discipline, leading to consistent results over time.
🔹 Fear and Self-Doubt – If you constantly doubt your trades, hesitate to enter, or close positions too early out of fear, you reinforce negative expectations, leading to underperformance.
🔹 Risk-Taking Behavior – Overconfidence, another side of the Pygmalion Effect, can lead to excessive risk-taking, believing that every trade will be a winner—just as dangerous as self-doubt.
How to Use the Pygmalion Effect to Your Advantage:
✅ Develop a Strong Trading Plan – Confidence comes from preparation. A well-tested strategy gives you a clear roadmap to follow.
✅ Control Your Self-Talk – The way you talk to yourself matters. Replace " I always lose trades" with "I am improving my risk management and discipline."
✅ Focus on Process Over Outcomes – Instead of worrying about individual wins or losses, focus on executing your plan consistently.
✅ Surround Yourself with Positive Influences – Follow traders and mentors who reinforce disciplined trading habits rather than hype and emotional decision-making.
✅ Use Visualization Techniques – Imagine yourself trading successfully, making rational decisions, and following your plan—this can train your mind to align with positive expectations.
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Applying the Pygmalion Effect – A Real Market Example:
Let’s take a real-world example to illustrate this concept:
For several days, I have been warning about a potential major correction in Gold. The reason? Looking at the daily chart, even though Gold has made all-time highs in the last 10 days, these highs are very close together, and each time the price hit a new top, it reversed sharply.
This pattern is a classic sign of a reversal.
Yesterday, Gold closed with a strong bearish engulfing candle, another indication that a correction is underway.
Now, if we look at the hourly chart (left side), we can see an aggressive drop followed by a retest of the 2930 level—a typical move before further decline.
Here’s where the Pygmalion Effect comes into play:
✅ We see the setup clearly.
✅ We trust our analysis.
✅ We execute with confidence.
Following this logic, Gold could continue its correction, breaking below 2900, possibly testing 2880 support or even lower. We put the strategy into action with conviction.
Final Thoughts:
The Pygmalion Effect in trading is powerful—your expectations can make or break your performance. By setting high but realistic expectations, reinforcing confidence, and focusing on disciplined execution, you can shape yourself into a profitable, consistent trader.
Trust what you see, believe in your strategy, and trade with conviction.
👉 What are your expectations for your trading? Let’s discuss! 🚀📊
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
Crypto influencers: The Good, The Bad and The UglyThe crypto space is evolving fast, and with it, the influence of social media figures has grown exponentially.
Crypto influencers have become a major source of information, ideas, and trends for traders and investors alike. But are they really helping, or are they just creating noise?
Let's break it down into three categories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
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The Good: Learning and Discovery
One undeniable benefit of crypto influencers is access to information. With thousands of projects emerging every months, it's impossible to keep track of everything on your own. Influencers often highlight new projects, provide market insights, and share educational content, making it easier for retail investors to stay informed.
Their content can serve as a starting point for research, helping you discover opportunities you might have missed otherwise. Instead of spending hours searching for new projects, you can get a curated list of potential investments, saving time and effort.
However, the key here is not to blindly follow , but to use their insights as a research tool to dig deeper and verify information before making investment decisions.
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The Bad: Copy-Paste Content & One-Sided Narratives
While some influencers provide value, many simply recycle the same information. If you follow multiple influencers, you might notice that most of them talk about the exact same projects, using almost identical arguments.
Why? Because they often copy each other or are paid to promote specific coins. Instead of offering genuine analysis, they just ride the hype wave.
Another major issue is the lack of balance in their narratives. The majority of influencers focus only on bullish scenarios, constantly pushing the idea that prices will rise. Very few discuss the risks, potential corrections, or exit strategies.
This creates a dangerous mindset among beginner investors, making them believe that crypto only goes up, leading to FOMO-driven decisions instead of well-thought-out investments.
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The Ugly: Hype-Driven, Clickbait Influencers
And now, we get to the worst of the bunch—the aggressive, loud, and sensationalist influencers who have taken over social media. These are the ones who:
🚨 Shout in every video, promising to make you a millionaire overnight
🚨 Hype up "the next 1000x coin" without any real analysis
🚨 Push FOMO-driven narratives to drive engagement, not to educate
Their goal? Clicks, views, and affiliate commissions.
Many of these influencers don’t even trade or invest themselves—they simply capitalize on the excitement of others. They prey on new and inexperienced investors, convincing them to buy into the hype without considering the risks.
But let’s be honest… How many people have actually gotten rich following their advice?
Most of these so-called “expert picks” end up crashing once the hype fades, leaving followers with losses while the influencers move on to the next pump-and-dump scheme.
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Final Thoughts: How to Navigate the Crypto Influencer Space
Not all influencers are bad, but you need to approach them with a critical mindset. Here are a few tips to stay safe:
✅ Use influencers as a research tool, not financial advisors – Always do your own due diligence.
✅ Look for balanced perspectives – Avoid those who only push bullish narratives.
✅ Be skeptical of hype-driven content – If someone is shouting about a guaranteed 100x coin or even 1000x, it's most probably a scam.
✅ Follow influencers who discuss risk management – Real traders know that both gains and losses are part of the game.
At the end of the day, your success in crypto depends on your own research and strategy, not on blindly following influencers. Stay informed, stay cautious, and don’t fall for the hype! 🚀📉
What do you think about crypto influencers? Have you ever made (or lost) money following their advice? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🔥👇
The Two Minds of a Trader: Analysis vs. ExecutionTrading is a game of probabilities, discipline, and emotional control. Yet, most traders unknowingly sabotage themselves by letting their analytical mind interfere with their execution. Understanding the distinction between the Analytical Mind (The Analyst) and the Execution Mind (The Trader) can significantly improve your trading performance. I’m Skeptic , and today, I’ll break down how to master these two mental states.
The Analytical Mind vs. The Execution Mind
The Analyst: The Market Forecaster 🔍📊
This is the part of your mind that loves to analyze, predict, and overthink.
It constantly searches for confirmation and the perfect setup.
It’s responsible for drawing support/resistance levels, using indicators, and finding confluence zones.
Often, it falls into the trap of “analysis paralysis,” hesitating to take trades due to over-analysis.
🛑 Biggest Mistake: Letting the Analytical Mind interfere with execution.
The Trader: The Decision Maker 🎯💰
This is the part of your mind that follows a structured, predefined trading plan.
It focuses on executing rather than predicting.
It respects stop-losses, sticks to the plan, and doesn’t chase the market.
It manages risk effectively and understands that losses are part of the game.
✅ Key to Success: Training the Execution Mind to act without emotional interference from the Analytical Mind.
How to Stop Overthinking and Trade with Confidence
1. Create a Clear Trading Plan 📝
A structured plan removes uncertainty. Before you enter a trade, you should already know:
Your entry triggers (specific price action setups, indicators, or fundamental conditions).
Your risk-to-reward ratio (R/R) and stop-loss placement.
Your profit-taking strategy (scaling out, trailing stops, etc.).
💡 Example:
I personally use setups based on support/resistance, RSI divergences, and volume confirmation.
I’ve backtested these setups with 30+ trades per condition, ensuring their viability.
This confidence in my system allows me to execute trades without second-guessing.
2. Separate Learning from Execution 🚧
One of the biggest mistakes traders make is learning while trading.
Before the trade: This is the time for analysis and preparation.
During the trade: This is execution mode—stick to your plan, no second-guessing.
After the trade: Review and learn. This is when you refine your strategy, not during a live trade.
3. Reduce Information Overload 📉
Too much knowledge can be detrimental in trading.
Many traders believe that knowing more = better trading. This is a myth.
The best traders master one or two strategies and refine them instead of constantly searching for new indicators.
Focus on backtesting and forward-testing instead of endlessly consuming content.
🚨 Reality Check: Traders 100 years ago made consistent profits without advanced indicators, algorithms, or AI models. Why? Because they focused on mastering risk management and execution instead of drowning in endless analysis.
Final Thoughts: Train Your Execution Mind
Trust your plan: If you’ve done your homework, your only job is to execute without hesitation.
Less is more: Reduce unnecessary analysis and stick to core principles.
Be patient: The best traders don’t chase trades—they wait for their setup.
📌 Key Takeaways: ✅ Stop over-analyzing and start executing.✅ Confidence comes from backtesting and having a structured plan.✅ The market rewards discipline, not predictions.
Which mindset dominates your trading—Analyst or Trader? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
🔹 I’m Skeptic, and my goal is to help traders gain clarity and consistency in their journey. Let’s grow together!
The Power of a Trading Journal: Key to Consistent SuccessHave you ever pondered what distinguishes successful traders from those who struggle for consistent profits? One key tool, often underestimated, is the trading journal. Both research and practical experience demonstrate that traders who diligently track their performance and critically assess their decisions tend to enhance their trading skills and overall results over time. While financial markets can seem erratic, a well-maintained trading journal can provide clarity regarding your trading behavior and highlight areas ripe for improvement.
Understanding the Trading Journal
At its core, a trading journal serves as a comprehensive record of your trades, detailing every decision and its corresponding outcome. However, it goes beyond a mere tally of wins and losses; it acts as a robust instrument for self-reflection and growth. By keeping an organized log, traders can identify recurring patterns, refine their strategies, and cultivate greater discipline in their trading practices. In essence, a trading journal empowers you to track your performance while offering meaningful insights for informed decision-making.
What Constitutes a Trading Journal?
A trading journal is a personalized record of your trading journey designed to document every aspect of your experiences. Unlike a basic transaction log, it encompasses insights into your decisions, emotional states, and strategies, thereby providing an in-depth perspective on your trading habits and performance over time. This journal functions as a roadmap, enabling you to analyze your actions, learn from missteps, and recognize successful patterns to replicate in future trades.
Essential Components of a Trading Journal
1. Trade Details:
Log fundamental information for each trade, including the date, instrument, entry and exit points, position size, and the outcome.
2. Trade Analysis and Rationale:
Capture the reasons behind each trade, such as market analysis, utilized indicators, or significant news events influencing your decision.
3. Emotional Insights:
Document the emotions felt before, during, and after each trade, which will help you identify emotional triggers impacting your decision-making.
4. Results and Lessons Learned:
Reflect on the trade’s outcome and the insights gained. Did it align with your expectations? What could be improved next time?
By consistently maintaining these entries, your trading journal will allow for systematic performance tracking, enabling you to conduct insightful trade analysis and continuously enhance your trading methodology.
The Key Benefits of a Trading Journal
Maintaining a trading journal provides numerous benefits that can significantly elevate your trading performance over time. From honing decision-making skills to fostering emotional discipline, a trading journal is an invaluable asset for anyone committed to enhancing their trading approach.
1. Enhanced Decision-Making:
Analyzing past trades enables you to discern patterns in your decision-making process, both successful and otherwise. You might uncover that certain strategies work better under specific market conditions or that impulsive trades frequently lead to losses. Understanding these patterns grants you valuable insights for making informed, calculated choices in future trades.
2. Improved Emotional Control:
Trading often involves a rollercoaster of emotions, with factors like fear and greed skewing decision-making. Documenting your feelings during trades can help you identify emotional triggers and develop strategies to manage them, maintaining objectivity and preventing emotions from derailing your trading plan. Over time, this fosters emotional control, which is crucial for sustained trading success.
3. Increased Consistency and Discipline:
A trading journal encourages consistency by promoting adherence to your trading plan and strategies. By recording every trade—regardless of its outcome—you cultivate a disciplined mindset that helps you avoid impulsive decisions and maintain a structured approach aligned with your objectives.
How to Establish Your Trading Journal
Creating a trading journal is quite simple; the key lies in selecting the right format and knowing what to document. Follow this guide to set up a journal that effectively tracks your trading performance and identifies growth opportunities.
Selecting Your Format:
1. Digital Applications:
Tools like Evernote, OneNote, or specialized trading journal software offer accessibility, data backup, and automation. Many apps include analytics features for streamlined performance tracking.
2. Spreadsheets:
Utilizing Excel or Google Sheets affords flexibility and customization. You can craft a spreadsheet tailored to your needs, complete with specified fields, formulas, and visualizations.
3. Paper Journals:
For those who prefer a tactile approach, a traditional notebook can suffice. While writing by hand fosters reflection, it lacks digital conveniences like searchable records.
Crucial Information to Record:
To enhance the effectiveness of your trading journal, make sure to include these key data points:
- Entry and Exit Points:
Log the precise times and prices at which trades are entered and exited.
- Position Size and Trade Details:
Note the trade size, instrument, and any pertinent details.
- Motivation for the Trade:
Document the analysis or strategy that influenced your trade decision, whether rooted in technical analysis, fundamental factors, or broader market trends.
- Emotional State:
Record your feelings throughout the trading process to better understand emotional influences.
- Trade Outcome and Lessons:
Reflect on the trade's success and any insights gained, noting what worked well or what didn’t.
Starting a trading journal requires minimal time but can significantly affect your long-term ability to track performance and improve.
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Reviewing Your Trading Journal for Growth
A trading journal can only yield benefits if you regularly review and analyze its contents. Consistent reviews enable you to identify patterns, adjust strategies, and enhance your trading acumen.
Setting Review Periods:
Designate time—weekly, biweekly, or monthly—to review your journal. These sessions reinforce your commitment to your goals and reveal areas needing adjustment, ensuring ongoing learning from your trades.
Spotting Patterns and Mistakes:
Analyze your trades for recurring themes. Determine if you consistently act on particular signals or if emotional responses lead to poor decision-making. Acknowledging frequent mistakes marks the first step toward correcting detrimental behaviors.
Implementing Adjustments:
Leverage insights from your journal to modify your trading strategies. If a specific method isn’t yielding results, revise or replace it accordingly. If certain emotional triggers lead to losses, develop coping mechanisms to mitigate their influence.
By committing to regular reviews, you can transform your trading experiences into invaluable lessons that foster better habits and skills.
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Maximizing the Benefits of Your Trading Journal
To fully reap the rewards of a trading journal, it's crucial to engage with it effectively. Here are tips to enhance your journaling experience:
1. Maintain Consistency:
Regularly enter details after every trade or at least daily. This practice captures relevant details while they’re recent, building a robust record for analysis.
2. Practice Honesty:
Accurately document both successes and failures. A truthful account allows for clearer insights into areas needing improvement, as self-awareness plays a vital role in progress.
3. Utilize Visuals:
Incorporate charts, graphs, or screenshots to enrich your journal. Visual aids facilitate pattern recognition and provide a more comprehensive understanding of your trading performance.
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Conclusion: The Transformative Role of a Trading Journal
A trading journal is an essential tool for any trader pursuing consistent success. By meticulously recording trades, scrutinizing decisions, and learning from both victories and defeats, you can sharpen your skills, master your emotions, and cultivate a disciplined approach to the markets. Beyond merely documenting past trades, a trading journal offers critical insights that can profoundly influence your long-term performance. By consistently utilizing this resource, you can decipher your unique trading habits, refine strategies, and ultimately boost your confidence in decision-making.
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SOLUSD: How to Draw Quarter's Theory LevelsApplying Quarter’s Theory to SOL/USD helps traders identify key psychological price levels where institutional players might step in. With Solana’s volatility, these quarter levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and full dollar increments) act as crucial areas for potential reversals or breakouts.
Current Market Outlook
SOL/USD is currently trading around a major quarter level, signaling a potential shift in momentum. If buyers push above $150, the next logical upside target is $175, while a breakdown could send prices back to $125—both key quarter points.
How to Trade It
Aggressive traders can enter at quarter levels with tight stops, aiming for quick price movements.
Conservative traders should wait for a breakout confirmation and a retest before executing trades.
Renko charts can help filter noise and confirm trend strength, making it easier to spot clean setups.
Is SOL/USD Gearing Up for a Big Move?
With SOL/USD sitting at a crucial level, the next move could be significant. Will we see a drop toward $125, or is a deeper pullback coming? What’s your take? Drop a comment below!
TradingView Telegram Webhook Alert [TradingFinder] No Extra Code🔷 Introduction
In this tutorial, you will learn how to send TradingView alerts automatically and instantly to Telegram without the need for coding. This system is based on the TradingView webhook, which enables receiving trading signals in Telegram channels.
Using this method, you can receive buy and sell signals for Forex, Crypto, and Stocks without any delay. The Telegram alert bot supports real-time TradingView alerts and is compatible with all technical indicators, price-based signals, and Pine Script alerts.
This method allows you to establish a direct and fast connection between TradingView and Telegram without requiring any programming knowledge. Additionally, this tool is free and does not require registration.
In this tutorial, you will first create a Telegram bot to receive trading alerts, then connect the TradingView webhook to Telegram, and finally, learn how to manage trading signals automatically and without delay.
🔷 HOW TO SET UP TRADINGVIEW ALERT WEBHOOK FOR TELEGRAM WITHOUT CODING?
Now, let’s go through the step-by-step process of setting up TradingView alerts to be sent instantly to Telegram using a webhook, without any coding required.
🔶 Step 1: Find BotFather on Telegram
To create a new bot for receiving TradingView alerts, you first need to access BotFather on Telegram.
Open the Telegram app or go to Telegram Web.
In the search bar, type @ BotFather and select the verified BotFather account (as shown in the image).
Click on BotFather to start creating your bot.
This bot will help you generate an API token that is essential for setting up the webhook connection between TradingView and Telegram.
🔶 Step 2: Create a New Telegram Bot Using BotFather
Once you have opened BotFather on Telegram, follow these steps to create your bot :
Click the START button to activate BotFather.
Type /newbot and press Enter to create a new bot.
BotFather will ask you to choose a name for your bot. Enter a unique name (e.g.,Alert TV to Telegram).
Next, you need to choose a username for your bot. It must end with bot (e.g., Alert_TV_bot).
Once the bot is successfully created, BotFather will provide you with a unique API token. This token is essential for connecting your bot to TradingView Webhook. Keep it secure and do not share it with anyone.
🔶 Step 3: Add the Bot as an Admin to Your Telegram Channel
Now that you have created your bot, you need to add it as an admin to your Telegram channel where you want to receive TradingView alerts.
Follow these steps :
Search for your bot in Telegram by typing its username (e.g., @Alert_TV_bot) in the search bar.
Open your bot's profile and click "Start" to activate it.
Create a Telegram channel (or use an existing one) where you want the alerts to be sent.
Open the channel settings and go to Administrators > Add Admin.
Search for your bot using its username and select it.
Grant the necessary permissions :
Enable "Manage Messages" so the bot can send alerts.
(Optional) Enable "Change Channel Info" if you want the bot to update channel details automatically.
Click Save to confirm the changes.
🔶 Step 4: Generate the Webhook URL for TradingView (Public & Private Channels)
To send TradingView alerts to Telegram, you need to generate a Webhook URL. The format of this URL depends on whether you are sending alerts to a public channel or a private channel. Additionally, the message text must be URL Encoded to ensure it is processed correctly.
🔹 Webhook URL for Public Telegram Channels
If your Telegram channel is public, use the following format for your webhook URL :
api.telegram.org
Replace the placeholders with :
→ The API token from BotFather.
→ The username of your public Telegram channel (without the "@" symbol).
→ The URL Encoded alert message.
📌 Example :
If your bot token is 123456789:ABCDefGHIjklmnopQRSTuvwxYZ and your public channel username is TradingAlertsChannel, the webhook URL will be :
api.telegram.org
🔹 Webhook URL for Private Telegram Channels
If your Telegram channel is private, you cannot use a username (@channel_name). Instead, you must use the chat ID.
Follow these steps :
🔸 Step 1: Get the Chat ID of the Private Channel
There are two ways to get your private channel's chat_id :
Method 1: Using @ userinfobot
Forward any message from the private channel to @ userinfobot in Telegram.
The bot will reply with details, including the chat_id (which is a negative number, e.g., -1001234567890).
Method 2: Using Telegram API (getUpdates)
Open a browser and enter the following URL :
api.telegram.org
Replace with your bot’s API token from BotFather.
Press Enter, and you will see a response containing messages, including the chat_id of your private channel.
The chat_id will look something like -1009876543210.
🔸 Step 2: Use the Webhook URL Format for Private Channels
Once you have the chat_id, use the following webhook format :
api.telegram.org
Replace the placeholders with :
→ The API token from BotFather.
→ The numeric chat ID of your private channel (e.g., -1009876543210).
→ The URL Encoded alert message.
📌 Example :
If your bot token is 123456789:ABCDefGHIjklmnopQRSTuvwxYZ and your private channel ID is -1009876543210, the webhook URL will be :
api.telegram.org
🔶 Step 5: Configure Webhook in TradingView Alerts
Now that we have generated the Webhook URL, the next step is to configure TradingView alerts to send real-time notifications to Telegram.
Follow these steps to set up the webhook :
Open the TradingView Alert Settings
•Go to TradingView and open the chart for the asset you want to track (e.g., BTCUSD).
•Click on the Alert (⏰) button at the top of the screen.
•In the alert settings window, go to the "Notifications" tab.
Enable Webhook URL
•Check the box for "Webhook URL" to enable webhook notifications.
•Paste your Telegram Webhook URL into the box.
Example for a public channel :
api.telegram.org
Example for a private channel (with chat ID -1009876543210) :
api.telegram.org
Customize Your Alert Message
Make sure your alert message is URL Encoded (e.g., spaces should be %20).
Example message :
Hello, This is a test alert!
URL Encoded Format :
Hello%2C%20This%20is%20a%20test%20alert%21
Save the Alert
•Click "Save" to activate the TradingView alert.
•Now, whenever the alert condition is met, TradingView will send a message to Telegram via the webhook.