Over the years trading contracts, I’ve experienced both profitable periods and moments close to liquidation. In the past, I always thought that as long as you get the direction right, making money is just a matter of time. Later, I realized that direction is only a small part of trading—the real thing that determines the outcome is whether you can control your risk.

Once, my account was close to 50k U. I was bullish on a certain trend move, so I used a relatively large position size. At first, the price action went very smoothly—I even started planning how much I’d make and how I would arrange things afterward. But the market won’t always follow your expectations. Later, there was a sudden, sharp pullback. At the time, I didn’t choose to exit; I thought my direction was still right, I just needed a temporary adjustment. As a result, the price kept weakening, and the pressure on my account kept growing. In the end, even though I didn’t get liquidated, the loss from that single trade took me a long time to recover from.

After that, I redesigned my trading rules. First, under no circumstances can you go all-in in any market. Second, before entering, you must have already thought through your exit point. Third, if you’re wrong, admit it immediately and don’t take it personally or fight the market. Fourth, don’t add positions to cover up mistakes. Fifth, don’t change your own rhythm just because someone else is making money. Sixth, protecting your principal comes first, always. Seventh, if there’s no opportunity, wait.

Many newcomers like to study how to make more money, but what they really should learn is how to lose less. In the market, there are opportunities to profit every day, but the principal only comes once.

Recently, the market has been changing quickly, and various opportunities keep appearing, but I won’t be impulsive like I used to. People who have been through the market know that surviving matters more than making quick money.

I don’t give buy/sell orders, and I don’t create fantasies of getting rich overnight. I only share years of trading experience, hoping everyone understands that trading is not gambling—it’s a long-term survival game.