I recently came across a passage that really struck a chord with me.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the first thirty-five teach you how to defeat your enemies. Only the last one teaches you how to defeat yourself.
I used to think “retreating is the best strategy” simply meant running away when you can’t win. But more and more, I’ve come to realize that choosing to step away at the right time is much harder than it sounds.
Especially in the trading market.
Most people, most of the time, have trades that are already in profit, yet they keep hoping to make a little more—and end up giving it all back. Or they’ve clearly gotten the market’s direction wrong, but refuse to cut their losses, always hoping the market will turn around.
Sometimes, there’s barely any clear trend in the market at all, yet we keep wanting to jump in, afraid of missing even a single opportunity.
Looking back on all these years of trading, I’ve come to feel that while technical analysis is certainly important, the truly difficult part is controlling our greed and our reluctance to admit we’re wrong.
Strictly speaking, the market won’t rise just because you’re bullish, nor will it give you a chance to break even just because you’ve lost money.
Taking profit isn’t cowardice. Cutting your losses isn’t admitting defeat. Staying out of the market doesn’t mean you’ve missed an opportunity.
Often, what we need to do isn’t predict the market, but respect it. Follow the trend when it’s clear, get out promptly when you realize you’re wrong, and wait patiently when you can’t make sense of the market.
I often tell everyone in my public channel: there’s no need to take part in every market move, and even less need to make every trade a matter of winning or losing.
I’ve always felt that trading isn’t about who can make the most money in the shortest time. You may have seen or heard countless stories about legendary traders. But in the end, what matters is who can last longer in this market.
The market will always offer opportunities. What’s truly scarce is the capital that lets you stay in it.
Looking back at the Thirty-Six Stratagems, why is “retreating is the best strategy” placed last?
Perhaps the first thirty-five teach us how to win, while the last teaches us how to let go of our attachments.
That’s true of life, and of trading, too.
Knowing when to enter is a skill; knowing when to exit is wisdom.
I’ll leave it at that. Let’s keep each other going. Meeting adjourned~ #BTC
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the first thirty-five teach you how to defeat your enemies. Only the last one teaches you how to defeat yourself.
I used to think “retreating is the best strategy” simply meant running away when you can’t win. But more and more, I’ve come to realize that choosing to step away at the right time is much harder than it sounds.
Especially in the trading market.
Most people, most of the time, have trades that are already in profit, yet they keep hoping to make a little more—and end up giving it all back. Or they’ve clearly gotten the market’s direction wrong, but refuse to cut their losses, always hoping the market will turn around.
Sometimes, there’s barely any clear trend in the market at all, yet we keep wanting to jump in, afraid of missing even a single opportunity.
Looking back on all these years of trading, I’ve come to feel that while technical analysis is certainly important, the truly difficult part is controlling our greed and our reluctance to admit we’re wrong.
Strictly speaking, the market won’t rise just because you’re bullish, nor will it give you a chance to break even just because you’ve lost money.
Taking profit isn’t cowardice. Cutting your losses isn’t admitting defeat. Staying out of the market doesn’t mean you’ve missed an opportunity.
Often, what we need to do isn’t predict the market, but respect it. Follow the trend when it’s clear, get out promptly when you realize you’re wrong, and wait patiently when you can’t make sense of the market.
I often tell everyone in my public channel: there’s no need to take part in every market move, and even less need to make every trade a matter of winning or losing.
I’ve always felt that trading isn’t about who can make the most money in the shortest time. You may have seen or heard countless stories about legendary traders. But in the end, what matters is who can last longer in this market.
The market will always offer opportunities. What’s truly scarce is the capital that lets you stay in it.
Looking back at the Thirty-Six Stratagems, why is “retreating is the best strategy” placed last?
Perhaps the first thirty-five teach us how to win, while the last teaches us how to let go of our attachments.
That’s true of life, and of trading, too.
Knowing when to enter is a skill; knowing when to exit is wisdom.
I’ll leave it at that. Let’s keep each other going. Meeting adjourned~ #BTC
