One of my biggest trading mistakes as a beginner #2
#TradingMistakes101 As a beginner trader (speaking from a synthesized perspective based on countless traders' experiences), one of the biggest mistakes many beginners make — and the one that stands out the most — is trading without a plan. That includes things like: Mistake: Chasing Trades Without a Plan Early on, I jumped into trades based on excitement, tips, or emotional impulses, not because they aligned with a strategy or analysis. I'd buy into a stock because it was trending on social media, or because a some trader hyped it up. There was no defined entry/exit point, no stop-loss, and no risk management. What I Learned: Have a strategy (and test it) Emotions can't guide trades — rules must. I learned to define entry and exit criteria, and more importantly, backtest strategies before using them with real money. Risk management is everything Even a good strategy will fail without proper risk control. Position sizing, stop-losses, and not risking more than 1–2% of capital on a single trade became crucial lessons. Discipline over excitement The market rewards patience, not urgency. If I miss a trade, another will come. Chasing is usually the quickest way to lose money. Keep a trading journal Tracking trades helped me identify patterns in my mistakes — like overtrading after a loss or breaking my own rules.