Over more than a dozen years of studying what works and what doesn't in profitable forex trading, I believe there are many paradoxes. Most trading is counter-intuitive, and new traders usually enter the market seeking predictions, certainty, the latest tips, and trying to figure out what to buy or sell. In reality, trading with a price action system, good risk management, a solid trading plan, and knowing when to sell winning trades are what truly make money. Most new traders never become profitable because they can't get through the challenging initial stages.
Trading is a business. When new traders start thinking of themselves as business operators and stop hoping to win the lottery (relying on luck), that's when real progress begins. Here are 10 paradoxes I’ve learned from personal experience to achieve consistently profitable trading:
Paradox: Statements that sometimes contradict common opinion, yet are true.
The Less I Trade, the More Money I Make Reducing trading frequency can decrease mistakes and transaction costs, ultimately increasing profitability.
All My Biggest Profits Came from Options I Bought, Not Sold Buying options offers unlimited profit potential with limited risk, unlike selling, which carries higher risk.
As a Trader, My Number One Job Is Risk Management, Not Making Money Proper risk management protects capital and allows traders to stay in the game long-term.
The Best Traders in History Are the Greatest Risk Managers, Not Those Who Excel at Timing Entries and Exits Focusing on risk management is more important than trying to catch every minor market move.
The Ability to Admit Mistakes and Exit Quickly Is More Important Than Being Confident During Winning Trades and Staying in Position Recognizing mistakes and cutting losses swiftly can prevent significant portfolio damage.
Winning Traders Think Like Casinos, Losing Traders Think Like Gamblers Casinos have a mathematical edge and strict risk management, while gamblers rely on luck.
Opinions, Projections, and Predictions Are Less Valuable; Trade Based on Price Action Price action provides more relevant real-time information compared to potentially biased projections or opinions.
While Fundamental Analysis Can Be a Helpful Tool, It Can Sometimes Be a Terrible Master Relying solely on fundamental analysis without considering price action can lead to poor trading decisions.
Date Your Trades, But Marry Risk Management and a Positive Mindset Focusing on risk management and maintaining a positive mindset is more crucial than getting attached to a single trade.
The More Focused and Smaller My Watchlist, the Better I Trade with That Checklist Reducing the number of instruments monitored allows traders to focus and make better decisions.
These paradoxes illustrate that approaches often contradicting general intuition can be highly effective in forex trading. By understanding and applying these principles, traders can improve their chances of achieving long-term success.