Trading isn’t a game — but most people treat it like one during year one.
You either blow up an account or barely survive. You chase YouTubers, follow “signal” groups, and copy what you think the pros are doing.
This post is your shortcut. If I could sit my past self down, this is what I’d scream in his face.
🧠 1. The Market Doesn’t Care About You — Or Your Bias
Your first mistake is thinking you need to be “right.”
You’ll hold onto losing positions because you want to be right, not because the trade still makes sense.
What I wish I knew:
Price action is a mirror — not a fortune teller. Don’t argue with it. Respond to it.
Start thinking like an if → then strategist, not a predictor. That’s how professionals survive.
📖 Related post: What Hedge Funds Do That You Never Will
📊 2. Indicators Lie — Flow Tells the Truth
Everyone starts with RSI, MACD, and moving average crosses. You know what I got from those?
Late entries, early exits, and 50/50 win rates.
What changed everything for me was learning to read options flow, dealer positioning, and gamma pressure — the real language of the market.
Want to level up? Start with this:
- Gamma Edge Flow Tools — see what dealers are actually doing
- This VWAP-Based Entry Changed My Game Forever — learn how real-time liquidity matters more than signals
📆 3. Time of Day = Edge (If You Know Where to Look)
Most of my early losses happened from trading random setups at random times. I didn’t know about:
- Killzones (institutional liquidity windows)
- Market maker rebalancing zones
- VWAP anchoring
What I know now? Timing matters more than indicators. Volume and flow spike like clockwork — and knowing when lets you anticipate what.
💡 Learn how in this video: Gamma Edge MASTERCLASS: How to Read Options Data Like a Wall Street Pro
🧾 4. You’re Flying Blind Without a Journal
No journal = no feedback loop. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
I spent months making the same dumb mistakes because I wasn’t reviewing trades.
Now I log every setup, every win/loss, every reason for entry. My best performing strategy? I found it by journaling.
📥 Grab our favorite free journal template here:
Free Trading Journal from TradeZella
🛑 5. Most People Quit Trading Right Before It Clicks
Everyone thinks they’re going to make $10K their first month.
Truth is: your first 6–12 months are about surviving, learning, and unlearning. It’s about conditioning your psychology and building a real edge.
If you’re reading this and still in the trenches — good. You haven’t quit yet.
Want to accelerate your journey?
🎯 Join the Rawstocks Premium Room and trade with the pros:
https://rebrand.ly/discord-x
🧠 The “Wish I Knew” Trading Checklist
Let’s make this tactical.
| 🔍 Mistake | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|
| Trading off lagging indicators | Learn flow and greeks |
| Random entries | Use VWAP, timing windows |
| No trade log | Journal every setup |
| Trading opinions | Trade levels + flow |
| Isolation | Join a real trading team |
🧢 Bonus: What I Still Use Trading Daily
Here’s what’s stuck — even after growing as a full-time trader:
- 📺 YouTube → Rawstocks Channel — Weekly breakdowns and live analysis
- 📉 Gamma Edge Tools → Join Here — Daily delta/gamma flow
- 🧠 Mindset Threads → Follow @RawstocksLLC on X
- 💼 Psych-boosting trader gear → Hoodies, T-Shirts, Blankets
💣 Final Thought
Nobody gets it perfect their first year. But you don’t need perfect — you need progress + clarity.
Every mistake you’ve made? I’ve made it. The difference is, I learned to track, adapt, and trade like a quant.
You’re not alone.
You’re just one level away from everything clicking.
📊 Join the room. Trade with edge. Grow for real.
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