if you trade,
you need a defined process
one that forces consistency
a few daily candles per week,
while strict on rules of this process
try for yourself and see
a system needs five steps,
in this order
rules
expectation
confirmation
entry logic
trade management
rules decide if price is considered
expectation is the narrative
confirmation determines a valid trade
entry logic gets you onside
trade management brings profits
then repeat
a trading process for consistency
wait for a one-sided daily candle expectation
upclose? once the low forms, only seek buys
downclose? once the high forms, only seek sells
2R minimum,
focus on new york session
one win, end the day
one loss, reduce risk
two losses, end the day
you can learn about highs and lows
you can learn about fair value gaps
you can learn about order blocks
but if you fail to understand:
where price is going
how it will get there
when it will do it
then those concepts mean nothing
focus on narrative,
it validates everything
non-farm payroll protocol
weekly range is narrative
monday forms the upper wick,
friday forms the lower wick
daily range is confirmation
when the news manipulates,
the open will expand
$NQ +240
each week,
ask three questions
what is the economic calendar layout?
this tells you days to focus on
what is the phase of price?
this tells you which levels are relevant
where is the draw?
this tells you the side to trade
when, where, and how
opportunity is once these align
being consistent in trading is tedious, repetitive, and boring
destroying yourself in trading is fast
with just a few impulsive decisions,
you can undo months of positive progress
everyone eventually learns this lesson
the only difference is how many times you will experience it before making a change
everyone wants a lower timeframe
everyone wants more trades
everyone wants to risk
many assume it will solve their problems,
but that pursuit for more wins will never compensate for all the unnecessary losses
so while winning trades are great,
sometimes even amazing
show me how you manage your decisions in times when the market is not offering opportunity
that is where everyone loses it
can you be patient?
can you stick to your system?
can you avoid putting on that random trade?
you undoubtedly know that consistency is on the other side of the boring decisions
so in moments you are conflicted on a trade,
simply let it go
there is never any shame or error in that,
a better opportunity is always coming
be boring
be repetitive
be predictable
and the consistency will naturally follow
in trading,
you will never be perfect in outcome
get used to taking losses
get used to missing moves
but you can be perfect in process
if you strictly follow your system,
all outcomes are positive
as the money will always follow
take calculated shots,
get calculated results
sunday opening price is weekly fair value
study how days trade in relation to this level
does price consolidate?
does price expand away?
does price make an opposing run?
this is the market tipping its hand
do not try to predict the weekly candle,
allow the narrative to build
the person with all the knowledge you desire,
they got it studying the same charts you look at
access to information is equal
as you read this on a device with internet,
realize everything to learn this skill is in your hands
the only variable is persistence,
and that's on you
anyone can find winning trades,
few can limit the downside in between
the market remains irrational for longer periods than it is favorable
so don't try to cover losses with more wins,
allow the wins to matter by avoiding unnecessary losses
always operate from this perspective
to progress in trading, you will make mistakes
to learn about risk, you will lose money
to learn about entries, you will get stopped
to learn about charts, you will be incorrect
to learn about control, you will overtrade
to learn about emotion, you will be frustrated
so invite mistakes,
but never make the same one twice
one mistake is a learning opportunity
repeating a mistake twice is a choice
a continuous mistake becomes a habit
this is what separates traders apart
consistent traders have already made every mistake in the book;
and have addressed them
while progressing traders are still discovering new mistakes;
and are battling them
there is a lot to be learned through experience,
and this is not something that can be taught
to truly respect the consequence of a mistake,
you have to experience it yourself
be patient throughout the process
be humble enough to address mistakes
be strict enough to resolve them
and with enough time, it will come together
if london does this,
new york will do that
london reversal, new york continuation
london protraction, new york reversal
london consolidation, new york manipulation
a visual to reference for those applying