Alexander The Trader

8 years trading FX & crypto. 4 years mentoring traders. I use this account to journal my thoughts & reflections.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@MoneyTradeEdge Forcing trades is a sign of lacking clarity in your edge.

Any trader who can consistently execute their plan can do so because they know, inside & out, how their edge works.

They know exactly what they're looking for.

Anything less and they can comfortably let it go.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@jtrader This is exactly why people who go into trading for the flashy lifestyle will fail.

This job is not at all flashy, instead it looks like consistency at boring things. Thing is, these boring things are not at all boring to those who succeed.

If you don't love the job, stay away.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@tradermike1234 Truly inspiring stuff mate

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

I do have a different take here. I've found that having some novelty in your daly routines helps with creativity and work ethic, instead of living the same exact days over & over again.

Now this might be due to m ADHD, but ive tried doing it the way @jadecap_ talks about in this post and it didn't work for me. I just ended up being so bored after a quarter of living the same exact days.

Now I instill some freedom in my daily routine: I still get my Top 3 Goals done every single day, I just do it in slightly different places, like my co-working space or maybe a Cafe, or even working in my living room instead of my home office all the time.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

I do have a different take here. I've found that having some novelty in your daly routines helps with creativity and work ethic, instead of living the same exact days over & over again.

Now this might be due to m ADHD, but ive tried doing it the way @jadecap_ talks about in this post and it didn't work for me. I just ended up being so bored after a quarter of living the same exact days.

Now I instill some freedom in my daily routine: I still get my Top 3 Goals done every single day, I just do it in slightly different places, like my co-working space or maybe a Cafe, or even working in my living room instead of my home office all the time.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@ohiain Comparison is the thief of joy.

It is insane how applicable this truth is to all aspects of life, not just trading. Whatever you do, just focus on your own progress, f* what anyone else thinks.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@ohiain The market can take your life if you let it. Always remember that the whole point of doing such a difficult job is to enjoy the rewards, both intrinsic & extrinsic.

I love this job because it fulfills me intellectually and monetarily!

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@TheShortBear So pumped to read this!!!

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

For me it's because I start to feel invincible after a series of winning trades. This makes me take more trades than I should, trades that don't truly fit my edge.

Now, every time I go on a winning streak, I start the trading day by reminding myself that one bad decision can undo months or even years of hard work.

That is a terrifying reality in our line of work, so it's something that snaps me back to reality and prevents me from overtrading out of overconfidence.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@RealSimpleAriel Setting clear stop losses for our trades is the only way to guarantee long term survival, which is the most important thing because without it, nothing we do will matter since it's all going to be taken away from us one day.

Good to remember next time we get pissed from a loss.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@TradingComposur I've made a habit of telling myself that I will behave like a professional before every trading day.

It's crazy how beneficial such a small habit can be, it serves as a reminder of your objective for the day, it sets your intention.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

Analysis paralysis is a deadly issue with being addicted to information.

Trade 1 or 2 clear setups that fit your character, gather as much data as you possibly can on them, then iterate accordingly to improve your edge.

This is literally how simple trading is, but it's hard work

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@ohiain Love how transparent you are, bee loving your posts!

Sizing up on your best ideas is a great strategy though, sometimes we will take bigger Ls but that is a normal part of risk. As long as no loss will destabilize you, we should all try sizing up on our best trades.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@AlphaMind101 The optimal way to learn how to trade is purely on a personal account because you are focusing purely on performance instead of the gamification built into prop firms.

Prop firms are best used as boosters to your skillset as a trader. Only take them if you're already profitable.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@TheOneLanceB Trading requires a specific skillset. This is not a job that anyone can do, I don't know where this idea came from but it is so damaging to people who should never choose trading as a career.

If you aren't committed to building this specific skillset, you're not serious.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

As a trader, our job is to ride variance. This is not what the human mind was built to do. We crave certainty and go to great lengths to obtain it, even when no certainty actually exists.

We need to be strong in the face of the beast. Taking losses even after executing high quality trades is not an easy thing to go through. Going through drawdown will always be a part of our life.

But this is the price we pay to break through, and eventually the profits will be so real you'll understand why you had to pay such a high price.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

Trading requires a combination of discipline in following your rules and critical thinking to understand how the market is changing over time.

The market is not a static thing, it changes. This is why sometimes we need to think holistically to evolve with the market, and that requires courage.

If trading was as easy as following your plan all the time, many more people would succeed. But the truth is that your plan will lose its edge over time as markets change. It is in the adapting that most traders fail.

This job is so much harder than it seems, but the good news is that it is possible, and that should be enough for anyone crazy enough to try their hand at this field.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

@E8Andrew @E8Markets Either option is great as long as you remove the consistency rule, that is the most important thing.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

Your mind is your prison when you focus on your fears.

It can also be the very thing that changes your life if you focus on whatever is good.

Start living from a place of hope instead of fear.

[Alexander The Trader @TenacityTraders]

Your ability to recognize when you don't have an edge is just as important as your ability to pick out winning trades.

When you don't understand what you're seeing on the charts, that is the time to step away. Unfortunately, most traders do the opposite because they feel like they have to make money.

Truth is, it is not your decision when you get to make money. The market dictates that for all of us, we just have to be good at listening.

Protect your capital when your edge is not present. Push the limit when your edge is present. That is the name of the game.