Inevitable Side of Life and Trading

The markets, by their very nature, never move in a straight line. They don’t simply go up or down. There are local highs, local lows and then there are global highs - your peak successes - and unfortunately, global lows - your worst-ever situations.

There’s nothing you can do to completely avoid this cycle. Feeling like a victim in either scenario - whether in trading or in life - will never move you forward. The harsh truth is that when you reach your peak, it’s often only a matter of time before a local or even global low comes next.

The moment you start to feel invincible is usually the moment the decline begins. But why is that?

I remember my own peak back in 2021. I had been trading for a while but wasn’t fully aware of the realities that both business and trading bring. I hit my first milestone - earning $10,000 in a single month - and I felt like it would be that way forever. I started spending freely, traveling, enjoying life. Most importantly, I stopped being obsessed with improving myself and building my business. I thought I had “made it.”

You can probably guess what happened next.

I lost everything.

From $10k a month, I dropped to just $50 to my name. Nothing else.

The truth is, there are no guarantees in life or in trading. The only thing you can do is learn to appreciate the relativity of your current situation. This very moment might one day become a nostalgic memory you look back on with gratitude - even if right now it feels like it’s breaking you.

Often, our lowest points - especially in terms of career - are the very moments that shape us. They either make us, or they break us. I once heard a quote that stuck with me: everyone who makes it in business goes through the same struggles. The difference is simple - those who succeed keep fighting and those who quit… don’t. Which one will you be?

Even if you continue, success is still never guaranteed. You can put in the same effort as others who made it, but luck will always play some role. The best we can do is put ourselves in positions where opportunities come, which in turn attracts more “luck.” Beyond that, nothing is certain.

So what’s the best option? To keep going. To keep chasing what you believe in. Following your dream will hurt you, yes - but I can’t imagine living with the pain of regret instead.

There are two kinds of pain: the pain of failure and the pain of regret. One fades as you keep moving forward, the other lingers for a lifetime.

That’s why I’ll always choose the pain of failure - because at least it carries the possibility of reaching my dream.

What about you?

- Luke FT.