There are many ways to approach the market, but everybody agrees that the way to win is by securing big wins while keeping losses small. I think Nassim Taleb calls it something in the range of "tail events."
The maximum that can be lost in a position is 100%.
For the sake of simplicity, let's say we are keeping each position at 1%. With a capital of $10,000, any and all positions will be limited to $100—maximum. There you have your risk control.
If the trade goes bad, you lost $100. Plain and simple. It happens all the time.
Now, let's say we find this chart setup and open a position with 5X. We are aiming for 400% growth on this bullish wave, we've seen it happen countless times.
400% with 5X results in 2,000%. $100 results in $2,000.
Just one win, and you get to try again 20 times, or you get to collect some profits. While one loss won't hurt that much. Position sizing, risk control. Risk vs reward.
This can also be done through spot.
If we do this long-term, over and over; refining and improving our strategy as more experience is gained, we can become successful in this game.
With experience, a stronger chart setup calls for a bigger position size. With experience, we can take profits sooner than expected or we let the trade run longer than planned.
It takes time, it is a complex game. The problem is not in the simple strategy, the problem are the emotions getting in the way.
You think, "If it is going to go up, why not go all-in with 10X? It is going to grow anyways..."
And you are very innocent and you think you are being smart. That's greed baby and that's where problems start.
Another 100,000 traders start thinking the same. Everybody goes all-in at once, maximum leverage, and instead of winning, the exchange is the one getting paid.
As soon as the imbalance is caught by the bots, they adapt live to market conditions and your position will be closed.
Instead of trying to get it all at once, try going with the plan long-term.
First, small wins. Wins will become big when you are ready to accept them.
If you are in a hurry to make money, you cannot trade.
If your live depends on it, it is not going to work.
A stable mind and life is needed to be able to make the right choice.
The market has a very strong pull, it plays with millions of people. Whenever you think you are ready and you've mastered the game, the market produces a great surprise and this surprise is exactly what you did not expect. It goes the other way.
If you follow this simple strategy, you lose 1X (1%). If you decide that the time is ripe and go all-in, you can win now (once) but what about the long-term?
If you can win by making wrong decisions or unwise decisions, the winning won't last long. If you start winning because you have a plan that works, then, success is yours.
Namaste.