The Discipline Edge: Build Your Winning Training Plan
Strategies and insights to sharpen your trading game.
Hello again Trade Warriors,
Let’s lace up our boots and keep marching forward on this discipline journey. This week, we’re diving into training—a topic that takes me back to my early days in trading, where every lesson felt like either a mountain to climb or a hard-knock reminder to stay humble. Trust me, training is where the magic begins—and it’s where we separate the hopeful hobbyists from the disciplined pros.
Why Training Matters in Trading
Let’s kick things off with some real talk: training is what keeps you from becoming your own worst enemy in the markets. Back in 2007, when I first dipped my toes into trading, I thought I could outsmart the markets with minimal effort. Newsflash: I was wrong. The markets humbled me fast, and I learned that without proper training, I was just gambling with my financial future.
Training isn’t just about cramming knowledge into your brain. It’s about refining your skills, testing strategies, and finding what works for you. Trading isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s like cooking. You’ve got to find your own flavor and perfect it. Just because someone can whip up a soufflé doesn’t mean you can’t crush it with a killer grilled cheese. (Fun fact: my grilled cheese is legendary.)
Choosing Your Path: Markets, Methods, and Strategies
The trading world is a buffet, and your job is to pick the dish you’re going to master. Are you a crypto cowboy? A stock sniper? Or maybe futures make your heart race? When I started, I tried to taste-test everything—and boy, was that a mistake. Think of it like shopping for groceries: you can’t cook a meal with random ingredients. You need a plan.
Here’s how I eventually narrowed things down:
Markets to Trade: I started with Forex, drawn in by the 24/5 action and low barrier to entry. Over time, I transitioned to stocks and options because they fit my lifestyle better. Remember, the best market for you is the one you understand and enjoy.
Methods to Use: I initially tried to overcomplicate things with technical indicators galore—RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, you name it. Now? I keep it simple with key levels and price action. Why? Because simplicity breeds discipline.
Strategies to Explore: The strategy you choose doesn’t need to be flashy. Most strategies, if executed consistently, can work. It’s like dieting—keto, paleo, intermittent fasting—they all work if you stick to them.
Building Your Training Plan
Training is where the rubber meets the road, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Here’s how I built a system that worked for me:
Set a Schedule: Consistency is key. When I started, I’d dedicate 2 hours every evening to studying after my day job. (Yes, I sacrificed Netflix binges. No, I don’t regret it.)
Focus on Fundamentals First: Don’t skip the basics. Understanding position sizing and risk management saved me from blowing up my account multiple times. Think of it like learning to boil water before trying to make ramen from scratch.
Specialize Gradually: I dabbled in everything early on, but my turning point came when I zeroed in on simple stock strategies and a handful of ETFs.
Track and Reflect: Every trade—win or lose—became a learning experience.
My Journey: Simplicity is Key
If I had to sum up my trading philosophy in three words, it’d be: Keep. It. Simple.
There was a time when I thought success required fancy algorithms and complex strategies. But after blowing up a few accounts (RIP, 2008), I realized simplicity was the way to go. Today, I focus on a handful of strategies:
Weekly Breakouts: Identifying stocks or ETFs poised to move based on simple chart patterns.
Previous Day High/Low Levels: A bread-and-butter strategy that keeps me grounded and disciplined.
I also dabble in crypto as a long-term HODLer. Do I understand every blockchain innovation? Nope. But I believe in the long-term potential, and that’s enough for me to hold steady.
Here’s the truth: Your mindset and discipline will always outweigh any strategy’s potential.
Conclusion: Training as a Foundation
If discipline is the glue of trading, training is the mold that gives it shape. Keep your approach simple, stay consistent, and resist the temptation to chase shiny objects (looking at you, TikTok gurus). It’s better to be exceptional at a few things than mediocre at many.
What’s Next: Discipline Through Rules
Next week, we’re going to tackle the backbone of disciplined trading: rules. It’s one thing to train and learn—it’s another to stick to your rules when the pressure is on. Spoiler: your rules are what protect you from… well, you.
Call to Action
What does your training routine look like? Are you a bookworm, a course junkie, or a trial-and-error adventurer like I was? Drop a comment and let’s swap notes. Remember: the goal is progress, not perfection.
Until next time, stay humble, stay hungry, and keep learning.
Cheers,
TJ Stubbs
Founder, Light Trades