The Curse That Became a Blessing: How Leverage Humbled Me and Rebuilt My Trading Philosophy

At first, I thought leverage was my shortcut to riches—a ladder to financial freedom. I used 20x leverage like a pro… or so I believed.

One unforgettable night, I turned a small trade into a 300% gain in under an hour. It felt like I’d unlocked a secret level of the market. I didn’t just win—I believed I was a genius.

But the market humbles everyone eventually.

Just one week later, a 2% dip erased my entire position. I wasn't just broke—I was broken. It wasn’t about the money. It was the shattering illusion of control.

That was the moment I changed.

Now, I follow these non-negotiable rules:

1. Max leverage: 5x – even on “perfect” setups. If a trade is that strong, it doesn't need heavy leverage.

2. Never go all-in. Confidence can be a trap.

3. Profit allocation:

50%: Withdraw immediately

30%: Long-term investments

20%: Recycled for future trades

These principles turned my gambling into discipline, my panic into planning.

Leverage didn’t ruin me—ego did. But that ego death was the beginning of real growth.

Let my lesson be yours:

Leverage is not your enemy—your mindset is.

Use it wisely. Respect the risk. Trade to last, not just to win.