How to Become a Profitable Trader in 180 Days

1. Law of Large Numbers

You need at least 100 trades for your edge to show. Don’t judge your system on a few trades — results are random in the short term, meaningful in the long run.

2. Pick a Trading Style

Study different trading approaches (e.g. from Market Wizards), pick what fits you best (scalping, swing, position trading), and master it.

3. Create a Trading Plan

Answer these:

– What markets and timeframes do you trade?

– What’s your risk per trade (max 1%)?

– Entry criteria?

– Stop-loss placement?

– Take-profit logic?

4. Stick to the Plan

Execute 100 trades strictly by your plan. Start small. Don’t change rules after a few losses. Consistency is key.

5. Track Every Trade

Log entries, exits, setups, mistakes, and screenshots. This helps you spot patterns, errors, and areas to improve.

6. Check Your Edge

Use expectancy:

(Win% × Avg Win) – (Loss% × Avg Loss) – costs

If it’s positive — congrats, your system has an edge.