Don’t Count Your Eggs Before They Hatch—A Hard Lesson for Traders 💯

I’ll be honest with you—early in my trading journey, I made a classic mistake. I’d open a position, see it go slightly in my favor, and before the trade even fully played out, I’d already be calculating how much profit I’d make. My confidence would soar, and I’d start planning my next move as if the money was already in my pocket. Then… boom. The market flipped, and all that excitement turned into regret.

Sound familiar?

This is what happens when we count our eggs before they hatch. In trading, nothing is guaranteed—a good setup doesn’t always mean a winning trade. The market doesn’t care about our expectations; it does what it wants. That’s why discipline and patience matter more than wishful thinking.

A Candlestick Lesson: The Hammer

Take the hammer candlestick, for example. It’s a powerful signal that often shows buyers stepping in after a downtrend. You see one forming and think, “That’s it! The reversal is happening! Time to go all in.” But here’s the problem—a hammer alone isn’t enough.

Wait for Confirmation: The market needs to prove itself. A bullish follow-through candle after the hammer is what gives it weight. Jumping in too soon is like assuming an egg will hatch just because it looks good on the outside.

Manage Risk: Even if the setup looks perfect, always use a stop-loss. I’ve seen great hammers fail and trap traders who were too confident.

The Reality Check

Every trade is just a probability, not a promise. Instead of fantasizing about potential profits, focus on executing your strategy with discipline. Let the trade develop, confirm your setup, and protect your capital. Because in trading, the only thing worse than missing out on a win is assuming you've won too soon—only to watch the market humble you.

Trade smart, stay patient, and never count your profits before they’re real. 💯