Very simple to express, bloody hard to do. List out what everyone's doing in retail and funds in as much detail as possible. List out your skillset List out what you think you can do better than the crowd or do differently. Or you can do what everyone else is doing and get what everyone else is getting.
Reading is one thing. Have you personally tested these methods on a demo account to understand for yourself how they work and whether they can be profitable? After all, your own strategy is created by trial and error, when from a variety of approaches or methods (during their personal testing) the most effective moments are selected, which are combined into your own personal strategy.