The big goal is to be consistent - the money is just an inevitable byproduct of the exercise. It does not matter how much capitalization you start out with if you are truly consistent - the worm will turn. Consistent traders attract all kinds of capitalization.
Considering there are not many people who can consistently trade at all, any consistent trading profits = trader's success, IMO.
No disrespect 5yr, but a person's salary doesn't necessarily equate to hapiness. Depending on location, cost of living, and simply doing what you enjoy - why could a person not make 30-40k/yr trading and not be very happy if they enjoy it and are comfortable with the risk they're taking on. Maybe they hated their job and are happy with their newfound "trader" success. Even better if they consistently make 30-40k - maybe they do it trading the morning and spend thet rest of the day playing with their kids while mom is performing heart surgery at 300k/yr? Everyone needs to judge their own success based on personal benchmarks and current situations.
Well some others already chimed in here on what I am about to say. Develop a system that can turn 1 dollar into a million dollars. You will prolly stop well before a million because you will see something. I can see, it took so long just to realize I'm much too strong not to compromise Now I see what I am is holding me down I'll turn it around I finally see the dawn arrivin I see beyond the road I'm drivin It's a bright horizon and I'm awaken I see myself in a brand new way The sun is shinin, the clouds are breakin Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play Well thats about it, good luck.
It's all cake after pussy and Scotch money. You'll know you are rich when the Scotch you are drinking is older than the woman you are bonking.
Trading is my sole income at this stage. As long it is more than any one else i know, otherwise i feel inferior or i think i made the wrong choice by going into trading. Also the competivtive side comes out, it is a competition, however not everyone is playing the Capitalist game and i do understand that, however it is quite easy to tell which of your friends and family is Money hungry.
If you have an edge in a liquid market, you will easily make more than 200k a year. The only way to earn less, would be to chose to do so.