Why do people say trading is the hardest way to make money, when it's just not true?

Discussion in 'Psychology' started by Coin Flip, Sep 23, 2024.

  1. newwurldmn

    newwurldmn

    the way I describe it is:
    Every widget my company sells earns me money. I might not sell enough widgets to cover my overhead but every widget gets me closer.

    in trading, every trade I make might get me closer or take me further away.

    second issue:
    When I sell widgets, my customers want me to make money because otherwise I won’t supply them widgets which allow them to make money.
    In trading, my counterparty almost always loses money if I make it. (There are some examples where this isn’t true and you look for those matchups but they are rare because everyone is looking for those matchups).
     
    #11     Sep 23, 2024
  2. Peter8519

    Peter8519

    We are all wired differently. Referring to the Winning Methods of the Market Wizard by Jack Schwager where everyone is different and Trading in the Zone is the successful state of mind by Mark Douglas, both authors refer to the state of mind i.e. Zen, the art of trading and achieving the Zone. The point of contention is easy vs difficult. Sometimes, we entered a trade and it took off. Easy money. Doing it consistently is not easy(I my opinion). Anyone can trade as long as he or she has the money in their trading accounts. Maybe patient and persistence are the keys to success.

    PS: While it's easy reap the profits before it becomes hard.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2024
    #12     Sep 23, 2024
    CFD.Trader likes this.
  3. Overnight

    Overnight

    Most sensible post of the year. Mark it, man.

    There's a song for that...But for the sake of forum sanity, it will not be posted. :)
     
    #13     Sep 23, 2024
    CFD.Trader and Baron like this.
  4. Coin Flip

    Coin Flip

    That's what they said about poker. Hardest way to make an easy living.
     
    #14     Sep 23, 2024
  5. (1) Losers... and Winners alike said :D

    (2) Trading is one of the hardest ways to make money out of all the ways they've tried.
     
    #15     Sep 24, 2024
  6. Coin Flip

    Coin Flip

    Tried swing trading stocks off and on over the years including in 2020 and 2021, always lost on an annual basis.

    Switched to daytrading futures in 2022 and been profitable on an annual basis since, but dollar wise my profits are not large given the small size of my trading account, and also I don't have time to necessarily daytrade every day due to work demands.
     
    #16     Sep 24, 2024
    oraclewizard77 likes this.
  7. Weekend hackers (who get their "golf education" from YouTube "golf coaches") will also find it difficult to make money as a golf tour pro. :D

    I'm convinced that losing traders would rather have fun trading and losing money, than take the time to practice and learn the boring but absolutely necessary skills needed to become profitable traders. Then they'll claim it's the hardest way to make money. :D

    Pretty much what the famous trader Ed Seykota sums up in these 2 quotes:

    “A losing trader can do little to transform himself into a winning trader. A losing trader is not going to want to transform himself. That’s the kind of thing winning traders do.”

    “Win or lose, everybody gets what they want out of the market. Some people seem to like to lose, so they win by losing money.”
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2024
    #17     Sep 24, 2024
    comagnum and Probability like this.
  8. Good Morning Coin Flip,

    Good question, and here is a good/correct answer.

    Trading is easy if the trader can sit and watch and learn from an already proven consistent Millionaire profitable trader for 6 to 12 months in person.

    Trading is hard and complex if the trader can not sit and watch and learn from an already proven consistent Millionaire profitable trader for 6 to 12 months in person.

    It is just that simple.
     
    #18     Sep 24, 2024
  9. Coinflip, the day trader with a small account that does not trade everyday.
    Everyday he has to work for a company because his day trading does not provide enough to be a day trader.
    Still he speaks on many topics about day trading like he is a shinny millionaire.
    It reminds me to the wankers that are living with their parents and trade creepto currencies. Once in a life time when they can save some money from their grammas' alimony.

    He proceeds to open a thread calling off people that say that "trading is difficult".

    Now if this guy is not full of shit when he speaks, you tell me who is.
     
    #19     Sep 24, 2024
  10. zdreg

    zdreg

    Start a thread with a poll. The winner gets a prize.
     
    #20     Sep 24, 2024
    Drawdown Addict likes this.