In this market, the ultimate winner is often not the smartest person, but the one who survives the longest.

Three months ago, I met an old friend whose account had fallen to $3,800. Not a rookie, with plenty of experience, but he was worn down by a series of wrong judgments. Later, he gave up the idea of overnight riches, stopped chasing exciting swings, and instead started doing the most boring thing—diversifying his funds and writing fixed trading rules. After 90 days, his account broke through the $30,000 mark. This is not luck; it’s entirely supported by discipline.

How to split the money? Divide the $3,800 into three parts, each with its own purpose. The short-term part allows at most two trades per day; if wrong, immediately stop. The trend-following part sticks to the weekly chart; if the weekly trend is bad, sit on the sidelines. The other part is for survival funds, used only in extreme market conditions. The core idea is simple: prevent a single mistake from ending the game.

How simplified should the entry conditions be? If the daily structure is still bearish, forget about it; don’t even look. Only try small positions when volume breaks out and closes above the level. Take profits gradually, don’t be greedy, and lock in remaining gains with stop-losses. Predefine exit conditions before entering, and execute them when the time comes—no bargaining.

The most critical step is to completely isolate emotions. Don’t hold full positions, don’t stubbornly hold on, and don’t get inflated after two consecutive wins. Treat every trade as if dealing with a stranger—stay calm when winning, stay calm when losing, and don’t let it affect your next move.

From over 3,000 to 30,000, it looks like a big number, but the process is actually very dull. There are no stories of continuous big wins; it’s more about cutting losses when needed and resting when necessary. The account can grow not because of picking the right coins, but because of avoiding many pitfalls.

In this market, moving a little slower is really okay. As long as the direction is steady, rules are followed, and chaos is avoided, time will eventually reward you. The traders who last till the end are never those with big guts, but those who can control themselves.