ICT TRADING SETUPS

Trading is simple.

𝐃𝐨:
Stay patient, and focused on the process.

𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭:
Worry about your results.

Hello Traders

In keeping with the weekly cycle, remember if markets trend on Thursday and ideally Friday, they will continue in that direction into Monday.

How? Manage it in a manner that does not elevate it as the Master of your house. You are the Master of your house and your house is Trading your model. If you allow a single loss to decide your continuation as a Trader or belief in your model to diminish, you are not the Master of your house... you have given that role to your loss.

Where is the strength or logic in this? It escapes sound reasoning and invites defeat. More than defeat... it is surrender. You are essentially saying that your next trade has to be profitable or "else" you aren't ever going to succeed. You do not admit this at the time you enter the trade... but the leverage and mindset about the absence of a stop loss, come hell or high water you will take something out as a gain. Leaving no room to permit imperfection... and you wonder why you are stressed in the trade?

The sound logic is this...

"I can accept a result that is not favorable. If I follow my model, manage the risk impeccably, manage the position and take partials along the way... I will be fine. Or "else", I will need to endure needless pain and exaggerated drawdown, of which I was the sole responsible party."

See the difference there? One mindset says... "I have to win or else I fail entirely" and the other recognizes the risk of not following sound Trade & Risk Management protocols and owns the responsibility. The second mindset is open to imperfection and it sees the losses as a transaction without gain... nothing more. The first mindset sees any loss as the death blow that ends their Trading career.

Choices... we all have them. Which mindset do you want to hold fast to in this career?

Choose wisely.

As you were...

ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀ

If it's down 10%, it needs +11% to break even
If it's down 30%, it needs +43% to break even
If it's down 50%, it needs +100% to break even
If it's down 70%, it needs +233% to break even
If it's down 90%, it needs +900% to break even

Control your risk.

Trading is an ART — not a science.

3 reasons why👇🏼🧵

1. The market is not black & white.

New traders struggle so much because they are looking for an answer that doesn't exist.

The "black & white" perspective is a big mistake.

There is no one size fits all approach.

There is no Golden Rule.

Almost all new traders waste years asking the wrong questions.

You can save a tremendous amount of time just by asking better questions.

❌ What stock do I buy?
✅ What do you look for on the chart to initiate a buy?


2. The best traders are creative.

The most successful traders — like the best artists — are willing to be different.

They combine creativity with a consistent strategy.

They deconstruct and analyze human behavior.

Above all, they think for themselves.

Understand why a strategy works, don't just replicate it blindly.

When you have a deep understanding you can intentionally craft it and take it to another level.


3. Trading is expressive.

All aspects of your life will creep into your trading performance.

When you are angry, irritable, or anxious your performance will suffer.

When you are enthusiastic, relaxed, and happy your performance will stand a chance.

Traders that ignore this are trading without the full picture.

Emotions are powerful and must be understood.

Don't suppress them, don't ignore them, but understand them.

We are taught that the human side of every trader is the enemy...

However, that human side is also what allows you to perfect the craft and bring a uniqueness to trading that nobody else can.

If trading was a science, it would be easier to replicate success from one person to another.

I believe trading is an art and the greatest traders are artists.

- Nick Schmidt