tell me what i should do different; to get results in general? and also more specifically for dt, swing trading and investing. roast me what i havent been doing
ChatGPT said:
Alright, let’s get brutally honest. If you truly want results in life, day trading (DT), swing trading, and investing, here’s what you might be neglecting or need to do differently. Consider this a constructive roast aimed at making you more effective.
General Personal Growth
- Stop Over-Analyzing, Start Doing
You spend a ton of time preparing, coding, analyzing, and optimizing. While this is great, it’s obvious that you tend to get stuck in the preparation phase. Analysis paralysis is holding you back. The harsh truth: ideas mean nothing without execution. No amount of coding a backtesting framework will matter if you don’t pull the trigger on actual trades and learn from real outcomes.What to do: Set hard deadlines to transition from analysis to action. For example, “By the end of the week, I will place at least 3 live trades, no matter how prepared I feel.” - Define What Success Means to You
You have ambitious goals (financial freedom, house, family, stability), but are they truly motivating? If they feel too far off, it’s easy to procrastinate or get stuck in the weeds of technical tasks. Without clarity on what specific short-term results look like, you’re floating aimlessly.What to do: Break goals into smaller, time-bound objectives. E.g., “Generate $X in profits in 6 months,” or “Deploy one profitable trading strategy by the end of the quarter.” - Face Your Fear of Losing
You hate losing, which is natural, but it seems to paralyze you. Let me roast you hard here: If you can’t handle losing trades or setbacks, you’re in the wrong game. Trading and life involve failure. Winners know how to cut their losses, whether it’s a bad trade or a wasted effort.What to do: Shift your mindset. See losses as tuition fees for learning. Reward yourself for disciplined execution, even if it ends in a loss. Set a budget for “tuition trades” (small trades meant to practice execution and learning). - Stop Using Coding as a Coping Mechanism
When you miss opportunities, you bury yourself in coding or analysis as a distraction. This creates a vicious cycle of inaction. While coding frameworks is productive, it’s not a substitute for execution. The market doesn’t pay for well-written code; it pays for well-timed trades.What to do: When you feel the urge to code as a distraction, force yourself to reflect on why you missed the opportunity and take one concrete action (e.g., place a trade, tweak your setup).
Day Trading (DT)
- Loosen Up on Stop Losses
You’ve admitted your stop losses are often too tight (0.07-0.01%). If you’re consistently getting stopped out, your entries might be poorly timed, or your stops don’t allow trades to breathe.What to do:- Use ATR (Average True Range) or the stock’s 1-minute volatility to set stops.
- Backtest setups with wider stop losses to see how they perform.
- Challenge yourself: Allow one trade to run without manually intervening.
- Track and Review Every Trade
Do you actually review your trades systematically? Be honest. If you aren’t rigorously journaling every trade (entry, exit, reason, outcome), you’re winging it. Without data, you’re guessing at what works.What to do: Use a trading journal (Excel, Notion, or software like Edgewonk). Analyze patterns in winning vs. losing trades: Did you follow your plan? Were the losses due to tight stops, bad entries, or poor setups? - Focus on 1-2 Strategies, Master Them
Stop chasing shiny objects. It’s tempting to try every setup, indicator, or tool, but mastery comes from repetition and refinement. You might be overcomplicating your approach with too many variables.What to do: Pick one or two setups and trade them exclusively for a month. Example: “Morning breakout with volume spike” or “VWAP reversal.” Refine and scale once you’ve proven them.
Swing Trading
- Plan Trades in Advance
Swing trading requires patience and a plan. Are you entering trades impulsively or without a clear risk/reward setup? Be honest—if your trades are rushed or reactive, they’re likely suboptimal.What to do: Set alerts for key levels on your stocks. Use a systematic approach to define:- Entry point: When price breaks/holds $X.
- Stop loss: Below $Y.
- Take profit: At $Z or trailing stop.
- Stop Watching Every Tick
If you’re treating swing trades like day trades, you’re doing it wrong. Swing trading is about capturing larger moves over days/weeks. Obsessing over intraday fluctuations will only lead to premature exits.What to do: Check positions at pre-defined intervals (e.g., once daily). Place alerts or trailing stops and trust your plan. - Diversify, But Not Too Much
If all your swing trades are correlated (e.g., all tech stocks), you’re overexposing yourself to sector risk. On the flip side, if you’re trading 10 different stocks across sectors, you’re spreading yourself too thin.What to do: Focus on 3-5 non-correlated trades at a time. Diversify sectors but stay manageable.
Investing
- Think Long-Term, Act Consistently
Are you too focused on short-term results? Real investing is about compound growth over years, not months. If you’re jumping in and out of positions, you’re not investing—you’re gambling.What to do: Automate investments in a diversified portfolio. Example: Allocate a percentage of your income to ETFs, dividend stocks, or high-conviction picks every month. - Understand the Businesses You’re Investing In
If you’re picking stocks without fully understanding their business model, competitive advantage, and risks, you’re flying blind.What to do: Research fundamentals like revenue growth, profit margins, and insider activity. Treat every stock as if you’re buying the entire business. - Broaden Your Horizon
Are you limiting yourself to popular U.S. stocks? Global markets, sectors like energy, and alternative investments (e.g., REITs) may offer better opportunities.What to do: Explore undervalued sectors or geographies. Study energy stocks (coal, oil, gas) and consider their role in a diversified portfolio.
Roast Recap
- Biggest Weakness: You’re a perfectionist who uses preparation and coding as a crutch to avoid taking real-world action.
- What You’re Missing: Consistent execution, risk-taking, and adaptability.
- Core Advice: Stop overcomplicating things. Simplicity and action will yield results faster than endless preparation.
Success isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being consistent. You already have the intellect and skills to excel, but results come to those who take calculated risks and adapt along the way. Stop holding yourself back. The market rewards action, not analysis.
General Personal Growth
- Stop Over-Analyzing, Start Doing
You spend a ton of time preparing, coding, analyzing, and optimizing. While this is great, it’s obvious that you tend to get stuck in the preparation phase. Analysis paralysis is holding you back. The harsh truth: ideas mean nothing without execution. No amount of coding a backtesting framework will matter if you don’t pull the trigger on actual trades and learn from real outcomes.What to do: Set hard deadlines to transition from analysis to action. For example, “By the end of the week, I will place at least 3 live trades, no matter how prepared I feel.” - Define What Success Means to You
You have ambitious goals (financial freedom, house, family, stability), but are they truly motivating? If they feel too far off, it’s easy to procrastinate or get stuck in the weeds of technical tasks. Without clarity on what specific short-term results look like, you’re floating aimlessly.What to do: Break goals into smaller, time-bound objectives. E.g., “Generate $X in profits in 6 months,” or “Deploy one profitable trading strategy by the end of the quarter.” - Face Your Fear of Losing
You hate losing, which is natural, but it seems to paralyze you. Let me roast you hard here: If you can’t handle losing trades or setbacks, you’re in the wrong game. Trading and life involve failure. Winners know how to cut their losses, whether it’s a bad trade or a wasted effort.What to do: Shift your mindset. See losses as tuition fees for learning. Reward yourself for disciplined execution, even if it ends in a loss. Set a budget for “tuition trades” (small trades meant to practice execution and learning). - Stop Using Coding as a Coping Mechanism
When you miss opportunities, you bury yourself in coding or analysis as a distraction. This creates a vicious cycle of inaction. While coding frameworks is productive, it’s not a substitute for execution. The market doesn’t pay for well-written code; it pays for well-timed trades.What to do: When you feel the urge to code as a distraction, force yourself to reflect on why you missed the opportunity and take one concrete action (e.g., place a trade, tweak your setup).
