One of the most remarkable things about markets is their absolute impartiality. They don’t care about your background, education, age, or social status. The thing the markets penalize—consistently and without fail—is laziness and a lack of discipline. If you’ve been lured by promises of “get-rich-quick” systems that claim to require just 15 minutes of effort per-day, and you’re finding they don’t work, the truth may be hard to swallow: you’ve fallen victim to your desire for shortcuts.
If you’re earnest about trading, a starting point is Jack Schwager’s classic book, Market Wizards. In this collection of interviews with some of the world’s most successful traders, Schwager delves into their strategies, experiences, and mindsets. What becomes clear through these stories is that trading is anything but easy. It demands time, effort, and perseverance—qualities that no magic system or shortcut can replace.
The Reality: Trading is Hard Work
Becoming a successful trader is no simpler than deciding one day to become a neurosurgeon. Both require extensive learning, practice, and resilience. The most accomplished traders often describe their early years as gruelling apprenticeships filled with mistakes, setbacks, and failures. These challenges weren’t obstacles to their eventual achievements—they were essential stepping stones.
Trading is fundamentally a craft, one that requires continuous improvement and dedication. Over the years, I’ve noticed a common reaction when addressing audiences about trading: mentioning the need for hard work often disheartens people. Many hope for an easy, effortless path to wealth and are crestfallen when confronted with the reality that trading involves effort, risk, and, at times, significant disappointment.
Embracing the Process
For those willing to put in the work, however, the rewards of trading go beyond the obvious. The journey itself fosters discipline, resilience, and a deeper understanding of risk and decision-making. The path is challenging, but for those who approach it with patience and determination, it can also be deeply rewarding.
In the end, the markets don’t reward laziness
