How I Got Started in Investing and Trading: Lessons from My Early Days
Trading and investing have become a big part of my life, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Like many others, I stumbled into this world during university, learning from friends, family conversations, and my own mistakes. This post is a reflection on how I started, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I wish I had known back then.
My Journey Into Trading and Investing
It all began when I was in university. Some of my friends introduced me to investing and emphasized its importance for building wealth over time. Around the same period, I also picked up snippets of conversations about investing within my family, which piqued my curiosity.
I started like many others—putting money into popular stocks and options that were trending at the time. I didn’t have a plan, let alone a strategy. My approach was simple: buy something I thought would go up and hope for the best. Unfortunately, as you might expect, this didn’t work out well.
I quickly found myself losing a lot of money and even more sleep. I vividly remember staying up late, anxiously monitoring my options positions, hoping the price would move in my favor. It was stressful, unproductive, and ultimately unsustainable.
The Turning Point
After enduring sleepless nights and realizing how unprofitable my approach was, I knew something had to change. I decided to take a step back and learn how to invest and trade the “proper” way. This meant studying strategies, understanding risk management, and building a mindset focused on consistency rather than quick wins.
If I Could Restart, Here’s What I’d Tell Myself
Looking back, there are a few tips I wish I had known when I started:
- Learn Before You Earn: Take the time to understand the basics before putting money on the line. Rushing in without a plan will likely lead to losses.
- Focus on Risk Management: Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose, and always have a plan for managing risks.
- Avoid the Noise: Popular stocks and options might be tempting, but don’t let hype dictate your decisions.
- Sleep Is Non-Negotiable: If your investments are affecting your sleep, it’s a sign that you need to reassess your strategy and risk levels.
Conclusion
My early experience with trading and investing taught me some tough but valuable lessons. While I wouldn’t want to repeat those sleepless nights, they ultimately pushed me to learn and grow. Through this blog, I hope to share more of my journey, insights, and tips to help others avoid the mistakes I made and navigate the markets with more confidence.
