How Trading Alone Nearly Broke Me

Most people picture trading as this solo adventure. You know—the dream of sitting on a beach with a laptop, trades rolling in, stress-free. I definitely used to believe that. I thought if I just worked hard enough on my own, I’d crack the code and live that quiet, independent life.

But when I actually started trading, it hit so different. My “office” was my cluttered kitchen table, not some paradise. I’d slam coffee, stare at candlesticks, and try to explain to friends what a stop loss was—only to be met with blank stares. Nobody wanted to hear about my weird new stress. Losses stung double because I was shouldering it all alone. No one to talk to meant every mistake felt ten times heavier.

It got rough. I’d beat myself up about every miss, overanalyze wins and losses, and get stuck in my own head. On especially bad days, I’d think about quitting altogether. That’s when I joined a community.

At first, sharing my messy charts and dumb mistakes was scary. I expected people would judge me—but they didn’t. Suddenly, when I posted a trade that went sideways, someone else chimed in that they’d seen the same thing happen. When I lost, people shared their own horror stories, but also what they learned. When I won, they celebrated—but weren’t afraid to remind me not to get cocky either.

I started learning faster. People pointed out things I missed, called me out when I took dumb risks, and helped me avoid falling for FOMO trades. Sometimes, they roasted my chart in the best way possible. That stung, but it stuck—and over time, I started making better decisions.

It wasn’t just about the technicals. On those days where a single candle wrecked my week, I could vent and laugh about it. The group turned the worst trades into running jokes. We’d swap memes about revenge trading, get honest about our mistakes, and even talk each other down after a rough session. It made trading way less lonely, and honestly, a lot more fun.

Now, I can’t imagine trying to go back to trading solo. The progress I made with others was faster and less painful than anything I managed alone. The accountability, the feedback, the support—they’re the real edge most traders are missing. If you’re trying to tough it out on your own, trust me. Find your crew. Trading gets easier, smarter, and a whole lot more fun when you stop being a lone wolf.

In light of this, we started the London Live Trading Floor, a free daily youtube stream full of vibrant traders looking to get better!