Reflecting on the past 11 years, if I were to name the most regrettable decision, it would be becoming a full-time trader.

In 2010, I returned to my country from doing business in Africa and started my journey as a full-time trader. I experienced the lucrative phase typical for beginners, followed by a devastating period of losses. I lost all my assets, sold my car and house, and lost my girlfriend with whom I had been in a long-term relationship and was preparing to marry. I hit rock bottom in my life. After two years of silence and learning, I picked up trading again, from the painful process of adjusting to the trading system to eventually achieving some success.

Now, in my 40s, it seems like I have everything. But looking back, perhaps I could have reached the same scale in business, at least without constantly battling human nature and without losing a very precious relationship.

Do I regret it? I do. But these more than ten years have felt as long as a lifetime, and I've learned many lessons I didn't understand before. Maybe everyone's life has its own destiny, and whether it's worth it varies from person to person.

I know many people are very enthusiastic about becoming full-time traders, especially those who have experienced significant wins and losses in trading, with adrenaline surging and every second of trading bringing a thrill that a mundane life could never offer.

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So today, I want to discuss very rationally and objectively what it takes to be a full-time trader, hoping it can serve as a reference for you.

1: Sufficient capital.

If your average annual return on trading is 40%, and your annual expenses are 300,000, then you would need a principal of 750,000, and this money must be your idle money. You must be prepared for the possibility of it disappearing without a trace.

Secondly, the income from trading is different from a regular job at a company, where you receive a salary on time and in a fixed amount every month. The rhythm of trading is much like a tourist spot's business, distributed according to the off-peak and peak seasons. Sometimes you may have good income for several months, and sometimes you may have no income or even losses for several months. If you don't have enough savings, you won't be able to support your normal life.

If you only have a few tens of thousands of dollars and think about making a living from trading, I really don't recommend it, as it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to make huge profits with a small investment, leading to significant losses.2: An Environment Suitable for Trading.

If you are considering full-time trading, it is quite different from part-time trading. You will need to increase the variety of trades, thoroughly research the techniques, and maintain a daily routine of learning and reviewing trades. A relatively quiet environment is necessary for this.

Many people are attracted to the idea of full-time trading because they believe they will no longer have to deal with a boss's mood swings and can work comfortably from home. However, while a boss may criticize or manipulate you, they still pay you on time. The market, on the other hand, is not so forgiving; it can be both tormenting and demanding, leaving you to plead for a chance to make a living. Many traders, after suffering losses, find themselves in a desperate situation, which is no less uncomfortable than working in a company.

Moreover, learning is inherently against human nature. Those who truly excel in trading are proactive learners and good at it. If you do not enjoy learning and reflecting in your daily life, full-time trading may not be suitable for you.

3: Possessing the Ability to Profit Consistently.

Please note that I am referring to the "ability to profit consistently," not just the "ability to profit."

Many people, after making a profit for a short period, believe they have a natural talent for trading and are rare trading talents, eager to quit their jobs and become full-time traders.

I suggest extending the profit cycle to years. If you can consistently make a profit for two or three consecutive years, it indicates that your trading skills are high and your trading techniques are relatively mature, and you can consider becoming a full-time trader.

If you have only made profits in stages and have not calculated your loss amounts or kept trading records, do not yet consider becoming a full-time trader. First, analyze and reflect on your past few years of trading results, and then reconsider the issue.

4: Having a Mature Trading Mindset.

(The translation ends here as the original text also ends at this point.)I've mentioned before that many people enter trading to escape reality, thinking they can make substantial profits with a small amount of capital, and comfortably earn money from home. So when you let go of everything to become a full-time trader, you will acutely feel that every fluctuation of the candlestick affects your heartbeat. You can no longer be as calm as you were when trading part-time, because you know that now you have no income. Losing a penny means your savings decrease by that amount, and life becomes a little more uncertain, so there will be a significant difference in mindset.

The financial market is essentially a game between people, and mindset determines your trading outcomes. Do you have the idea of making a fortune with a small investment? Do you fear losses? Are you reluctant to take profits when you're in profit? Can you stick to your trading system during downturns? Will you manually intervene out of fear before reaching your profit target or stop-loss point? And so on.

In trading, you will encounter a multitude of issues related to human nature. Failing to overcome even one of them could lead to a loss. Therefore, everyone must think carefully before committing to full-time trading.

5: Gain the support of your family.

Full-time trading sounds prestigious, but it is also a controversial profession with no so-called social status. Sometimes, when others introduce you, they don't even know how to describe what you do.

Moreover, if you are in a phase of losses, the pressure of trading can be immense. If your family does not understand, it will invisibly increase your own stress, potentially making your emotions very poor and affecting your trading state.

So if you have the ability to make a profit and can gain the understanding and support of your family, especially their emotional support, it will provide you with great comfort during periods of loss and be of immense help to your trading profitability.

If any of the above five conditions are missing, do not start full-time trading. I would advise everyone to engage in part-time trading while doing their main job well, having a stable income, and treating trading profits as an additional supplement. This way, the financial pressure is lower, and traders will have a better trading mindset, increasing the probability of profiting.