2026-01-17 08:22:45

Once you reach a certain stage in trading, you'll realize that the most core competitive advantage isn't how diligently you watch the charts, but your patience in waiting.

The true logic of making money in trading is actually very simple—80% of the time spent waiting, 20% of the time executing trades. It sounds simple, but few people can stick to it.

So, what are you doing during that 80% of the time? During sideways consolidation phases, most people tend to get itchy. If you can stay calm and observe the situation, you will accumulate energy, master the rhythm, and only when the real opportunity arrives can you make precise moves. That 20% of the time is the harvest period—grasping familiar market patterns, capturing high-probability opportunities, and completing the trade cycle.

There's a saying: a leader's rise isn't because they issue commands frequently, but because they know when not to strike. The same applies to trading. Losing control and opening a position without discipline, or firing randomly without understanding the enemy—it's like wasting ammunition and putting yourself at risk.

Ultimately, the essence of trading boils down to patience. Wait until the certainty signal appears in your trading system, wait until the familiar market pattern emerges—that's the real moment to act. Other times? Keep waiting.

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fren_with_benefits

· 3h ago

That's right, getting itchy will only get you in trouble. Making money isn't that complicated, it's just about patience. Isn't this what I've been saying all along? Don't trade randomly, wait for signals. The 80-20 rule is simple, but very few people can actually do it. Consolidation is the hardest to endure; many people get wiped out here. Knowing what to do but unable to act—that's the fate of traders. Wait and see, it sounds easy but actually sitting still is the hard part. Not taking action can make more money than acting; counterintuitive but true. Another thing you know but can't do well. Ask yourself, can you really endure 80%?

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FUDwatcher

· 6h ago

I'm an old hand in the game; I've long understood the 80/20 rule. When I get itchy hands, it's easiest to get liquidated. Now I mainly just scroll through Twitter and wait for opportunities.

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RugpullAlertOfficer

· 6h ago

That's right, itching to trade is the root of poverty Wait, wait, wait, this is the dividing line between winners and losers Now I understand why I always lose... trading all day long The sideways consolidation period is the hardest to endure, but also the best test of character The 80/20 rule is indeed absolute, but most people can't do it

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SquidTeacher

· 6h ago

You're absolutely right. Waiting 80% of the time is truly harder than acting 20% of the time. These past two months, I was just being reckless, unable to resist opening positions during sideways markets, and ended up losing a lot.

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SleepTrader

· 6h ago

Exactly right, the days of itching to trade are the ones with the biggest losses. Sitting still for half a year can earn more than daily trading. --- Waiting for the right opportunity is easier said than done; very few people can truly stick with it. I myself am part of the impatient group. --- I've heard the 80/20 rule many times, but truly enduring through that 80% is indeed rare. --- Range-bound trading is the most uncomfortable, but not acting at this time is actually the start of making money. --- Those who can't control their fingers are cannon fodder; that’s a bit harsh, huh. --- Waiting for the signal before making a move—simple to say, but incredibly difficult to do. --- Making money is indeed about waiting, not just about trading. --- Wow, this is exactly why my account always blows up. --- Trading mindset is truly a dividing line; if you can't endure it, just exit. --- Grabbing the 20% opportunity means the 80% time isn't wasted. But most people do the opposite.

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