The day I had only $1,800 left in my account, I finally understood what it means to be backed into a corner by life. When there’s no way out, it’s actually easier to find a way.

I divided this $1,800 into three parts, solemnly like writing a will:

**Short-term Trading Portion: $600**
Up to two trades per day, stop loss when needed, don’t negotiate with feelings.

**Trend Trading Portion: $600**
This part only eats into confirmed trend moves. If the weekly chart doesn’t show an upward arrangement, stay on the sidelines. Better to miss opportunities than to get slapped repeatedly in choppy markets.

**Emergency Reserve: $600**
Specifically for extreme market conditions. Replenish immediately when liquidating to ensure you’re still in the game. Because what I fear most isn’t loss, but being completely kicked out.

This allocation method seems simple, but it actually reflects a core understanding: don’t fantasize about a big gamble to turn things around. The market’s meat grinder is turning every day, and most people end up being shredded. Preserve your strength to have a chance to turn things around.

**Trading signals are very blunt**

If the daily moving average doesn’t form a bullish arrangement, do nothing and stay in cash, waiting. Don’t think you’re missing opportunities—there are only a few real opportunities, and patience pays off.

Breakout volume reaching a historical high and confirmed by daily close? That’s the first signal to enter. Once your profit reaches 30% of your principal, withdraw half of the profit immediately, and set a trailing stop-loss at 10% for the remaining position. The benefit of this approach is that, as your small account grows into a large one, you’ve already realized some gains, and your mindset changes.

**Mentality is more important than technology**

Markets generate opportunities every day, but your bullets are limited. Don’t rush into trades at every market move—stay calm like waiting for a bus in a station—after all, this bus will come, and the next one will too.

Before entering a trade, write down your "Life and Death Agreement":
- Stop loss automatically at 5% loss, this is non-negotiable
- When profit hits 10%, move the stop-loss back to the cost price; subsequent gains are market gifts

Going from $1,800 to $30,000 isn’t about some secret trading trick, but about “making fewer mistakes.” You can learn technical indicators, wave theory, candlestick patterns—all of that is fine, but only if you’re alive to see the day you can apply what you’ve learned.

Many people ask me how I turned things around. The answer is actually very boring: set rules, follow rules, repeat this process. No stories, only discipline.