Excitement Phase
You discover trading.
Dreams of quick profits fill your head.
You think you’ve found the shortcut
to freedom.
Reality Check
Losses hit.
You realize this game is harder than it looks.
The market humbles you — fast.
Learning Phase
You stop chasing signals.
You start studying risk, psychology, & discipline.
The focus shifts from “winning” to
“improving.”
Growth Phase
Now you trade less, but better.
You plan, execute, review, and refine.
Consistency starts to show up.
Mastery Phase
You no longer fight the market —
you flow with it.
Patience, process, and profits align.
Most traders quit halfway through the cycle.
The smart ones keep going until trading becomes second nature.