I’ve traded stocks for more than 20 years. It took me 7–10 years to...
Julian Komar@BlogJulianKomar
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Aug 04, 2026
~5 min read
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I’ve traded stocks for more than 20 years.
It took me 7–10 years to become consistently profitable—and there was no single breakthrough.
My progress came from eliminating one costly mistake after another.
Here are 24 lessons I wish I had known at 20: 🧵
It took me 7–10 years to become consistently profitable—and there was no single breakthrough.
My progress came from eliminating one costly mistake after another.
Here are 24 lessons I wish I had known at 20: 🧵
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1/ I was attracted to stocks because I loved studying companies, business models, and innovation.
But understanding a company did not make me a good trader.
Analyzing businesses and trading their stocks are two very different skills.
But understanding a company did not make me a good trader.
Analyzing businesses and trading their stocks are two very different skills.
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2/ My early trading was chaotic.
I followed stock tips, copied other traders, bought random stocks, and constantly switched between pullbacks, breakouts, and other strategies.
I had no clear system—and my results showed it.
I followed stock tips, copied other traders, bought random stocks, and constantly switched between pullbacks, breakouts, and other strategies.
I had no clear system—and my results showed it.
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3/ I knew many trading rules.
But knowing a rule and executing it consistently are two completely different things.
Without a fixed routine and precise criteria, emotions filled every gap in my process.
But knowing a rule and executing it consistently are two completely different things.
Without a fixed routine and precise criteria, emotions filled every gap in my process.
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4/ I was fortunate to meet the right mentors.
One taught me risk management. Another taught me stock selection. Others taught me story analysis and market timing.
I did not reinvent trading. I learned from experienced traders and adapted their lessons.
One taught me risk management. Another taught me stock selection. Others taught me story analysis and market timing.
I did not reinvent trading. I learned from experienced traders and adapted their lessons.
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5/ The first rule that protected my trading career was simple:
Every trade needs a stop loss.
I never blew up an account because I learned risk management early. Survival gave me enough time to make mistakes, study them, and improve.
Every trade needs a stop loss.
I never blew up an account because I learned risk management early. Survival gave me enough time to make mistakes, study them, and improve.
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6/ A stop loss alone is not enough.
I also had to control my position size and stop risking too much on individual ideas.
I would rather risk less and remain emotionally stable than lose control after one bad trade.
I also had to control my position size and stop risking too much on individual ideas.
I would rather risk less and remain emotionally stable than lose control after one bad trade.
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7/ My most expensive mistake was not one terrible stock.
It was trading good setups in bad market environments.
A breakout can look perfect and still fail in a weak market. The market decides how aggressively I trade.
It was trading good setups in bad market environments.
A breakout can look perfect and still fail in a weak market. The market decides how aggressively I trade.
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8/ Choppy markets tested me more than individual losses.
Bear markets and years such as 2015 made me question my abilities and whether trading deserved all the time I invested.
Nothing seemed to work—long or short.
Bear markets and years such as 2015 made me question my abilities and whether trading deserved all the time I invested.
Nothing seemed to work—long or short.
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9/ Difficult periods exposed one of my biggest weaknesses:
I judged myself by short-term results.
Thinking in a long series of trades helped me separate a difficult market from a broken system—and protect my confidence.
I judged myself by short-term results.
Thinking in a long series of trades helped me separate a difficult market from a broken system—and protect my confidence.
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10/ My trading journal became my best teacher.
I recorded every trade and studied:
• What did my winners share?
• Where did my losses come from?
• Which trades should I never have taken?
The answers changed my trading.
I recorded every trade and studied:
• What did my winners share?
• Where did my losses come from?
• Which trades should I never have taken?
The answers changed my trading.
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11/ One finding surprised me:
My biggest winners looked remarkably similar.
Many losers looked completely different. They often came from weak markets, mediocre stocks, or decisions outside my rules.
My biggest winners looked remarkably similar.
Many losers looked completely different. They often came from weak markets, mediocre stocks, or decisions outside my rules.
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12/ Better trading became a process of subtraction.
I stopped trading:
• Penny stocks
• Slow-moving stocks
• Most pullbacks
• Most gap-ups
• Stocks simply because they looked cheap
Every “no” made my system clearer.
I stopped trading:
• Penny stocks
• Slow-moving stocks
• Most pullbacks
• Most gap-ups
• Stocks simply because they looked cheap
Every “no” made my system clearer.
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13/ I gradually developed a 360° stock-selection process.
I study:
• Price action
• Fundamentals
• The story
• Growth expectations
I want the technical and fundamental picture to support the same conclusion.
I study:
• Price action
• Fundamentals
• The story
• Growth expectations
I want the technical and fundamental picture to support the same conclusion.
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14/ I focus on stocks that can move fast.
I prefer strong momentum, a higher ADR of 5%+, and sales growth of roughly 20–40% or more.
The strongest leaders can also produce EPS growth of 50%, 100%, or even higher.
I prefer strong momentum, a higher ADR of 5%+, and sales growth of roughly 20–40% or more.
The strongest leaders can also produce EPS growth of 50%, 100%, or even higher.
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15/ I eventually built my own market trend model from principles I had learned elsewhere.
Then I tested one question:
What would my results look like if I avoided bad market periods?
The improvement was dramatic.
Then I tested one question:
What would my results look like if I avoided bad market periods?
The improvement was dramatic.
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16/ My market analysis taught me something uncomfortable:
Many of my losses were avoidable.
The setup was not always the problem. My impatience was.
I wanted to trade while the market was clearly telling me to remain in cash.
Many of my losses were avoidable.
The setup was not always the problem. My impatience was.
I wanted to trade while the market was clearly telling me to remain in cash.
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17/ Patience took me the longest to learn—and I still manage it today.
Waiting for the right market, the right leader, and the right setup sounds easy.
It becomes much harder when other stocks are moving and you feel left behind.
Waiting for the right market, the right leader, and the right setup sounds easy.
It becomes much harder when other stocks are moving and you feel left behind.
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18/ There was no single breakthrough.
Consistency came slowly:
• Better records
• Smaller risk
• Stronger stock selection
• Fewer setups
• Better market timing
• More patience
Progress was the accumulation of many small corrections.
Consistency came slowly:
• Better records
• Smaller risk
• Stronger stock selection
• Fewer setups
• Better market timing
• More patience
Progress was the accumulation of many small corrections.
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19/ After roughly 7–10 years, I noticed that I was making money year after year.
One profitable year proves little.
Several profitable years across different markets gave me confidence that my process was actually working.
One profitable year proves little.
Several profitable years across different markets gave me confidence that my process was actually working.
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20/ Some trades permanently changed how I manage risk.
Overnight gap-downs of 30–40% taught me that a stop cannot protect me from every event.
That is why position sizing and avoiding unnecessary earnings risk matter.
Overnight gap-downs of 30–40% taught me that a stop cannot protect me from every event.
That is why position sizing and avoiding unnecessary earnings risk matter.
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21/ Shopify in 2017 taught me the other side of trading:
One major winner can make a tremendous difference.
Following the EMA 21 kept me in the trend much longer than my emotions would have.
Cut losses short. Give exceptional winners room.
One major winner can make a tremendous difference.
Following the EMA 21 kept me in the trend much longer than my emotions would have.
Cut losses short. Give exceptional winners room.
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22/ I began teaching traders almost ten years ago.
Since then, I have taught more than 2,000 traders through my courses, community, and personal coaching.
I keep seeing the same problems: no routine, no fixed system, and inconsistent execution.
Since then, I have taught more than 2,000 traders through my courses, community, and personal coaching.
I keep seeing the same problems: no routine, no fixed system, and inconsistent execution.
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23/ Most struggling traders do not need more information.
They need to apply one suitable system every day, review their decisions honestly, and develop the mindset required to follow it—even when trading becomes frustrating.
They need to apply one suitable system every day, review their decisions honestly, and develop the mindset required to follow it—even when trading becomes frustrating.
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If I could give my 20-year-old self only three rules:
1. Cut losers short.
2. Let profits run.
3. Trade only when you have an edge.
The rules are simple.
Following them consistently took me years.
Trading is a journey measured in years, not weeks.
Your approach will change. Your rules will improve. You will learn what fits your personality.
The goal is not to avoid every mistake.
It is to stop repeating the expensive ones.
1. Cut losers short.
2. Let profits run.
3. Trade only when you have an edge.
The rules are simple.
Following them consistently took me years.
Trading is a journey measured in years, not weeks.
Your approach will change. Your rules will improve. You will learn what fits your personality.
The goal is not to avoid every mistake.
It is to stop repeating the expensive ones.