"Stay calm and focused, and you will succeed"

In trading, maintaining calm and focussed is crucial for success. While unexpected situations are inevitable, successful traders understand that relying on a strategy and meticulous planning yields long-term results. It’s not just about reacting to the market, but about anticipating it with a clear mind. How do our new FTMO Traders keep their composure and concentration in the fast-paced world of trading, and what advice do they have for others striving to succeed?

Trader Damrongdej: “Money management is the key.”

What was more difficult than expected during your FTMO Challenge or Verification?

During phase 2 for myself once I thought my strategy might not work because I got lost and B/E all the time. But I still keep my strategy like it should be that is 2:1 RRR or more than that and add positions if it is possible to scale up.

What was easier than expected during the FTMO Challenge or Verification?

So, I like to trade gold, and, in this period, gold is making an aggressive trend up and down so quickly. For me, who follows the trend, it’s good to hold the position.

 

How did you manage your emotions when you were in a losing trade?

If I’m losing the trade everyone knows it’s hard to handle it, so I am going to backtest my strategy or analyze my position what I did wrong. But if I see everything, I follow my trading rules and I’m good to go.

What do you think is the key for long term success in trading?

Money management is the key.

How does your risk management plan look like?

So, normally I will risk one percent of the account. If the position that I took is looking good for me, I will add more to scale up. If it’s not I will set it to break even. But if I lose the trade, I will use less than normal to 0.5% but I aim for more RRR set up like 3:1 or 4:1.

 

 

What would you like to say to other traders that are attempting the FTMO Challenge?

So, for me every strategy might work for someone but might not work for others. I have been in the trade since I was 17 now, I just got profit like only last two years so take your time.

Trader Ronaldo: “Try to make small consistent gains and you will beat 95% of the traders.”

What do you think is the key for long term success in trading?

Discipline, focus, consistency. These are 3 of the key factors for long-term success in trading in my opinion.

Where have you learnt about FTMO?

YouTube watching interviews with other traders.

Do you plan on taking another FTMO Challenge to manage even bigger capital?

Yes, I plan to take another FTMO Challenge.

 

Has your psychology ever affected your trading plan?

Yes, it has. It took me years to understand a simple truth that nobody knows if the market is going to go up or down the only thing a trader knows is if a sequence of events happens, the probability of one thing to happen over the other is greater and that’s where our edge lies. I say this to myself every day. And in my trading plan is written how much risk exposure I can go in on any given day. Because that is the only thing I can actually control.

Do you have a trading plan in place, and do you follow it strictly?

Yes, I have a trading plan. I do follow it strictly. It’s pretty simple, I have created a few trade models which I follow. If I don’t see them, I don’t trade.

 

One piece of advice for people starting the FTMO Challenge now.

Take your time! We all want to get funded. You have to know the probability of passing both phases and getting a payout is crazy low. So, you have to ask yourself, do you have what it takes to be in that small percentage of traders who make it?! So don’t try to pass in 1 week, 1 month, even 3 months. Try to make small consistent gains and you will beat 95% of the traders.

Trader Allessandro: "Look for the big picture. Stay calm and focussed, and you will succeed."

What is the number one advice you would give to a new trader?

The advice I would give is to study a lot, through perseverance and great commitment you can achieve many results.

Has your psychology ever affected your trading plan?

Yes sometimes.

What was the most difficult during your FTMO Challenge or Verification and how did you overcome it?

The biggest difficulty I've had was caused by the influence of the war on the markets due to the great volatility, not respecting the zones and setups, so I had to adapt and that's what I still do.

What was more difficult than expected during your FTMO Challenge or Verification?

No difficulty because I was aware of the commitment and perseverance needed to trade this type of challenge.

Describe your best trade.

My best trade was the buy from 2355 to 2455 that is a thousand pips.