You’ve heard the analogy before: A leopard can run up to 60 miles per hour, but it doesn’t sprint aimlessly across the savanna. It hides, it waits, and it targets the weakest prey—the one with the highest odds of success.
This isn’t about speed. It’s about odds.
Whether it’s a leopard stalking a gazelle or a cheetah targeting a young antelope, the principle is the same: Why waste energy chasing something that’s unlikely to result in success?
In trading, your energy is your capital. Every trade costs energy, both financial and emotional. So why take trades that are essentially just guesses? Trades with no edge?
Why the “Sure Thing” Matters in Trading
I’ve had this conversation countless times with traders who insist, “But I could make money today!” Sure, you could. You could also wander the city streets hoping to find a discarded winning lottery ticket. Technically, it’s possible—but is that a strategy?
The difference between “could” and “should” is everything.
•The highest-odds trades are your focus.
•Some days, the market feels like shooting fish in a barrel. On those days, trade confidently.
•On days when the market feels uncertain, chaotic, or unclear—do nothing.
Here’s the kicker: Too many traders focus on making a specific dollar amount every day, rather than averaging a specific dollar amount over time.
Consistency isn’t about forcing daily wins. It’s about stacking high-probability trades over weeks, months, and years.
The Silent Killer of Trading Accounts: Overtrading
This might be one of the most important lessons I can share with you.
Overtrading is a silent killer. It’s responsible for more blown accounts and broken spirits than almost any other bad habit.
Even experienced traders fall into this trap. I’ve had conversations with seasoned traders who still don’t fully grasp it.
There are two key aspects to understand here:
1.Always seek the highest-odds setups. Don’t compromise on your edge.
2.Learn to walk away when those setups aren’t there.
This second point is where most traders fail. They sit in front of their screens, convinced that if they step away, they’ll “miss something.”
Let me be clear:
•You are never missing out by skipping low-odds trades.
•What you’re really missing are a string of stop-outs that will drain your account and your confidence.
In trading, high-odds setups make you money. Searching, guessing, and forcing trades will bleed you dry over time.
The leopard doesn’t chase every gazelle—it chases the weakest gazelle.
The Allure of the “Tough Trades”
Let’s address something head-on: Many traders are drawn to the wild, volatile trades—biotech stocks, obscure crypto coins, penny stocks that spike and crash like roller coasters.
If you’re making money doing this, great. Keep doing what works.
But here’s a secret: “Boring” stocks pay just as well.
•Blue-chip stocks.
•Well-established indexes.
•Reliable ETFs.
You don’t have to trade chaos to make money. You just need high-probability setups and the discipline to wait for them.
Final Thoughts: Be the Leopard
•Know when to strike (high-odds trades).
•Know when to wait (low-odds conditions).
•Never feel pressured to “force” profits out of a dull market day.
Some days, trading feels effortless. Other days, the best trade is no trade at all.
Patience isn’t just a virtue in trading—it’s a survival skill.
Be the leopard. Trade smart. Trade strategically. And most importantly—know when to walk away.
