Since I 🤬 up my first trading challenge, I’ve really slowed things down and become much more careful about which trades I take. I originally planned to trade using the 6-hour timeframe because it fit with my schedule and gave me enough time to analyze and watch the markets. But after some trial and error, I’ve found that the 5-hour timeframe actually works better for me. I still check the 1-, 4-, and 6-hour charts to confirm what I’m seeing, but the 5-hour seems to give me clearer signals.

I’m still getting the hang of the Tradovate platform, and I’ve already learned a tough lesson: I set a $500 daily take profit limit, thinking it would help me manage risk. But looking back, that limit actually stopped me from making a couple thousand dollars on some good trades. If I hadn’t capped myself, I probably could have hit the $3K profit target needed to pass the challenge. It seemed like a smart move at first, and I’ll definitely use it once I have a funded account, but for now, I realize I need to give myself more room to grow, especially since I’m being so picky about which trades I take.

At the end of the day, it’s all part of the learning process. I’m grateful for the analysis tools I use, they help me spot and anticipate price swings in ways that candlesticks alone just can’t. Still, I know that no tool can guarantee success, especially in unpredictable markets. I’m just trying to take it all in stride. You live, you learn, and you keep moving forward.