Lesson Learned: Not respecting my own downside
Biggest mistake that cost me wasn't FOMO or chasing, but rather thinking I knew better than my own analysis once I was in a position. I had a clear thesis on a $GOOGL short last year, including a hard stop-loss based on key resistance, but when price neared that level, I convinced myself it was just noise and moved my stop a few points higher. That 'few points' turned into a significant swing through my revised stop and then some, wiping out a good chunk of profit from previous trades. It reinforced the iron rule: set your risk, then stick to it.
It's tough when conviction battles discipline, especially when your initial analysis was sound. That internal negotiation to move a stop is a classic trap; it often feels like just a small adjustment until it isn't.