Those Who Dare to Stand Outside the Market Are the True Experts

After years of navigating the crypto market, I am increasingly convinced of one thing: the peak of trading is not about how good your technical analysis is, but about how long you can survive.
And to survive longer, the most important skill is not “placing orders,” but knowing how to wait.
Looking back at the recent market days: US (Nonfarm) employment data exceeded expectations, volatility surged, and crowd psychology fluctuated constantly. But those who truly make money are not the ones rushing to buy and sell in panic, but those who have prepared capital and patiently wait for the right moment like hunters stalking prey.
Trading Time Allocation: 70% Waiting – 20% Executing – 10% Technical
A healthy trading process should be allocated as follows:
70% Time is Waiting
Waiting is not idling. It is a process of calm observation:
Market psychology
Large capital flows
Overall trend
Most of the year, the market is not worth trading. True opportunities only appear a few times, sometimes just a few days. Those who don’t know how to wait will always be “out of ammo” when the opportunity comes.
20% Time is Decisive Action
When signals appear, act decisively:
Enter orders without hesitation
Take profits without greed
Cut losses without regret
Discipline at this stage determines whether you are a trader or a gambler.
10% is Technical Analysis
Indicators, patterns, candles… are just supporting tools, like a hunter’s map.
A map doesn’t walk for you, nor does it guarantee you won’t get lost.
I used to be a “hardworking trader”: sitting in front of the chart 12 hours a day, exhausted yet still losing money. Only later did I understand: the market is not short of opportunities, only short of people patient enough to wait for the right one.
Hunters and Gamblers: Two Paths, Two Outcomes
In the forest, there are two types of hunters:
One sets traps at water sources, waiting for prey to appear naturally
One runs around with a gun, shooting wildly until out of bullets
The same applies in crypto.
Discipline Hunter
Set traps, don’t chase: wait for the price to correct to a key zone or break clearly before participating
Manage ammunition: risk only up to 2% of your account per order
Know when to stop: cut losses quickly, take profits coldly
Emotional Gambler
A slight increase makes you think you’re a genius
A slight decrease causes panic
Constant trading, with transaction fees eating into your account before profits appear
The truth is: a high win rate is just an illusion for beginners. What helps traders survive long-term is the profit/risk ratio.
Like the philosophy of hunters:
3 bullets for 1 prey – if each bullet costs 1 dollar, the prey must be worth more than 3 dollars.
In trading, 10 winning trades out of 3–4 still results in profit if you manage risk properly.
How Do I Apply the “Waiting Philosophy”?
I divide the trading cycle into 3 clear stages:

1. Waiting Stage
   No market, no emotion
   Only small accumulations of BTC, ETH
   Most capital remains in standby mode
2. Opportunity Stage
   Increase positions only when there are confirmed signals, for example:
   Price breaks important zones
   There is real fundamental news impact
   Market psychology reaches extremes of (fear or euphoria)
3. Harvesting Stage
   10% profit: take partial profits to preserve capital
   The rest uses trailing stop to let profits run
   This is not a “divine” strategy, but it has helped me survive through many cycles.
   How Do Ordinary People Train Their Patience?
4. Write a Clear Trading Plan
   Before entering a trade, you must know:
   When to buy
   How much to buy
   Under what conditions to sell
   Writing it down is even more effective than just telling yourself in your head.
5. Only Use Idle Funds – No Leverage
   No borrowing, no leverage.
   This is the life-and-death boundary for most traders.
6. Create a “No-Trade List”
   Avoid low-liquidity coins
   No opening new orders on weekends
   No trying to catch the bottom or sell at the top
7. Always Review
   I still habitually review my trading history weekly, noting mistakes clearly.
   Not to blame myself, but to avoid repeating the same mistakes again.
   The Highest Realm of Waiting: From Trader to Monk
   Ultimately, investing is a process of cultivating inner peace.
   When you can:
   Calmly ignore opportunities
   Patiently hold profits
   Decisively cut losses
   You are no longer prey to the market, but a true hunter of money.
   Money always flows to those who deserve it. Discipline, systems, and patience are the longest-term tickets.
   Next time you want to place an order, ask yourself:
   “Am I waiting for an opportunity, or am I being driven by emotions?”
   In a market that lasts forever, surviving long is always more important than making quick money.