Discipline is not an extra point in trading; it is the passing line.

I have seen too many incredible stories—the thrill of doubling overnight, the despair of wiping out in three days. In the futures trading arena, there is no shortage of people making money; what’s scarce is those who can survive longer. This market is never short of geniuses, but geniuses also die the fastest. I’ve examined many people's accounts, and those who ultimately survive are not relying on talent but on a set of rules they can execute.

After experiencing three cycles of bull and bear markets, I found that what truly works is not some advanced technical indicator, but six words: Light, Loss, Momentum, Add, Retreat, Roll. It sounds simple, but there is a life-and-death line between knowing and being able to do.

**Level One: Start with a Small Position**

My first trade always involves no more than 10% of my capital. This is not conservatism; it’s buying into mistakes.

People who keep their positions small have a privilege—their mindset won’t be hostage to every single K-line. New traders often fall into the trap of: bullish on a direction, heavily leveraged, then the market moves against them, and their account is gone. When they die, they often don’t even have time to react.

What are they buying with a small position? Not opportunities to make money, but the cost of mistakes. Small positions mean higher tolerance for errors, a stable psychological defense line, and the ability to survive until the next market move. This is more valuable than any precise prediction.

The market loves to torment those who feel “settled.” The more certain you are, the harsher the reversal.

**Level Two: Strictly Control Losses**

When a single loss reaches 3%, I must exit. This is not a multiple-choice question; it’s a judgment call—either execute or be eliminated.

The key to stop-loss isn’t writing pretty words in a plan, but setting a hard stop in the order. When the price hits, cut it—leave no room for discussion, no chance for luck, no reason to “hold on a bit longer.”

I’ve seen too many accounts die for the same reason: small losses don’t stop, and stubbornly hold on until they turn into huge losses. They think temporary losses are just a correction, then the market continues in the opposite direction, turning 3% loss into 30%, and 30% into losing all their capital.

Treat stop-loss as an insurance premium. If you’re willing to pay the price for survival, you qualify to participate long-term in this market. Capital is always a hundred times more important than profit.

**Subsequent: Momentum (势), Add (加), Retreat (退), Roll (滚)**

Trend judgment (势) requires patience—wait until the direction is clear before adding to your position. Don’t force trades in chaos.

Adding to a position (加) should be done rhythmically—not all at once, but in stages, using profits to pursue further gains.

Exiting timely (退) tests your greed—taking profits when the time is right is not shameful; greed is.

Finally, rolling (滚) means when you’re making money, dare to truly lock in profits, rather than dreaming on paper.

**Survive, and there will be a next opportunity**

These six words are not based on profound theories but are survival rules summarized from repeated lessons in the market. Those who follow these disciplines may not become top traders, but they usually can survive longer in this market. And surviving longer naturally means seeing opportunities others cannot.

So if you’re still excited about how much you can make from a single trade, ask yourself first: Can I survive until next year?