Trading is simple in concept — but definitely not easy in practice. At first glance, all a trader does is click “buy” or “sell” and either makes a profit or takes a loss. But behind every click, there’s a whole lot of decision-making, emotion, and discipline that separates amateurs from professionals.
Back in the day, traders shouted orders in the stock market pits. Imagine a trader yelling to buy a huge quantity of a stock — everyone around would hear it. That kind of noise created waves. Other traders might assume something big was about to happen and follow along, amplifying the move. That was raw order flow, right there in front of your eyes.
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How does a stock move up or down?
Now that everything’s digital, spotting those “big players” — the ones buying or selling in massive size — isn’t so obvious. If you’re serious about becoming a trader, you’ll need to learn how to read the order flow. This helps you see when the large players are stepping in, so you can align your trades with them instead of against them. Mastering that puts you in the top 1% — the group that consistently takes money out of the markets instead of feeding it.
Every single day, around $500 billion moves through the equity markets. When you include bonds, derivatives, and money markets, that number easily crosses $2 trillion. This is one of the few arenas in the world where anyone — regardless of background — can create unlimited financial potential. I’ve seen people go from broke to earning more than all their friends combined.
You don’t have to trade every stock or instrument under the sun. Focus on a few, get to know their rhythm, and you’ll start recognizing patterns in how they move. That familiarity gives you an edge over time.
Personally, I trade futures because they’re leveraged, liquid, and perfect for day trading. You can make meaningful returns with relatively small capital when you understand how to manage risk properly.