I'm about to share one of the biggest mistakes I see traders make all the time. And I'm not judging anyone here – I was guilty of it myself.

In fact, this mistake cost me over $47,000 and nearly cost me my marriage.

Here's the Problem: We Treat Trading Like an Entry-Level Job

Think about it – traders are generally above-average people. This isn't where the “average Joe” shows up. The trading world consists of smart, educated, successful people.

But here's what's funny (and costly):

Trading is one of the most competitive businesses on the planet. You're fighting for money against:

• Banks and institutional traders
• Firms with massive resources
• Organizations with access to top talent
• Advanced computer programs and algorithms

Yet so many of us (myself included) stepped into trading like it was an entry-level job at AutoZone.

“Sure, I can figure this out. Just show me how to operate the platform and I'll start making money.”

I Learned This Lesson the Expensive Way

I jumped in thinking I could figure it out as I went. After all, I'm smarter than average, right?

Needless to say, I got my butt handed to me. Hard.

It cost me $47,000 and put serious strain on my marriage. The wake-up call was brutal but necessary.

This Is NOT an Entry-Level Job

Trading is a business. A profession. A skill-based occupation that demands you show up as an A-player.

If you want to get paid like a professional, you have to:

• Act like a professional
• Become a professional
• Acquire professional-level skills

The barrier to entry used to be having enough money to fund an account. Now, with prop firms, you don't even need that – just a small amount to get started.

But here's the thing: The prop firms are actually asking for exactly what you should demand from yourself.

What Prop Firms Really Want (And What You Should Too)

They're saying: “Show us you know what you're doing. Prove you have the skill to make money as a trader, and you can trade our money.”

That's not unreasonable – that's professional standards.

The Skills Gap That's Costing You Money

Before you place your first trade, you need to answer critical questions:

• What am I going to trade?
• What markets will I focus on?
• What strategy will I use?
• What are my specific goals?
• How will I measure my performance?
• How do I test my strategy and build confidence?
• How do I develop consistent processes?

These aren't “nice to have” skills – they're essential professional competencies.

Are You Making Minimum Wage as a “Trader”?

Here's a sobering question: If you've been trading for more than six months and you're not making at least $15-20 an hour, wouldn't you be better off at Starbucks?

I know traders who've been at this for years and still aren't making minimum wage when you calculate their hourly rate.

That's not why you got into trading.

What Traders Actually Make

Professional traders make $50, $100, even $500+ per hour. That's the reality when you treat this like the profession it is.

And when you scale up your skills, your pay rate scales up too.

The Choice Is Yours

You can keep treating this like an entry-level job – watching YouTube videos, buying $5,000 systems, trying to “cheat your way” to profits without developing real skills.

Or you can invest in yourself, level up, and start making the kind of money that makes trading fun and profitable.

Time for Brutal Honesty

Ask yourself: Have I been trying to BS my way into making money without actually developing the skillset this occupation requires?

If the answer is yes (and hey, no judgment – we've all been there), then it's time to make a change.

You're here to make money. Real money. You want to be paid well for your time, and you want your money to make money.

Treat This Like the Profession It Is

When you insist on professional standards for yourself, you get paid like a professional.

Then trading becomes what you signed up for – fun AND profitable.

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To your trading success,

Brian McAboy
Inside Out Trading

P.S. Don't keep settling for less than you should be making with your trading. Whether you need help with skills, strategy, or psychology, let's hop on a call and explore what's holding you back. Book a call with me at InsideOutTrading.com – even if I'm not the right fit, I can point you toward high-integrity colleagues who can help you move the needle and start making real money.