That call at 5 a.m. that night still lingers in my memory—on the other end, there was despair in their voice: "I lost my principal, I really lost it. It only dropped a little, how did it go to zero?"

Looking at the screenshot, I understood instantly. Full position with 20x leverage, no stop-loss set. This isn’t market liquidation; it’s picking up the sickle yourself.

Having been in this market for many years, I’ve seen too many stories like this. It’s not that some people are smarter than others, but that those who survive follow the same logic. Full position itself isn’t deadly; what’s truly deadly is treating all your assets as a gamble.

**First Survival Rule: Limit single trade risk to within 15% of total funds**

For an account with 20,000 in capital, invest no more than 3,000 per trade. Why? Because even if you’re wrong, it’s just a scratch, and the account can still operate. Traders who go all-in and leverage heavily will eventually become cannon fodder in volatile markets. Small, continuous trial and error can help you survive long enough to wait for real opportunities.

**Second Survival Rule: Limit single loss to 2%**

With a 3,000 position, set a 1% stop-loss. That is, close the position if you lose 400. It sounds painful, but the math is clear—five consecutive mistakes still leave 90% of your principal intact. This isn’t pessimism; it’s giving yourself the right to survive. Every time you exit alive, you’re paving the way for the next opportunity.

**Third Survival Rule: Stay put during consolidation, don’t add to positions after profits**

During sideways trading, it’s easiest to get itchy and chase those illusory fluctuations. True trading opportunities appear at breakout moments; other times are just background. The biggest psychological test after making a profit is—many want to double their gains after 20%, but end up losing everything. Lock in your profits; that’s your real asset.

A friend named Ah Jun used to be a frequent margin caller, repeating the same tragedy month after month. Later, after adopting this methodology, his initial 3,000 grew to 5,800 in three months, with a maximum drawdown of only 1.8%. It’s not about doubling quickly, but about steady growth that brings peace of mind.

This market isn’t about who runs the fastest; it’s about who can survive the longest. Many don’t lose because of trading speed, but because they stumble blindly in the dark, without direction.

If you can’t sleep tonight, the best thing to do is turn off the candlestick chart and go to bed. When you wake up tomorrow and your account is still there, you’ve already won most of the circle. Opportunities in the market are always there, but only if you’re alive to see them.