Only 10% of people make money in the stock market. Twenty percent break even. And a whopping 70% lose money. This is the famous “7-2-1 Rule.” With the volatility we’ve seen this November, it sometimes feels like the market was designed specifically to torment that 70%. And yet, people—myself included—jump in anyway.
So… how did I stumble into it? It wasn’t a buddy’s push, or some secret nemesis plotting to ruin my life. And the apps? They didn’t recommend me anything. No, my story is a mix of curiosity, accident, and a little bit of human instinct.
When I first opened a trading account, part of the reason was the classic advice I read about investing: “100 minus your age” (or some say 110) should be in stocks, to beat inflation. It made sense on paper—I wanted my money to grow faster than prices rising around me. And, admittedly, the initial few stock purchases were also all about promotions and rewards for new users.
But over time, I realized it wasn’t that simple. Beating inflation with stocks isn’t automatic—you have to pick the right stocks, and that’s far harder than any rule-of-thumb number. You can’t just put money into random tickers and expect growth; it requires research, judgment, and a little luck. That’s where my instinct and whatever data I could gather came in—earnings reports, past financial performance, historical prices—all helping me make decisions I could stand behind. Analysts’ opinions or hot tips? Minimal influence.
Even so, I wouldn’t say my account is actually beating inflation. If anything, it’s probably far from it. The lesson? Picking the right stocks consistently is tough, and gains aren’t guaranteed just because you “have money in the market.”
There was also the classic “accidental advent” moment: I meant to sell my HomeStreet shares, but somehow clicked buy instead. Panic set in, like suddenly hopping onto a rollercoaster mid-drop. But plot twist—I ended up selling all those shares later at a higher price. Victory… by accident.
Trading itself feels like a rollercoaster, a soap opera, and a puzzle all at once. One day, a stock can spike like it’s climbing Everest; the next, it can drop faster than a skydiver without a parachute. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected: the adrenaline rush of a surprise gain, the stomach-drop panic of a sudden unrealized loss, and—most importantly—the lessons from unrealized losses, which I don’t like to lock in but still teach me fast what can go wrong.
So, where does that leave me in this whirlwind of markets and volatility? Somewhere between the Unrealized-Loss Learner (I learn from losses I don’t actually sell) and the Enlightened Type (finally understanding why only 10% make money). I trust my instincts, research carefully, and respect the market’s mood swings—it can go from calm to chaotic in a heartbeat.
And honestly? That’s what makes it exciting. The stock market isn’t just numbers—it’s drama, instinct, research, luck, and occasionally, accidental brilliance. Somehow, I’m hooked.
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