This image is the very definition of a trader's journey. We all think that learning the technique is the hardest part, but the real final boss awaits you at the end of the level.
At first, we think we understand everything with a few indicators. We feel capable of conquering the market. Then we discover Price Action, risk management, and we tell ourselves that we are finally reaching our goal. We think we are 99% of the way there.
This is where reality catches up with us. Once the technique is mastered, we realize that the biggest obstacle is ourselves. The psychology of trading and building a solid system are mountains much higher than anything we have climbed before. We literally start from scratch on the emotional front.
Trading is not just about knowing how to read a chart; it's about knowing how to read yourself. As long as you have not tamed your impatience and fear, your technical knowledge will only serve to help you lose money more intelligently.
At what level of the slope do you find yourself today? Are you still pushing the ball of technique, or have you started climbing the cliff of psychology?