When I (Andrew Rul) began trading, profits were my obsession. Every trade felt like a life-or-death moment, and my emotions swung wildly between the highs of wins and the crushing lows of losses. I rode that rollercoaster every day, exhausting myself mentally and emotionally. The irony? Despite my constant focus on making money, I wasn’t improving as a trader.

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It took a painful journey—and a critical mindset shift—for me to realize that blindly chasing profits wasn’t the answer. What transformed my trading wasn’t some secret strategy or market hack. It was the decision to focus on the process rather than the outcome.

Here’s how that change redefined everything for me.

Trading for Results

Like most beginners, I measured success by my account balance. If I made money, I felt invincible. If I lost, I’d spiral into doubt and frustration. My emotions dictated my trades.

I’d hold onto losers, hoping the market would “come back” and rescue me. Worse, I’d abandon strategies after a single bad trade, convinced I needed something “better.” Wins felt like pure luck, and losses felt like personal failures.

This cycle was exhausting, and it clouded my judgment. I was stuck in a loop of poor decision-making, with no real plan to guide me.

The Turning Point

My wake-up call came during a late-night reading session about trading psychology—a topic I’d previously brushed off. One idea stood out:

“You can’t control the market, but you can control your process.”

At first, it sounded like another motivational quote. But as I thought about it, something clicked. Wins and losses are just noise in the short term. What truly matters is the quality of your decisions. Success isn’t about winning every trade; it’s about making consistent, disciplined decisions over time.

That realization became my turning point.

How Focusing on Process Changed My Trading

1. Detaching From Outcomes

I started by separating my emotions from my results. Wins no longer inflated my ego, and losses no longer crushed my confidence. Instead, I treated trades as data points—opportunities to learn.

After each trade, I’d ask myself:

• Did I follow my plan?
• Did I stick to my rules?
• Was this a good decision based on the information I had at the time?

This shift freed me from the emotional rollercoaster. My focus was no longer on whether I made or lost money but on whether I made the right decisions.

2. Improving My Process

When I focused on the process, I realized my approach was full of gaps. I tightened my strategy, set clear entry and exit rules, and prioritized risk management.

For instance, I committed to predefining stop-loss and take-profit levels before entering any trade. No more moving stops out of fear or changing targets out of greed. This one rule alone drastically reduced impulsive mistakes.

3. Tracking Progress Differently

Instead of obsessing over profits, I began journaling every trade. But this wasn’t just a record of wins and losses—it was a tool to evaluate my process.

After each trading session, I’d reflect:

• Did I stick to my strategy?
• Did I manage risk effectively?
• Were my emotions in check?

This habit helped me identify weaknesses and build better habits. It also reinforced the idea that my success was tied to consistent execution, not short-term results.

4. Backtesting Strategies

Another game-changer was backtesting. Before, I’d dive into live trading without fully understanding whether my strategies worked. But when I started testing them on historical data, everything changed.

Backtesting gave me proof that my strategies were sound. It also revealed how they performed under different market conditions, which boosted my confidence. Knowing that my plan worked over time helped me stay disciplined, even during losing streaks.

The Benefits of Process-Driven Trading

Less Stress

Trading became less stressful because I wasn’t constantly worrying about profits. My focus was on executing my plan, and that gave me a sense of control, even during challenging times.

Better Decisions

When profits weren’t the goal, my decisions became smarter. I stopped making impulsive moves and started trading with clarity and purpose.

Long-Term Success

Short-term wins and losses stopped mattering as much. By focusing on the process, I built a foundation for sustainable, long-term success.

Final Thoughts

The market is unpredictable. Wins and losses will come and go. But if you focus on the process—on building good habits, refining your strategy, and making disciplined decisions—you’ll find consistency over time.

For me, this shift in mindset was life-changing. I stopped chasing profits and started concentrating on the decisions that truly mattered. Profits followed naturally, but the real reward was the confidence and control I gained along the way.

If you’re struggling with emotional trading or constant losses, consider this: Success isn’t about the money—it’s about the process. Learn the skills, refine your approach, and trust that the results will come.

Trading is a journey. Focus on the steps, and you’ll find your way.