First, let me clarify: I am not some legendary trading guru. Compared to true market experts who truly understand the market inside out, my achievements are barely enough to fill a gap. I am just an ordinary trader who has blown through positions, stepped on traps, and learned to survive by losing money.

Last year, a friend of mine approached me. He was holding $2700, with a look of dissatisfaction—wanting to fill the holes from previous losses. I didn’t bother with those mystical K-line patterns or technical indicators. Instead, I shared with him three strict rules I developed through real money trading.

He faithfully followed them for 90 days. His account grew from $2700 to $50,000, and he never experienced a margin call during that time. These three survival rules can save you multiple times, depending on whether you treat the market as a friend or as an ATM.

**Rule 1: Keep your funds separate and manage them independently**

Divide your capital into three parts, each $900, and set fixed purposes for each—don’t move them around:

- **First part: Short-term trading**: Max two trades per day. Whether you make money or lose, close the app immediately after. Don’t stare at the charts obsessively—they’re more addictive than slot machines.

- **Second part: Wait for the big trend**: If the weekly chart doesn’t show a clear bullish structure or if there’s no volume breakout past key resistance levels, stay put. Being out of the market is also a form of operation.

- **Third part: Emergency fund**: Only use this if the market suddenly plunges or your position is close to liquidation. Its purpose is solely to give you a lifeline—don’t let your principal go to zero.

**Rule 2: Focus on the middle of the fish, let others fight over the head and tail**

Your entry signals must meet all three criteria—missing one means don’t enter:

1. **The daily moving averages must be in a bullish order**. Going against the trend? That’s suicide, not bravery.

2. **Breakout with volume past the previous high, and the daily close above the new high**. At this point, try small positions for testing; don’t go all-in.

3. **When profits reach 30% of your principal**, take half off the table and lock it in. Leave the rest to run with a trailing stop of 10%. Don’t stare at that last bit of profit drooling.

**Rule 3: Control yourself, don’t let emotions drive**

Before each trade, write down your plan—no changing rules on the fly:

- **Set a stop-loss at 3%**. If triggered, close the position automatically. Don’t think, “Hold on a bit longer, maybe it’ll bounce back”—that mindset kills more than the market itself.

- **When you gain 10%**, move your stop-loss to your cost price. Protect your principal first; then aim for maximum profit.

- **Close your computer at midnight every day**. Can’t sleep? Uninstall your trading app. Trades made at 3 a.m. are 80% emotional, not rational.

Markets are always there, but if your principal is gone, it’s truly gone. The market won’t give you a chance to recover just because you’re eager; it only shows opportunities if you survive long enough.

Embed these three strict rules into your bones. Master the art of “staying alive” first, then it’s not too late to study those flashy theories. Today, pay special attention to the trends of $ZEC and $SOL.