A friend came to me in a panic last night: “My market judgment was clearly correct, so why did I get liquidated anyway?”

I replied with just two words: messing around.

In this space, nine out of ten liquidations aren’t because people can’t read the trend. When the price rises a few points, they rush to cash out, afraid the money will slip away. When the price drops, they get itchy and average down, only to dig a bigger hole. When the market rebounds, they can’t resist going all-in, burying themselves completely. Play like this, and it’s a miracle if you don’t blow up.

Those who survive all understand one thing—your principal is your lifeline, and profits are your ammunition.

My own method is simple, a three-step approach:

**Step one: Probe with a small position.** If you have 10,000 USDT, put in just 5% to test the waters, and set a strict stop-loss. Didn’t see a clear signal? Then keep your wallet closed and don’t make a move.

**Step two: Add to your position with profits.** If your floating profit reaches 50%, use half the profit to scale up. If the breakout continues, follow the trend; if you lose, you’re only giving back part of your profit, and your principal is still intact.

**Step three: Scale up only when the trend is confirmed.** When your floating profit exceeds your principal, lock in your base position to protect it, then set a few small, “ghost” orders to catch the final acceleration.

Simply put, this approach isn’t about guessing direction, but about discipline and patience. The market rewards those who follow the rules, not reckless gamblers who bet their lives every day.

Want to last longer in this market? First, learn how not to die.