Are You Playing to Win? Or Not Lose?

Approach trading with the same energy you brought to your best career years.
You’re not playing “not to lose”—you’re playing to learn, grow, and win with wisdom.

A typical mistake retail traders make later in life is shifting from a “play to win” mindset to a “play not to lose” mindset.

It’s understandable. Capital matters more. Time feels more precious. Losses sting differently. But here’s what countless studies both in and out of the trading world reveal:

Playing not to lose slowly drains performance, confidence, and edge.

The most successful traders approach the market with engaged intensity, not fear-based caution.

Why “Playing Not to Lose” Backfires

Behavioral finance research shows that loss aversion causes people to reduce risk too much after setbacks, leading to missed opportunities and inferior long-term results.

In trading, this shows up as:

• Passing on valid setups
• Cutting winners too early
• Hesitating on execution
• Focusing more on avoiding pain than following process

Ironically, trying to avoid losses often creates more of them, just smaller, more frequent ones.

What Professionals Mean by “Playing to Win”

Playing to win does not mean recklessness. It does not mean oversizing or gambling.

Professionals define it differently:

• Showing up prepared every day
• Executing when conditions align
• Accepting losses as part of growth
• Staying engaged, curious, and adaptive
• Treating trading as a performance skill, not a survival exercise

Mark Douglas, in his book Trading in the Zone, emphasized that successful traders think in probabilities, not outcomes. They accept uncertainty without emotional retreat. That is classic "play-to-win advice!"

Reclaim the Energy of Your Best Career Years

Think back to when you were at your professional peak regardless of your trade or profession. You didn’t avoid decisions or wait for perfect certainty. You prepared, acted, reviewed, and improved. Top traders bring that same mindset to the markets.

Research in performance psychology shows that approach-oriented goals (aimed at growth and mastery) outperform avoidance-oriented goals (aimed at preventing mistakes). Think about how that applies to YOUR trading behavior!

How to Play to Win

• Trade smaller, not safer. Size controls risk—engagement controls growth.
• Review to improve, not to judge. Professionals review trades to extract lessons, not to self-criticize.
• Define success as execution quality. Winning follows process.
• Stay mentally competitive. Curiosity keeps the edge sharp.

You didn’t come to trading to hide. You came to stay sharp, engaged, and in control. Play to learn, grow, and win—with wisdom earned. That’s how professionals can trade for decades.

To your trading success!

Mike Siewruk

PS: Was this advice helpful? Feel free to pass this link for a FREE membership to Trade Aptitude along to your trading buddies: thedailymarketforecast.com/signup