The most consistent traders in the history were those who were able to hide their ponzi schemes longer than others (Bernie Madoff) or those who call themselves traders while in reality they got lucky with one huge leverage bet that otherwise would have them probably committed suicide. I know people who actually tried to convince how reliable trading could be if you only put in the effort and time. But then I remember there were various scenarios where they got all their trades wrong (like go to zero) because political outcomes like the BREXIT or elections in some countries were unpredictable.

Now I see the first people coming at my post saying that they would only trade cautiously and avoid big and unpredictable events as good as possible. But then I wonder if not for leverage or high volatility, how does it all fit together, making reliable and consistent income from a non-volatile market without events of significant impact and small "bets"?

It's usually the huge gamble they took, get it right like a coin toss (or worse than that in terms of chances) and then call themselves traders. What I know is that I think everyone who ever told me they are considering quitting their jobs because trading is so amazing with five screens and reading the news and being at home, do not trade anymore and still have their jobs. This is anecdotal evidence for me.

I also believe that too many people interpret these huge billionaires in the wrong way who post on Twitter that they made this or that genius short. Yes, sometimes that happens, but it doesn't matter for them. When Gates loses $3 billion from shorting Tesla, he doesn't even have bad sleep. If he gets it right, people think he is a mastermind and then they want to emulate people like him.

These apps that allow you to trade with one fingertip at any time anywhere are poison in my opinion. That's not how young people should get to learn about markets. To them it's like playing Tetris for my generation, but without money involved obviously.