If I Started Trading Today, This Is What I Would Do

If I had to start trading all over again this year, I’d do things differently.

I’ve been studying since January 2024, but it took me a year and a half to trade with real money. Once I did, I doubled a diversified portfolio of over 20 stocks in just 6 months. That’s exciting, but I know now I could’ve gotten there much faster.

This article is for beginners feeling overwhelmed by trading. I’m sharing the roadmap I wish I’d had—a clear, efficient path to get you trading smarter and succeeding faster. We’ll cover the two main ways to learn trading, why one is better for most people, a 6-month blueprint to follow, and how you can start today.

A quick note: trading involves risk, and past results don’t guarantee future ones. Always do your research.

My Trading Journey: Learning the Hard Way

When I began, I thought trading meant day trading. That’s why I originally called my community and podcast “Day Trading for Beginners.” But day trading didn’t fit my life. With two young kids and a busy schedule, I couldn’t be glued to screens when the market opened at 9:30 AM.

After exploring countless strategies, I found a low-stress momentum strategy that works perfectly for me. It delivers steady gains and fits my lifestyle, letting me trade without constant stress. My portfolio’s thriving, but it took me too long to get here because I wandered down the wrong path. If I started over today, I’d take the express route—and you can, too.

Here’s something I think is important to consider: Your schedule shapes your strategy.

If you have a 9-to-5 job, family, or other commitments, day trading can be overwhelming. Swing trading takes less time, but position trading—like my momentum approach—is often ideal for beginners. It’s low-maintenance, beginner-friendly, and effective. The key? Match your trading strategy to your life.

If you’re interested in a free video course about this topic, head over to our free Skool group here: https://skool.com/trading

You can find the exact strategy that I’ve used to double my portfolio in 6 months.

Two Paths to Learning Trading: Explorer vs. Direct

When you start trading, you face a fork in the road: the Explorer Approach or the Direct Approach. I took the Explorer path, and while it taught me a lot, it’s not the way to go for most people. Let’s break them down.

The Explorer Approach: Broad but Overwhelming

The Explorer Approach is like wandering through a forest without a map. You study a bit of everything: stocks, forex, futures, options. Then you start studying strategies—scalping, day trading, swing trading. You build a deep foundation in technical analysis, learning trends, support and resistance, and countless indicators. It’s versatile, but it’s quite a grueling journey.

This path is time-consuming and overwhelming. You’ll spend months or even years testing strategies, paper trading, journaling, and tweaking setups. By the time you find what works, you’ve learned a ton of stuff you’ll never use. That’s what I did—exploring every market and strategy because I wasn’t sure where to focus. It delayed my progress.

The Direct Approach: Fast-Track to Results

The Direct Approach is like hopping on a highway to your destination—smooth and fast. Here’s how it works:

1. Evaluate Strategies for Your Lifestyle: Assess your time and personality. Skip strategies like day trading if you can’t watch the market live every day. Momentum trading, for example, is low-stress and fits most schedules.
2. Learn Just Enough: Focus on strategy-specific tools and skip the rest for now.
3. Paper Trade Early: Jump into simulated trading to build confidence and manage emotions without risking money.
4. Gain Experience Over Time: Learn the markets as you go, but start narrow and go live sooner.

With this approach, you can start trading in weeks, not years. In our community, I’ve seen people go from zero to confident trading in just weeks using this method. It’s less overwhelming and gets you results faster.

So, which path suits you? Consider your lifestyle—job, family, time constraints—and how you learn. Do you want broad knowledge or a focused, practical start? For most beginners, the Direct Approach is the clear winner.

The 6-Month Blueprint: From Newbie to Confident Trader

To make this practical, I’ve created a new 6-month blueprint based on the Direct Approach with momentum trading. You can download it for free in the Skool group: https://skool.com/trading

Why six months? It’s the sweet spot—not so long that you lose motivation (like a year), but not so short that you rush without building skills (like a month). It keeps you engaged with daily actions that lead to big growth. In 6 months, you can go from beginner to confident trader, and you will have gained a lot of experience.

Here’s the sample timeline:

Months 1-2: Setup and Foundations

Get your tools ready in days or weeks. Set up a broker account and a TradingView paper trading setup (your charting software). Then, learn the basics of technical analysis for momentum trading: support and resistance zones, market structure, a few indicators. Focus only on what’s needed—you’ll start trading faster.

Months 3-4: Paper Trading and Practice

Start making simulated trades using the momentum strategy rules. Stick to the plan: Don’t chase stocks, limit position sizes for risk management, buy only at support (never resistance), and prioritize red market days. Evaluate your trades and watch charts daily to build real market experience. This hands-on time is critical—you can’t learn it from a book.

Months 5-6: Mindset and Real Money Transition

Now, focus on the mental side. Journal every trade to track wins, losses, and emotions—avoid FOMO and impulsive moves. Paper trading lets you feel the emotional rollercoaster safely, so you’re ready for real money. By the end, if you’re consistent in simulations, ease into real trading. Start small, build confidence, and watch profits grow.

This timeline is flexible—some move faster, others take longer. But six months is enough to go from newbie to confident trader. Stay consistent: Scan charts daily, journal trades, and connect with our community for accountability.

How to Start Today

Ready to jump in? Head to our Skool community and check out the Momentum Trading Course. It’s built for beginners with busy lives. The first modules break down the strategy, so you can see if it fits your schedule. Our community has resources, discussions, and support to kickstart your journey.

Some members are trading live in just weeks using this approach. Imagine where you could be in 6 months—confident, profitable, and trading stress-free.

Final Thoughts

If I started all over, I’d skip the Explorer Approach, go direct with momentum trading, follow the six-month blueprint, and start trading faster. Again, consider joining our free Skool group and check out the Momentum Trading Course: https://skool.com/trading

Trading carries risks—educate yourself and trade responsibly.