1263 - 10 Trading Goals That Separate Profitable Traders From Everyone Else (2026 Guide)

·39 min·3 clips

Akil Stokes reveals traders have already blown accounts in January's first week, urging capital conservation before goal-setting.

The episode begins with Akil Stokes warning traders about account blow-ups in the first week of January, stressing capital conservation. He introduces a list of 10 trading goals, starting with a distinction between results-based and process-based goals, illustrated by a golf analogy where a perfect drive hits a bird. Stokes explains that process-based goals focus on controllable actions, like following a trading plan consistently, and shares an example of a trader excited about a losing trade due to proper execution. Goal one is to follow a trading plan and track the 'good trade rate' rather than just win/loss. Goal two involves journaling and reviewing trades to break repetitive patterns. Goal three is to avoid emotional decisions, referencing a previous episode on revenge trading. Goal four details strict risk management, including stop-loss placement using ATR multiples beyond structure levels and position sizing strategies. Goal five advises traders to specialize in one strategy, using a buffet analogy for learning. Goal six emphasizes continued education, with Stokes sharing his preference for strategy development. Goal seven focuses on improving lifestyle habits, as Stokes recounts personal issues like eye strain from screen time and sleep deprivation from trading 24 hours, debunking the time-equals-profit myth. He recommends blue light filters and proper desk setups. Goal eight is for prop firm traders to achieve consistent payouts. Goal nine involves account growth through compounding and external funding methods. Goal ten is left for the audience to contribute, encouraging community engagement. The episode is interactive, with Stokes asking listeners to score themselves and share goals.

As heard by us

Capital preservation comes first, then a realistic trading plan for the year.

Gil Stokes begins with a clear reminder that capital has to be protected before any year-end goals can make sense, especially after an early loss makes planning harder than it should be.

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Why you'd press play

If your trading year starts with a warning, this one makes you slow down.

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