Full-Time Trading - My Story, Your Blueprint: The 5 Questions I Asked Myself Before I Quit My Job to Trade Full-Time

The Introduction: The Day I Almost Made the Leap

If you're reading this, you're where I was a few years ago. You see the charts, you're tracking the markets, and the thought of being your own boss—the full-time trader—feels incredibly close. You can taste the freedom.

It's an intoxicating dream. And yes, it is possible. I'm Vivek Kumar, and for a long time now, this has been my reality. But I want to save you the mistakes I made along the way.

Before I handed in my notice, I realized something critical: Trading isn't a hobby; it's a cold, hard business. To succeed, I had to stop seeing myself as a hopeful enthusiast and start acting like a professional CEO. I had to ask myself 5 brutally honest questions.

This isn't just theory. This is the exact framework I used to build my seven-figure Full-Time Trading career. Before you even think about "going pro," you need to answer them.

And before we dive in, let me share a personal truth: The markets are tough, but the toughest challenge is often the loneliness. There is no colleague to high-five or complain to. It’s just you, the charts, and the relentless mental battle. If you're ready to face that isolation, you're ready to build your plan. So, let's dive in:

1. What's in My Arsenal for Full-Time Trading? (The Discipline I Had to Develop)

You wouldn't start a construction business without heavy-duty tools. My "arsenal" wasn't fancy software—it was my Mindset and my Trading Rules.

• Psychology (The CEO): You can have the world's best strategy, but if you panic on a three-trade losing streak or get greedy on a winner, you'll fail. My biggest realization was that I had to become the ultimate rule-follower by inculcating Military grade Discipline for this behavior.

  My Journey: When I was still learning, my worst enemy was euphoria. After a big win, I'd get lazy with my Trading Rules. That's why I drilled myself: Discipline is the only thing separating the pro from the amateur.

• Risk Management (The Guardrails): This is non-negotiable. I define my Stop-Loss, Position Size, and Risk/Reward (R/R) ratio before I ever enter a trade.

  My Business Rule: I treat every trade like a monthly business expense. I know exactly how much I'm willing to lose before I commit. This rule, more than any indicator, is why I'm still trading full-time today and am able to buy a domain and be eligible to share my story with you.

What is your tool to combat ever-changing market dynamics and stay profitable?

2. What is My Area of Expertise? (My Edge in the Market)

When I was first trying to go full-time trading, I tried everything. I dabbled in economics, I chased breaking news, and I lost money doing it all. You cannot be a jack of all trades. I finally had to commit to one specialty.

• My Edge: I decided to become a "Chart Artist." My edge comes from reading Price Patterns using Technical Analysis. I trust the Price Charts more than any pundit or news headline.

Your Action Item: Where does your success come from right now? Be honest. Is it reading a balance sheet (Fundamental), or is it reading the story the candles are telling (Technical)? Pick one. A focused trader is a profitable trader.

Choose one and become a master of that art rather than hopping around different methodologies.

3. Where Am I "Playing"? (The Playground I Mastered)

The market is a maze. You can't hunt for an edge in every corner. I had to choose a focused area to become truly exceptional.

• My Asset Class: I chose the most well-known neighbors—the individual Stocks (like - ICICI, Reliance etc.). "I trade what I understand." These markets are liquid, have their personalities well-established i.e. Long Term Price Charts for me.

Why I Chose This: I wanted to avoid the 24/7 nature of Forex and the complicated obligations of Options. I prefer trading the Stock Price of a company I can research. You need to choose the "playground" that suits your mental wiring.

Master any one asset class first, then move to multi-asset trading.

4. What "Language" Am I Reading? (My Chart Tools)

Every trader needs a way to interpret price. I use two distinct tools, each for a different system:

• Tool 1: Candlesticks (The Full Story): This is my primary language. Candlesticks give me the detailed, in-depth article—the open, close, high, and low—for a specific period. This is essential for me to have any Trading decision. As of writing this blog post, I have 4 Algo based Trading Strategies which are running live in the Markets and are based on Candlestick Charts.

• Tool 2: Renko (Noise-Cancellation): For my another algo-trading system, I use Renko charts. Renko ignores time and only moves when a significant price change happens. It's a fantastic "noise filter" that helps the algorithm focus purely on momentum. As on writing this blog post, I have 1 Algo based Renko Trading System live in the markets and am currently working on developing my second seperate Renko based trading system.

The Takeaway: You need to choose your primary tool (Line, Candlesticks, or Renko) and become a fluent reader. If you can't read the map, you can't drive the car.

If you find candlesticks most visually appealing, choose them and proceed.

5. What is My "Zoom Level"? (The Time Frame I Use)

Your time frame must align with your life and your trading method. If they don't match, you will burn out faster than a matchstick.

• My Discretionary Past: Weekly Time Frame. When I was still trading discretionarily (making the final call myself), I was a "landlord." I checked the charts every week and let the investments grow over time. This gave me a life outside of trading while I was building capital.

• My Algo Present: Daily Time Frame. Now that my systems are fully automated and I am a full-time trader, I focus on the Daily chart. I am a "gardener," checking the results and making small adjustments every day. The Daily time frame is liquid enough for my programs and requires zero oversight than a glance on my portfolio / holdings, freeing me to focus on system development instead of execution.

Your Final Check: If you have a busy job, you cannot be a Discretionary Day Trader (the "chef" during the dinner rush). You must start with Swing or Positional trading. Trade the system that lets you sleep at night with peace.

Choose Daily if you can dedicate 1-2 Hours each day otherwise move to Weekly

Conclusion: Ready to Build Your Business?

Answering these 5 questions—Arsenal, Expertise, Asset Class, Chart Type, and Time Frame—didn't guarantee I'd become a profitable trader. But not answering them guaranteed I would fail.

My journey, from trading on the Weekly chart to now running automated systems on the Daily chart, is proof that a focused, well-defined plan works.

Trading is a journey of self-discovery. It will expose your lack of discipline faster than anything else.

Your next step starts with radical honesty. Which of these five foundational pillars is the shakiest for you right now, let's be honest and talk about it in the Comment Box with me?