My Trading Journey

My Trading Journey (2006–2025)

Decade of Losses, Learning, and Growth

By Jithesh Shetty – Software Engineer | Trader | Lifelong Learner
Trading has never been just a hobby for me. It has been a journey of emotional growth, financial discipline, continuous learning, and above all, self-discovery. Here's how my journey unfolded over the past two decades.

My trading journey began sometime in 2006–07. At the time, I didn’t have my own trading account, so I used to trade through my brother’s or a friend’s account. I was simply fascinated by the idea of buying and selling stocks, making quick profits, and being part of the financial world.

Eventually, I opened my own trading account. But back then, I had no understanding of how the stock market really worked. I would take positions purely based on the tips, opinions, and suggestions of friends. I did not have a strategy, nor did I try to understand the fundamentals or technical of the companies I was investing in. Not surprisingly, this approach didn’t last long. After a couple of years filled with repeated mistakes and consistent losses, I lost both money and confidence. Frustrated and disheartened, I decided to quit trading altogether and take a long break from the market.

In 2015, after several years away from the market, I felt the urge to give trading another try. This time, I started small. I began by buying stocks in very small quantities — nothing too aggressive or risky. At this stage, I was still not fully passionate or serious about trading. It was more of a side interest, a cautious re-entry driven by curiosity rather than conviction.

In 2016 was the year things started to shift. I became particularly interested in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). I found the process exciting — from applying to getting allotments and watching the listing-day gains. I applied for almost every IPO that came out during that time, and fortunately, I got allotments in a few of them. I used to sell them on the listing day and pocket the quick profits.
This was also when I started discussing the market more frequently with my closest friend, Balaji Londhe. We both shared a growing curiosity about how markets really functioned. Little did I know, those conversations would eventually spark a far more serious phase in my trading journey.

In 2017, Balaji and I made a mutual decision: it was time to take trading seriously. We wanted to go beyond the basics and start participating actively in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment. But unfortunately, our ambition was much bigger than our preparation. In the first six months’ time, we lost all our capital. I remember one such trade in Aurobindo Pharma — I bought one lot of options, kept averaging as it went down, and finally lost the entire capital on that single trade. Another painful memory involves Sun Pharma — I had entered into a futures position after doing a proper technical analysis. Everything seemed aligned — trend, volume, support. But the next day, unexpected negative news came out, and the stock fell sharply, leading to a massive loss. The same story repeated with TCS — this time again, all my capital was wiped out on a futures position that went terribly wrong.

During my initial years, I also made many mistakes by entering into penny stocks without proper research. Some of the stocks I bought were Birla Power Solutions, Geodesic Ltd, and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision. Most of these companies were eventually delisted, and the investments went almost entirely to zero. I also purchased Yes Bank shares when it was trading much higher, and today it trades around ₹19. Looking back, these were classic examples of wrong trades made without proper analysis or risk management.

These experiences, though painful, turned out to be some of the most important lessons in my trading journey. They taught me the importance of due diligence, risk control, and focusing on fundamentally strong companies instead of chasing “cheap-looking” stocks. These were not just financial setbacks; they were emotionally draining experiences. But they instilled in me a critical realization: passion without preparation is a dangerous combination.

After those losses, Balaji suggested that we stop trading and focus on learning. We started watching every YouTube video we could find about technical analysis, price action, and chart reading. I began learning about indicators like RSI, MACD, moving averages, and Bollinger Bands. At first, it felt overwhelming because there were so many tools and strategies. But with time, things started to make sense. I began studying charts every day, spotting patterns, and slowly gaining confidence.

Despite all this effort, the years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were still loss-making years for me. Even in equity trades, I barely made marginal profits. But what I gained during those years was far more valuable than money — I gained experience, discipline, and clarity.

The Turning Point – Recovery and Breakthrough (2021 Onwards)

After nearly four years of dedicated learning and consistent effort, 2021 was the year everything started to change. That year, I finally broke even and achieved a 50% ROI, recovering all the losses I had made in previous years — and all of this profit came from equity trades.

It wasn’t just about making profits — it was a change in mindset. I started to feel more in control of my trades. I began to understand market trends and patterns, spot good setups, and manage risk more effectively. I was no longer the inexperienced trader who followed tips or relied on luck.

We also added another close friend, Sheetal Soni, to our trading group. The three of us made a WhatsApp group where we talked daily about charts, stock ideas, and strategies. We met often and shared what we learned, including our mistakes. This support system really helped us grow as traders.

In 2021, I also began following several insightful traders on Twitter platform. Some of them had a strong impact on my learning. Their perspectives helped me refine my own strategies and see the market from different angles.

Consistent Growth and Evolving Wisdom (2022–2025)

In 2022, even though the broader market was range-bound for a long time, I stayed disciplined and managed to generate a 9% ROI. In 2023, my confidence and skills reflected in my results — I achieved 32% ROI. And in 2024, that number grew even further to 37%.

These weren’t just numbers — they were proof that my efforts were finally translating into consistent results. I was no longer reacting emotionally or impulsively. I had built a structured, process-driven trading routine — one that balanced analysis with psychology.

Why I Chose Trading as a Profession?

I was never happy or interested in my 9-to-6 software jobs, so I kept exploring other options to start something of my own. I always had the eagerness to do business rather than work in an IT company. Over the years, I tried multiple small business ventures with friends, even becoming a partner in a few. Unfortunately, most of them ended up in losses, and I lost all my money. The biggest lesson I learned during that time is that you cannot succeed as a silent partner in any business—you need to be actively involved to grow. After trying several options, I realized that trading is the one business where I don’t have to rely on anyone else. All I need is a laptop, passion, and a solid trading strategy. Even if I lose money, I take it positively because at least I’m not working for someone else. That’s when I decided to seriously consider trading and investing as my career.

Key Lessons from My Trading Journey:-

You need to stay in the market long enough to succeed. Trading is not a quick way to get rich — it's a long-term journey that requires patience, discipline, and resilience. You have to go through both good and bad market phases to truly understand how it works.

In my early days, I made common mistakes — like taking profits too early on winning trades and holding onto losing trades, often by averaging them without thinking. I would take big positions in bad setups and small ones in good trades. These experiences taught me that position sizing, emotional control, and risk management are more important than any indicator.

The silent strength behind Me – My Family

Throughout all the ups and downs, sleepless nights, and uncertain times, my wife Raksha Shetty stood by me — quietly but strongly. She never questioned my dreams or doubted my passion. Her constant support gave me the strength to continue, even when the results weren’t there

Quotes that inspired me throughout my journey:- 
Here are a few quotes that motivated me during my toughest times:
"If you want to win the game, you have to be in the game"

You have to go through losses to gain the experience and finally see results.

"Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life — dream of it, think of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea.This is the way to success." -  Swami Vivekananda
This quote shows how I now approach trading — with complete focus and dedication.

 

“Itni shiddat se maine tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai,
ke har zarre ne mujhe tumse milane ki saazish ki hai.
Kehte hain ki… agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho,
to poori kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.” — From the film ‘Om Shanti Om’
these lines express the deep passion and effort I’ve put into my trading journey.

Looking Ahead

As I look back on this journey, I see that trading has given me much more than just profits. It has shaped the way I think, taught me patience, and helped me understand the importance of focus and persistence.

The market still teaches me something new every day. But now, I approach it with purpose, confidence, and humility. And I truly believe — the best is yet to come