Having been in this market for seven years, starting with just a few tens of thousands, I’ve experienced pitfalls, corrections, and more pitfalls along the way. Today, I can finally make a living relatively stable through trading.

Over the years, I’ve tried all the popular ideas, indicators, and models circulating in the community, and I’ve also repeatedly tested and negated them. Every validation costs something, but each one is a lesson.

If you want to treat trading as a long-term side job or even your main source of income in the future, there’s a principle that’s especially important—look more, listen more, verify more, and don’t rush to judgment. Many detours can actually be avoided if you’re careful.

One of the most common questions from beginners is: How do you know if a coin is truly about to break out or just luring in traders? I usually analyze from four dimensions.

**First, look at volume**

Before a trend starts, it’s rarely silent. A sudden increase in trading volume after a long consolidation is worth noting, but don’t rush to follow. Truly promising setups often occur after a shakeout, when the chips have settled and volume picks up again. Entering at this point tends to be safer.

**Second, look at price**

During the process, prices may fluctuate wildly, but the closing position is honest. If it can close steadily above a key resistance level, it indicates that funds are planned. This is where you can distinguish between a false and a genuine breakout.

**Third, look at time**

Good breakouts usually aren’t rushed. It’s best to see a sufficiently long period of sideways consolidation with low volume beforehand. The higher the concentration of chips, the greater the potential for a subsequent rise. Insufficient time means the space for growth is often limited.

**Fourth, look at position**

First, mark key resistance levels clearly. These could be previous highs, neckline of a pattern, or just an integer level. Once the position is clear, the target space after a breakout becomes predictable.

These four points form my basic framework for judging breakouts. It’s not complicated, but it requires repeated validation in real trading to truly understand.

Next, I will share some of my trading records accumulated over many years. These are not secret tricks, but summaries of experience tested countless times in real markets. If they can help you avoid some detours, all the nights I’ve stayed up will have been worth it.

Take time to review your trades often. The market is always there, but understanding needs to be built step by step.