You’ve got access to capital. A risk manager is watching your every move. The pressure’s on, and performance is everything. But even with the best prop trading firm behind you, your success still hinges on what you bring to the table each day – especially your habits. If your results aren’t where they should be, don’t look to the market. Look in the mirror. Let’s expose three sneaky habits that could be quietly wrecking your edge.
1. You’re too hard on yourself
A prop trader I coach recently told me, “If I haven’t nailed it by now, maybe I never will.”
Sound familiar? That kind of talk is more than just a bad day – it’s often the sign of a deep-rooted mindset issue. In prop firms, traders are pushed hard. Metrics are tracked. Performance is ranked. But if you respond to setbacks with harsh self-criticism, you’re not building resilience – you’re undermining it.
This is the hallmark of a fixed mindset. Traders stuck in this mental loop believe their skills are capped. They either “have it” or they don’t. And when things get tough, instead of knuckling down and refining their approach, they disengage—or worse, give up.
Traders with a growth mindset, on the other hand, thrive under pressure. These traders aren’t defined by outcomes. They’re obsessed with learning and improving. They don’t crumble when they hit a losing streak. They get curious.
Don’t let your own self-talk become the biggest obstacle in your prop career. Develop the habit of asking: ‘What can I learn from this?’ not ‘Why do I suck?’
2. You’re overcomplicating your process
Prop traders often fall into the trap of thinking complexity equals intelligence. More monitors. More data. More indicators. But complexity can be a smokescreen—one that hides confusion and kills execution.
When your process is bloated, you burn mental capital before the market even opens. You start second-guessing entries. You miss exits. You get caught in the weeds instead of executing with clarity.
I’ve been there. I know when I start over-analysing, I lose efficiency. I burn energy on tasks that don’t move the needle. I get distracted by shiny objects.
Here’s the truth: simplicity scales. Your system should be so clean that you can execute under pressure, on autopilot. The fewer decisions you need to make in real time, the more consistent your results.
Ask yourself: What’s the one thing you can simplify today that will create the most impact in your trading?
3. You think you can do this alone
Prop trading looks like a solo gig. One trader. One screen. One set of trades. But that doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself.
Too many traders treat collaboration like a crutch, rather than a multiplier. They fly solo out of ego, fear, or a false sense of independence. And as a result, they miss out on collective wisdom, accountability, and accelerated feedback.
Think about elite athletes. The best in the world have coaches, teammates, and support crews. Why should trading be any different?
Mentorship isn’t a weakness—it’s a weapon. And surrounding yourself with other high-level traders can be the difference between a plateau and a breakout.
Find your people. The ones who speak your language and challenge your blind spots. Who celebrates your wins and dissects your losses? That’s where the growth lives.
You’re playing in a high-stakes environment. There’s no safety net. No excuses. The faster you build the right habits – and eliminate the ones sabotaging your edge – the sooner you’ll hit the consistency you’re chasing.
Louise Bedford is a full-time trader, founder of www.tradinggame.com.au, and author of six best-selling books on sharemarket trading. Tune in to her free weekly podcast, Talking Trading, to keep levelling up your trading mindset.
