That account which once had only $500 now feels like a magical journey when I look back. But this is not a legendary wealth story; it's about an ordinary person's struggle in a bear market and choices in a bull market.

The initial few thousand dollars were still pooled together with my brothers. After throwing it into the market, I couldn't even see a splash. Most people, seeing this amount of capital, probably wouldn't even have the courage to open the trading interface. But I relied on this "mosquito bite" to keep rolling all the way to where I am now. Today, I won't talk about any guaranteed winning secrets; I just want to share a few core insights gained through real money over these years. Pure personal opinions, feel free to agree or disagree.

**First: Small capital, only one life**

When I first entered the market, I was like a headless fly, rushing around aimlessly. But I quickly understood one principle—small capital requires more caution. So I set a strict rule for myself: each trade must not exceed one-fifth of the total funds. Even if it looks like a 100% opportunity, I wouldn't take it.

How did I operate? I split the $500 into five parts, one part being my "risk allowance." I focused on the hottest sectors at the time—AI, blockchain games, these new directions. But I never held on stubbornly; I take profits around 20% and exit, and if I lose about 10%, I cut my losses immediately (stop-loss). Sounds unambitious, right? But it was this "cunning" approach that allowed me to survive every major dip early on. The advantage of small funds is flexibility. Don't always think about soaring to the sky; having a shield is the top priority.

**Second: Cultivating the mind is more valuable than K-line skills**

Honestly, most of the time in the crypto market, it's not about how skilled your technical analysis is, but how long you can endure. My goal in the first quarter was not to make money but simply to stay alive and watch the market—learning to stay calm during declines and not to be driven by greed during rebounds. A stable mindset leads to correct choices.