I don't understand why people constantly "compare" their trading performance to that of multi-million/billion dollar funds or net worth people. A small account is more nimble with strategy and execution, and has next to zero concern about affecting price up or down with most if not all, trading instruments with liquidity.
Myself, I aim to double my account every 6 to 8 weeks. And then sweep it, and reset it to the original starting value and do it again. Sometimes I sweep more frequently, prior to reaching the goal, because, well, because I can! Sometimes, it takes a little longer, 10 or 12 weeks. The caveat, or perhaps it is the key, to this methodology/strategy/technique/management/whatever, is full understanding and comprehension that you can only take what the market(s) offer. Intraday volatility, or in todays overall low volatility market I just refer to it as intraday swings. As volatility overall increases, the speed at which I can reach the doubling increases. I'm looking for at least a few of those periods in this new year. NQ this past week was very rewarding, the previous week, YM. TF, almost always lol. I'm saying that from a trading viewpoint, not from a bullish or bearish stance or bias.
Of course there are losing trades, and even losing days along the way, but guess what.. that's part of the trading business. Even the 99c store makes mistakes and must reprice certain items. Point being, it is not about being right 100% of the time. It is being able to recognize and capitalize on what the market(s) are offering. Sometimes it's a little, sometimes a lot. It is dynamic and ever changing, every day.
I am a full-time, independent, futures trader. Flat, end-of-day, produces my daily bread. Swing trading is "investment" to me. How bout that SB and CC.
Good trading to everyone in the new year.