Survival Protocol — Trade Funded Differently from Demo

A beginner just funded trades the same way they did on demo · that is the mistake · because "demo" and "funded" — even with the same chart — do not have the same context.

On demo you lose and you restart · on funded you lose = the account is gone = take the exam again (lose the fee + lose time) · so the funded account needs a "Survival Protocol" that is stricter than before.

Here are 5 rules that change when it is a funded account.

Rule 1 — Personal Daily Loss = half of the firm rule

The firm gives Daily Loss 5% → set your own rule at 2-3% and stop · do not touch 5%, ever.

Why: the firm 5% is the "death line" — touch it and the account is gone · 2-3% is the "safety line" — with a buffer big enough that a single failed trade does not reach the death line · professional traders never touch the death line.

Rule 2 — Personal Max DD = 60-70% of the firm rule

The firm gives Max Drawdown 10% → manage yourself to no more than 6-7%

Why: if only 3% of room remains before the death line, you will either trade in fear (too defensive — miss opportunities) or in desperation (revenge — rush) · both lose the account · leave the brain some buffer room.

Rule 3 — Position Size = 70-80% of what you used on Small Live

On Small Live you used 1% risk · on funded reduce to 0.5-0.75%

Why: on funded you must last "long-term" not "short-term" · slightly smaller size = much more drawdown you can withstand · 1% × 10 consecutive misses = 10% drawdown (blown) · 0.5% × 10 = 5% (still alive)

Rule 4 — Daily Stop after 2 losses in a row

2 losses in a row in one day = close the computer · no more trading today

Why: 2 consecutive losses usually mean either market conditions are not friendly, or your brain is not on (emotion creeping in) · in both states, the 3rd trade tends to be a revenge trade · break the loop early.

Rule 5 — A "do not trade today" list, enforced

Before opening the computer, check this list · if any answer is "yes" → do not trade today: Less than 6 hours of sleep Emotional disturbance (an argument, bad news) Today has big news (NFP, FOMC) that you did not plan for The account is at -5% drawdown or worse — wanting to "get it back"

"Not trading" is the right trade on some days · the funded account is won on "the days you did not screw up," not "the days you were brilliant."

Why the Survival Protocol feels "cowardly"

A beginner reads these 5 rules and feels "too cautious" · the truth is — every professional trader trades this way · what looks "cowardly" is actually "professional carefulness."

Compare: a pilot does a checklist before every flight — does it feel "cowardly"? No — it feels "professional" · same for a trader · carefulness is the mark of a professional, not cowardice.

> The funded account is not where you prove you "can trade" — you proved that at the Challenge · the funded account is where you prove you "can be a professional" · professional = always careful, not always brilliant

Next chapter — Consistency Engineering · what real consistency actually looks like