The core incongruence isn’t the trading system itself—when truly identical (same rules, same entries/exits, same position-sizing, same markets)—but the human operator executing it. Even with perfect rules, outcomes diverge wildly due to discretionary micro-decisions, psychological biases, and operational discipline. Below is a breakdown of the key differences that separate consistent winners from perpetual strugglers, even when handed the same edge.
The system is just the vehicle. Success is who’s in the cockpit—and whether they can keep their hands off the yoke when emotions scream to grab it.