Burned and Reforged: What $32K Gained and Lost Taught Me About Trading Identity
In this solo episode of The Forged Trader Podcast , host Gates Adams steps away from the usual interviews to reflect on a pivotal chapter in his trading journey. After successfully earning just under $32,000 in payouts across multiple accounts, Gates opens up about the psychological trap of overconfidence, the consequences of being rewarded for bad behavior, and the emotional crash that came from giving it all back in a single day.
But this episode isn’t just about loss. It’s about recovery, identity, and the inner work that every trader must do to forge long-term success. Gates dives into how his subconscious programming sabotaged his growth, the dangerous comfort of performance-based identity, and the healing power of journaling, not for trades, but for self-awareness.
This episode is a must-listen for any trader who's ever questioned themselves after a loss or struggled to bounce back. Gates reveals how he’s resetting his approach, rebuilding from the ground up with smaller accounts, and using his setback as a setup for long-term mastery.
Key takeaways include:
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Why journaling your emotions, not just your trades, is essential for growth
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How false confidence disguises deeper patterns of self-sabotage
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The difference between reacting and responding when you're in emotional territory
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How to reframe failure and build a resilient trading identity
“I had to change my subconscious perception of who and what I am and what I’m capable of.” — Gates Adams
If you’ve ever wondered if you’re the only one fighting mental battles behind the charts, this episode will remind you—you’re not. You’re being forged.
Connect with Gates Adams:
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RISK DISCLOSURE:
Futures and Forex trading contains substantial risk and is not for every investor. An investor could potentially lose all or more than the initial investment. Risk capital is money that can be lost without jeopardizing one's financial security or lifestyle. Only risk capital should be used for trading, and only those with sufficient risk capital should consider trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE DISCLOSURE:
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk of actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses is material points, which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program, which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results, and all of which can adversely affect trading results.
