Many traders overlook a fundamental truth that Mark Douglas emphasized: individual trade outcomes often hinge on randomness rather than pure skill. This insight cuts through the noise of overconfidence. In reality, any single position can swing either way—a winning trade today doesn't validate your entire strategy, just as a losing trade doesn't invalidate it. The market noise obscures patterns. What separates consistent traders isn't luck in any single trade, but disciplined execution across hundreds of trades. They focus on probability, position sizing, and risk management instead of obsessing over each outcome. Understanding this randomness element shifts perspective: success isn't about predicting the next move perfectly. It's about stacking odds in your favor repeatedly, letting statistical advantage play out over time. This mindset transforms how seasoned traders approach market volatility.