When newer people ask me how to start, I tell them three things: first, study the 2017 and 2021 cycles to see how long accumulation phases actually last—usually 18-24 months, not weeks; second, understand your own risk tolerance by calculating what percentage of your net worth you can afford to lose without changing your life; third, pick a conviction thesis and stick to it through at least one full market cycle, because most people quit right before the pattern completes.