Checklist, a trader with 10 years of experience in overseas futures, always asks himself one question right before hitting the entry button: "Am I entering based on my criteria, or greed?"
During this trading period, he achieved an exceptional record of a 91% win rate with 18 consecutive winning trades. When asked the secret behind his high win rate, he answered that it was thanks to the trades he skipped because they didn't meet his criteria, rather than the ones he took. We spoke with him about his trading rules and how he learned self-control over trying to beat the market.

Q. Hello, Checklist! Along with your handle, how would you describe your trading in three words?

A. Hello, I'm Checklist, an overseas futures trader. If I had to describe my trading in three words, they would be patience, criteria, and discipline.
I first encountered overseas futures about 10 years ago. I went through a lot of trial and error along the way, often suffering heavy losses by entering without clear criteria out of greed.
Over time, I realized that waiting for my setup, entering only when criteria are met, and curbing greed are far more important than trying to outsmart the market.
I still don't consider myself a finished product. However, I believe I am gradually becoming a trader who can control himself better than before.

Q. How would you describe the moment you received your approval notification in one word?

A. In one word: 'Conviction.' Of course, the Payout itself was exciting. But more than just receiving the money, it felt like confirmation that the trading rules and direction I built through years of trial and error were right.
Over the past 10 years, I've lost money in the markets and faced many moments where I wanted to quit. That's why this first Payout meant much more than just profits.
My immediate thought was: "The path I'm on is correct. Now I just need to execute this consistently."

Q. Ten years is a long time. Were there moments you regretted starting trading? Conversely, when did you feel glad you started?

A. There were plenty of moments of regret. Over 10 years, there was extensive trial and error, and whenever I lost money, I questioned why I even started. It was hardest when the effort and time invested didn't translate into results. Ironically, that exact process is also why I'm glad I began trading.
The market reflected my raw emotions—greed, impatience, and fear. Ultimately, it wasn't just time spent studying charts, but time spent learning how to manage myself. And when tangible results materialized, like this first Payout with LifeUp, I realized the past years weren't in vain. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I've finally taken a solid step forward.

A Win Rate Built on Trades Not Taken

Q. Looking at your performance review, you posted a 91% win rate across 18 consecutive winning trades. With short scalps around 1 minute, what's the secret to such a high win rate? Were there any trades that were purely luck?

A. While 91% looks impressive on paper, I view it as a win rate built on the time spent not entering the market.
My priority isn't trading frequently; it's waiting until my predefined conditions form. Because I trade short timeframes, my assessment of direction and timing must be largely complete the moment I execute.
In the past, seeing price move triggered FOMO, and I'd chase it. Now, I accept missing moves. Missed profit is not a loss.

An 18-trade win streak is a great milestone, but it's never my target. Focusing on win streaks compromises judgment on the next trade.
And yes, some trades were definitely luck. There were executions where my criteria weren't fully met, price went against me, and it happened to reverse back into profit. Even if those made money, I don't classify them as good trades by my standards.

Q. The AI review noted: "While the win rate is high, the average loss is four times larger than the average win." What were your thoughts on this? Which do you value more: win rate or risk-to-reward ratio?

A. That was actually the key takeaway for me from the review. Rather than the 91% win rate, the point that "a single loss is four times the average win" stood out immediately. It's an area I know I need to fix.
When you get used to a high win rate, you fall into the trap of thinking "it'll come back this time too," holding losing positions longer than you should. But in the markets, that single outlier can wipe out substantial accumulated gains.
Instead of choosing between win rate and risk-to-reward, I prioritize the structure that ensures long-term account survival.
My challenge going forward isn't forcing this high win rate to stay high, but shortening the time it takes to accept an invalid trade—turning big losses into small ones.

Criteria vs. Greed

Q. What is the final check you perform right before pressing the entry button?

A. My final check is: "Is this setup on my checklist?" That's the origin of my handle, 'Checklist.'
In the past, rapid chart movements triggered impulses to chase. Looking back, most of my severe drawdowns started from those impulsive entries.
Today, no matter how good a setup looks, if it fails my predefined entry conditions, I let it go. Right before hitting the button, I ask myself: "Am I taking this because of my criteria, or because of greed?"
Ten years of trading taught me that solid execution stems from the ability to wait, not the speed of your trigger finger.

Checklist's Trading Desk

Q. When holding a losing trade, what physical reaction happens first? Hands, breathing, heart rate?

A. For me, it's the hand on the mouse and my breathing. When a position moves against me, my grip tightens and my breathing turns shallow without realizing it. As the unrealized loss grows, my eyes fixate on the P&L numbers rather than the chart.
Previously, I would hold on in that state, thinking "just wait a bit, it'll bounce back." That exact moment marks the shift from trading to fighting hope.
Now, I treat those physical reactions as a warning signal: "Am I reading the market, or just hoping to break even?" The moment I find myself hoping for breakeven, I've likely deviated from my initial trade plan.
These days, instead of trying never to take a loss, I focus on being a trader who admits when I'm wrong quickly.

Q. How did you find LifeUp, and what differed from your expectations after using it, positive or negative?

A. I came across LifeUp while researching prop trading firms and platforms. Initially, being a domestic prop firm, I wondered how it would compare to foreign prop firms, and I wanted to experience the Payout process firsthand.
The best part of using it was that it doesn't just track profit; it provides objective analysis of trading data. In this review, instead of just praising the 91% win rate, it accurately flagged my weakness—that my average loss was excessively large relative to my average win.
Traders naturally tend to focus on their strengths over their weaknesses when reviewing their own trades. But numbers don't lie. Rather than treating this Payout as a finished result, I want to use it as a benchmark to refine my execution.

Q. Lastly, if you could take only one trade during tonight's session, what setup would you wait for?

A. If I only had one trade, I would wait even longer. Instead of jumping in right at the open, I'd wait for direction to establish and my confluence of criteria to align. Rather than chasing an immediate breakout of a key level, I prefer seeing a retest confirming the break, or a pullback/retrace within a clear trend. And if that setup doesn't appear tonight, I won't trade.
I used to believe you had to trade to make money. Today, I consider staying flat when there is no edge to be an active trade. Surviving 10 years in the market, learning how to wait was the last skill I mastered.
Finally, I want to thank LifeUp for providing the opportunity, environment, and actual Payouts for traders like me. This first Payout was meaningful because it validated the path I've taken. I will stick to my rules, continue to grow, and focus on long-term survival rather than just a single payout.

Thank you for this thorough and genuine interview. Seeing a trader eligible for a Payout with a 91% win rate focus most on the critique of his weakness—acknowledging it as an area to improve—reveals exactly where that win rate comes from.

We hope Checklist continues to follow his trading checklist throughout his journey with LifeUp and elevates his edge even further.