I happened to remember a legendary figure in the trading world: Richard Dennis. His story is widely known in trading circles, and many people look to him as a source of inspiration.

What impressed me most was his “Turtle Trading” experiment. Richard Dennis at the time wanted to prove a point: are great traders born, or are they made? He simply found a group of people, taught them trading methods over two weeks, and then let this group of “turtles” go trade in real markets. So what happened? Over five years, the team made $175 million. In trading circles, this has basically become a myth-level case.

But the even bigger reason Richard Dennis’s story is so remarkable is what he personally experienced. He was born into poverty and grew up in an Irish immigrant family in Chicago south of the city. At 17, he entered the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as a broker; at 23, he turned $1,600 into $200 million. Over ten years—just think how crazy that growth rate was.

Richard Dennis’s trading philosophy is also well worth thinking about. He was especially convinced of trend trading, liked to put all the chips on one direction, and used leverage to amplify gains. This approach works astonishingly well when the market is moving in your favor, but the risks are also definitely high. Still, that’s exactly why he was able to accumulate so much wealth in such a short time.

When I look at stories like these trading legends, I feel that the real commonality isn’t just how smart they are—it’s the determination to not fear failure and to keep learning. Behind every successful trader are countless rounds of trial and error and reflection. If you also want to learn more deeply about how these trading masters think, you can check out the book 《Market Wizards》. It details the stories of Richard Dennis and other top trading experts in depth, and it’s definitely worth reading.