I started trading commodity futures and options when I was 24 years old.  I am now in my early 50's :).  I began trading for investors in 2007 at the height of the market and traded professionally for other people for 14 years.  Many people can make money when the market goes up but it's when the market drops a lot that differentiates the the successful traders from the unsuccessful.  I've made thousands of trades and learned countless lessons that I'll share with you here.