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I’m quitting this account.
It’s not an easy decision.
Letting go of the thousands of hours spent building this account.
But I’m dragging a dead husk at this point.
Also getting hundreds of bot follows everyday.
People followed me for trading content & I don’t post that anymore.
I don’t want to bother them with my new content that’s about tech & startups.
Follow my new acc @umairsid02 if you want to see my new content.
I hope I made an impact on someone’s life with this account ❤️
I asked grok what made this account grow big & fast when I used to trade.
I leave this as my last big piece of value for the trading community, to encourage a growth of influencers who are transparent & make learning complex topics easy.
To show that learning trading is simple but not easy.
Response:
Based on an analysis of your old X account @umairs02, which has amassed 75.8K followers since its creation around September 2020 (based on user ID patterns), the rapid growth in the trading niche appears to stem from a combination of strategic content creation, community engagement, and timely alignment with trending trading methodologies like ICT (Inner Circle Trader) concepts. The account didn't start with massive traction—early posts (pre-2022) show minimal engagement—but exploded starting in late 2022, likely hitting critical mass around 10K-20K followers by early 2023 based on post timestamps and interaction spikes. By mid-2023, you were consistently pulling 200-1,000+ likes per strategy thread, with some viral hits exceeding 1K likes and hundreds of reposts. Here's a breakdown of key factors that drove this fast "blow-up" (from near-zero to 75K in about 2-3 years, with the bulk in 2022-2023):
### 1. **Niche Focus on High-Value, Educational Content**
- Your content zeroed in on the trading niche, specifically ICT/SMC (Smart Money Concepts) strategies, which were surging in popularity around 2022-2023 as retail traders sought "edge" systems amid volatile markets (e.g., post-COVID crypto/FX booms). Posts like your October 2022 strategy video (227 likes) and November 2022 "Low Risk, High Reward Strategy" thread (698 likes, 167 reposts) provided actionable, beginner-friendly guides with visuals (pictures, charts, videos) that demystified complex ideas.
- Threads were structured for virality: Clear hooks (e.g., "How I Got Funded 6 Figures at 20 Using This Strategy" in February 2023, 804 likes, 199 reposts), step-by-step explanations (A-Z guides), and promises of simplicity ("No Daily Bias Required," "Easy to Learn"). This resonated with aspiring traders looking for "holy grail" systems without overwhelming jargon.
- Viral examples: Your December 2022 "Simple ICT Strategy Using Time" thread (1,041 likes, 267 reposts) and January 2023 live-recorded funded trade video (278 likes) included proofs like live recordings and backtests, building trust. These posts often garnered 50K+ views, amplifying reach via X's algorithm favoring educational, media-rich content.
### 2. **Consistency and Posting Cadence**
- You posted frequently during the growth phase (2022-2023), often 3-5 times a week, mixing threads, tips, and real-time trades. This kept momentum: Early threads built a foundation, then follow-ups like "9:30 Open Judas Swing Strat" (February 2023, 518 likes, 121 reposts) referenced prior content, creating a "series" effect that encouraged follows.
- Timing aligned with market sessions (e.g., NY open strategies), tapping into active trader audiences. Posts during high-engagement windows (e.g., evenings/weekends) helped, as did teasing upcoming content (e.g., November 2022: "I'm gonna release an amazing full in-depth strategy tonight," 350 likes).
### 3. **Transparency and Relatability**
- Unlike many "gurus" hiding losses, you shared both wins and struggles, fostering authenticity. Posts like February 2023's "It’s been hard to determine bias... it’s been tough for me too" (326 likes) and April 2023's monthly recap showing a 46% win rate but +8R profit (226 likes) humanized you. This built loyalty—traders felt seen, especially during tough markets.
- In February 2024, you addressed a 2-month drawdown openly (350 likes), emphasizing risk management. This transparency differentiated you, as you noted: "90% of people only show profits but not losses." Mentions of influencers like paladinbhutia and ICT_Concepts showed community-mindedness, encouraging cross-engagement.
### 4. **Community Engagement and Networking**
- You actively replied to comments, tagged collaborators (e.g., IamMas7er in strategies, casper_smc in endorsements), and shouted out peers, creating reciprocity. A July 2023 post praising casper_smc's strategy (242 likes) likely drove mutual follows.
- Engagement metrics spiked on interactive posts (e.g., "Debating whether I should start a new Twitter account" in September 2024, 12 likes but 10 replies). Early fraud allegations in March 2025 were handled publicly with refunds, preserving reputation.
- Niche alignment: Tagging ICT-related accounts and using hashtags implicitly (via content) tapped into the growing ICT community on X, where traders share and amplify similar ideas.
### 5. **Proof of Results and Monetization Tease**
- Live proofs accelerated trust: February 2023 funded account video (278 likes) and June 2023 risk management insights (258 likes) showed real payouts. Claims like "I’ve gotten funded 200k on livestream" (July 2023, 514 likes) positioned you as credible.
- Subtle shifts to monetization (e.g., closing paid services, starting AI agency) didn't alienate followers—instead, it showed evolution. Bio updates (e.g., "Former Trader/AI Agency") signaled expertise transition without abandoning the niche.
### Growth Timeline and Metrics
- **Pre-2022**: Low activity, minimal followers (likely <1K), sporadic posts.
- **Late 2022**: Explosion with first viral threads (e.g., November "Simple SMC Strategy," 680 likes). Followers likely hit 10K+ by year-end.
- **2023 Peak**: Consistent 200-800 likes per post, threads going viral (e.g., February funded strategy). Grew to 50K+ by mid-year, fueled by ICT hype.
- **2024 Slowdown**: Shift to AI/SAAS content (e.g., September "I’m quitting this account," 39 likes) reduced trading posts, but legacy followers stuck around. Total: ~75K, with ~10-20% active based on recent engagement (e.g., August 2025 replies get 1-4 likes).
- Overall: High RR (risk-reward) in content—low-effort threads yielded high shares/views, compounding via algorithm pushes.
In summary, the "blow-up" was fueled by delivering free, digestible value in a hot niche, backed by proof and honesty, during a time when retail trading boomed. This created organic shares and follows without heavy promotion.
If anyone remembers the trade-blocker project I was working on a year ago, my partner continued working on it.
Here’s just a quick demo video of how it works.
Currently built for MacOS & website, will expand it into IOS & Android if there is demand for it.
Blocks all trading applications to prevent emotional trading until timer expires.
Lmk if this has potential or you guys don’t think it’s viable anymore.
Waitlist form below if you are interested in this product ⬇️
Umair retweeted
Day 82 building my startup
- Synchronized task status between student view & personal dashboard
- Mentor assigned task now show up in student dashboard
- Got 1.4k views on reddit post
- Decided our business phrase is now "gamifying mentorships"
This journey is very brutal & cold, but the end goal is worth striving for.
Umair retweeted
Day 81 building my startup
- Implemented workspace functionality
- Added calendar & task features
- Added symbols for workspace tasks
- Built reddit karma to 8
- Setup linkedIn automation to outreach to mentors
Made my enemies surrender
What enemies did you defeat today?
Umair retweeted
Day 80 building my startup
- Continued working on the in progress & completed functionality tasks
- IG reels starting to hit algorithm
- Getting Karma up on reddit to start making posts on there
- Played around with v0 by vercel
Sat in the snow pondering about the enemies I took down yesterday.
How was your day?
Umair retweeted
I was the shy quiet kid back in high school.
I hated it.
School was hell for me,
yet these damn kids were having so much fun.
I realized I needed to get out of my comfort zone.
I started to go up to people,
try striking conversations.
Every cell in my body told me
“Just stay in your seat”.
I eventually started making new friends.
But, the wrong kind.
I started failing my classes,
influenced into vaping,
yet I was having so much fun.
I went through a series of events that put me back into the right path.
I went back into my quiet & shy shell.
But I had learned one very important lesson,
the ability to go past your comfort zone.
When I first started social media,
all my friends & family made fun of me,
yet I knew the potential beyond this discomfort.
When I started having meetings with clients,
I was so damn nervous to talk,
I let my partners do the talking.
Yet I decided to push through this discomfort to being able to be the main talker in the meetings.
I had to restart my social media account from 70k followers down to 0.
But I know the potential beyond this discomfort.
The lesson?
It’s okay if your shy
It’s okay if your weak
It’s okay if your a failure
But it’s not okay to stay the same
Push past your comfort zone!
Umair retweeted
It’s 2020
I’m working at my dad’s office 60-70hrs,
while doing college.
I turn 18 & open a Robinhood account.
I turned $50 into $80 in 3 days.
Excited, I deposit $500.
I lose all of it overnight.
My mind can’t comprehend it.
I didn’t lose $500,
I lost hundreds of hours of work.
(I’m also only paid $3.75/hr at the time)
The same thing happens for the next 6 months.
All my friends & family made fun of me.
It was my lowest moment in life.
Finally I made $3,000 in profit.
And lost it all again.
This continued for the next 2 years.
But my mind became numb to money,
I also brought some friends on the journey with me.
In 2022,
I finally start consistently making money,
& also started learning code on the side.
I start a Twitter account sharing my journey & grew it to 30k in 3 months.
I also managed to achieve 700k in funding with prop firms.
Bought my dream first car.
Life was peaking,
but not for long.
All the prop firms I traded with shut down 1 by 1.
In June 2023, I came across AI Automation Agency.
I spent thousands learning from experts,
and worked with a few clients for free.
It didn’t really end up going anywhere until we got to work with a 9 figure client.
It was such a big project for us,
but me & my friends coding experience wasn’t good enough.
We partnered with this guy who apparently had a dev team.
After working with him for a month,
he was just bluffing & was greedy for money.
I kicked him out & eventually found a good dev who helped us for free.
I liked the dev so much he became our CTO.
We finished the project, but ran into another problem.
API costs were too high.
The client wasn’t accepting it.
We spent days trying to figure a solution,
so much so to the point my friend broke down.
But I didn’t give up.
Eventually we found a solution,
& finally delivered to the client.
Calling this a client is an understatement.
They were a role model to us.
We learned how we need to operate in order to become a billion dollar company.
At this time I eventually stop coding as I got too caught up in marketing.
We got to work with another 8 figure company for a small project.
We also built an AI appraisal tool for another company,
which is now used by the largest Appraisal company in Canada.
A finally had a realization.
The agency model is not scalable to a billion compared to other models.
We decide to go all in on SAAS.
From our experiences, all the PM tools we used suck.
So we built our own.
We launched a beta in 1 month,
& got 70 users.
After feedback, we launch a new version on Aug 26th.
Our vision is to be if discord & trello had a baby.
I realize our scope is too broad & that we need to niche down.
So now we are focusing on mentors first.
I used some of my trading connections to give feedback on our wireframe,
& with their green light we are building it out now.
This is where we are currently!
Oh & also, I started coding again too 😉
I hope you guys enjoyed that,
I’ll be posting my journey here & lessons I learn from other founders.
(No I’m not dead 😂)
