The difference between gambling and trading is one word: process.

I lost money for years before I figured this out. I could read a chart but I failed because I had no system underneath that surface level understanding.
Three things changed everything: Structure first. Before any trade, I identify the environment. Trending? Ranging? Compressing? If I can't answer that, I don't take a trade. Most people skip this entirely and wonder why their setups keep failing in different conditions.
Then narrative. What's actually driving this move? Is there a catalyst, a macro shift or a sentiment rotation? Structure shows you where price is. Narrative shows you why it could move. Without both, you're still gambling.
Then and only then execution. Entry, invalidation, stop loss, target, thesis. These are the foundation built entirely on the first two steps. Not on your gut feeling. Not on someone else's call. Not on what you 'hope' happens.
I spent years doing none of these steps: instead just 'trading' on vibes and a chart. Most of you are closer to where I was than where I am now.