Happy Friday, traders…
Ben here.
Picture this…
You’re in the middle of a trade. You have calls and the chart is pulling back. Your heart’s pounding. Your stop-loss is set, but doubt creeps in — should you move it?
“It’s okay to break my rules. This one will turn around,” you tell yourself … only to watch the stock plummet, turning your trade from green to red.
Or maybe you hesitate and don’t take a perfect setup when all the signals are screaming “BUY!”, missing out on triple-digit gains in the process.
Does any of this sound familiar?
I see it every day in the chat. The same struggles, the same frustrations. Lack of confidence, stop-loss indecision, FOMO, messy execution, bad timing. It’s a pattern, and it’s holding you back.
And I get it. Trading is hard. But the truth is, some traders make it harder than it needs to be.
I hear people say, “There’s nothing good to trade right now.” Meanwhile, I just locked in a 200% gain on SBUX and a 300% gain on NKE — all in under five hours.
So what’s really going on?
The market isn’t against you. It’s not “untradeable.” The real challenge is internal. It’s you.
Your habits, your mindset, your execution. That’s what’s making trading this market feel like an uphill battle.
And that’s why I’m writing this…
It isn’t about calling you out — it’s about waking you up. Because the traders who recognize their weak spots (and fix them) are the ones who learn, grow, and make serious money.
Yesterday, I broke down five of the biggest problems I notice my students dealing with.
And today, we’re finishing up the list with Part II…
6. “Frustrated When It Hits My Entry and Then Drops”
Nothing is more frustrating than getting stopped out right before a stock takes off. The fix? Better entries and smarter risk management.
- Instead of entering all at once, scale in — take a half position first and add if it confirms.
- Consider wider stops at key levels instead of tight stops that market makers love to hit.
- Keep track of how often this happens — if it’s a trend, your entries might be too aggressive.
7. “I Have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)”
FOMO leads to chasing trades, which usually means buying tops or getting in too late. The best way to fix it is to change how you think about trading:
- There’s always another trade: The market isn’t going anywhere. Missing one doesn’t mean missing all opportunities.
- Only take A+ setups: If you missed the ideal entry, move on.
- Use alerts: Instead of staring at charts all day, set price alerts so you don’t feel the urge to chase.
8. “Forgetting My Rules in the Moment”
When the adrenaline kicks in, logic goes out the window. This is where discipline beats emotions.
- Use a trading checklist: Before entering a trade, make sure it checks all of your boxes.
- Slow down: If you feel rushed, step away for 30 seconds before making a decision.
- Trade less: More trades = more chances to mess up. Know when to walk away. Stick to quality over quantity.
9. “I’m Burnt Out Staring at Screens”
Burnout is real, and tired traders make bad decisions.
- Take breaks: Step away from screens during the trading day.
- Cut screen time: More time doesn’t mean better results — make a rule to leave your office as soon as the market closes.
- Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise: Your mind is your #1 trading tool. Take care of it.
10. “Hesitant to Size Up”
If your strategy is working, but you’re afraid to trade bigger, it’s time to level up.
- Increase size gradually: Instead of doubling up, increase by 10-20% at a time.
- Treat it like any other trade: Same rules, just bigger size. Don’t let the numbers scare you.
- Focus on risk, not dollars: A trade with a 1% risk should feel the same whether you’re trading $1,000 or $10,000.
Look, trading will always have its challenges — but most of the obstacles you’re facing aren’t coming from the market. They’re coming from you.
But that means you — and only you — have the power to fix them.
If you keep making the same mistakes, you’ll keep getting the same frustrating results. But the traders who recognize their weak spots and actively work to improve on them? There’s no telling how far they can go…
So take this as your wake-up call. Stop getting in your own way, start making the right adjustments, and watch how quickly things change.
Now, before we go, let’s look at:
💰The Biggest Smart Money Bets of the Day💰
- $10.5 million bullish bet on XLF 03/21/2025 $53 calls @ $0.70 avg. (seen on 1/30)
- $9.1 million bullish bet on GLD 02/21/2025 $260 calls @ $2.87 avg. (seen on 1/30)
- $3.5 million bullish bet on IBIT 03/21/2025 $64 calls @ $3.53 avg. (seen on 1/30)
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
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*Past performance does not indicate future results
