Good morning, traders…

When you’re chasing a big goal — something that really matters to you — you tend to focus on the upside.

You picture the glory, the success, the moment when it all clicks. And that’s not a bad thing. That kind of optimism is what gets us started.

But most people don’t realize until after they’ve arrived: the reality rarely matches the version you imagined. 

There are always trade-offs and challenges you didn’t see coming.

Options trading is no different.

Before I became a full-time trader, I only saw the benefits. No boss. No commute. Unlimited income potential. 

And while those things are absolutely real, so are the hard parts no one talks about.

I love what I do. I’m grateful every day that I get to trade (and teach) for a living.

But I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you the whole truth: trading isn’t easy. 

And if you want to succeed long-term, you need to understand the pros and cons of professional trading…

The Pros of Trading

Let’s start with some of the biggest upsides to life as a trader…

Personal Freedom

Few things matter more to me than my personal freedom — and trading gives me exactly that.

I get to do what I want, when I want.

If I don’t feel like trading one day, no boss is breathing down my neck, telling me I have to.

When I’d rather hang out with my kids instead of staring at the screen, I can. No one’s writing me up or threatening my job.

On top of that, I can trade from anywhere in the world.

Trading gives me (and you) the ability to make money from just about anywhere, as long as you’ve got a laptop and a decent internet connection.

No boss. No rigid schedule. No one to answer to. Just me and my OMEN Scanner…

That kind of freedom is hard to find in any other career. 

Flexible Hours

Most careers demand 40–80 hours per week of focused work.

But trading is totally different.

Unlike the vast majority of careers, there’s no direct link between how long you sit at the desk and how much money you make.

Some of the most effective traders I know only trade part-time. And some of the cleanest trades can happen in mere minutes. 

The flexible hours make it a great side hustle for people with day jobs — or stay-at-home parents who want to pick up a real skill and make some money.

Not many side hustles give you the potential to earn thousands of dollars from your phone.

Unlimited Profit Potential

In most careers, there’s a ceiling on how much money you can make — or how far you can climb the ladder.

But not in trading.

If you work hard and can handle risk, the upside is theoretically limitless. 

You don’t need anyone’s permission to “move up.” Your results are in your hands.

Just look at Tim Sykes again…

He started with $12,415 of Bar Mitzvah money and ended up making $2 million before he even graduated from college.

He built a system. Learned how to read the market. And he stuck with it.

To date, he’s made over $7.9 million as a trader. He’s a great example of what’s possible — if (and only if) you’re willing to put in the work.

But let’s be clear: these results aren’t typical. Most people won’t commit to the process like that.

And like anything worthwhile, trading has its downsides…

The Cons of Trading

Let’s get to the part you don’t want to hear (but need to): the downsides of trading…

No Guaranteed Income

Most jobs hand you a paycheck every two weeks. But not trading. 

There’s no guaranteed income. Ever.

Some stretches might go great. Others, not so much.

You’ve got to be okay with that. If you can’t stomach a dry spell, trading will mess with your mindset — and your wallet.

The right mindset accepts this reality before it starts trading. 

90% of Traders Lose Money

Here’s an even tougher pill to swallow: Most traders lose money.

Traditional jobs just pay you. Simple. You can’t lose money working at Costco…

In contrast, trading exposes you to real financial risk. No risk, no reward. 

You’ll take losses. Hopefully, they’re small and manageable. But they’re going to happen.

And the reason most traders fail is because they don’t control those losses. 

They don’t use a system. They overtrade. They size up without a plan.

If you want to make it in this business, you have to learn how to take a loss — and keep it small.

That’s non-negotiable.

You’re On Your Own

Trading is mostly a solo act…

You don’t have coworkers sitting near you. You don’t have team lunches or a breakroom to vent in.

For some people, that’s totally fine. They prefer it.

But many folks — regardless of how independent they think they are — eventually feel the weight of isolation.

That’s exactly why I built this trading community. 

I wanted a space where traders could share ideas, support one another, and learn to crush the markets together.

And speaking of learning together…

Last earnings season, we had 100 winning trades in a row in Earnings Edge — don’t miss the next 100…*

Join the great Danny Phee for LIVE EARNINGS WORKSHOP — This SATURDAY, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST.

The best traders don’t stop grinding just because it’s the weekend — Click here to reserve your seat.

Happy trading,

Ben Sturgill

*Past performance does not indicate future results