Good morning, traders…
During dinner last night, my wife asked me a simple question that stopped me mid-bite:
“How was your trading day?”
Innocent enough. But my answer revealed a priceless truth about my trading psychology.
I spent five minutes explaining why one of my positions was “temporarily” down 20%. How the setup was still valid. How Smart Money was probably shaking out weak hands. How I just needed more time for the trade to work.
My son interrupted: “Dad, it sounds like you lost money but don’t want to say it.”
That’s when it hit me…
I’ve been teaching my two older boys (13 and 14) to paper trade lately. Since they’re not risking real money yet, they analyze positions with zero emotional attachment.
At their age, gains and losses are just numbers on a screen. No mortgage payments depending on the outcome. No groceries to buy. No retirement dreams riding on each trade.
This gives me a unique window into what 100% emotion-free trading analysis looks like. And watching them made me realize something: they cut through the noise instantly.
When I describe a losing position and my 14-year-old asks, “Why don’t you just sell it if it’s not working?” … I know my ego is driving the decision.
When my wife’s eyes glaze over during my explanation, I know I’m talking my book instead of stating facts.
But as traders, we need to close this gap. We need to see our trades as clearly as others do.
Let Me Show You Why Your Family And Friends Are Better At Identifying Your Bad Trades Than You Are…
The Sunday Confession
Every Sunday dinner, I give my family a one-minute trading update. Sixty seconds to summarize the entire week.
This forces clarity. No time for justifications or elaborate stories. Just results.
For example: “I made 15% on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) calls, lost 8% on SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) puts, and skipped three setups that would’ve cost me money.”
If I can’t explain my week clearly to my family, I wasn’t thinking clearly while trading it.
The Cocktail Party Test
Ask yourself: Could you explain the rationale behind your current positions to a stranger at a cocktail party in 30 seconds?
Not the complex analysis behind them. Just what you own, why you own it, and when you’ll exit.
If your explanation requires complex background knowledge, multiple charts, or defensive language — your position is emotional, not logical.
Simple Trades Create Simple Explanations.
Complex Explanations Hide Simple Mistakes.
Your Dinner Table Assignment
Tonight, tell someone about your current open positions. It could be family, friends, or even your dog.
Pay attention to:
- How many words you use to describe winners vs. losers…
- Whether you blame external factors for your mistakes…
- Your mentality after the trade vs. before…
- How defensive your language sounds…
The way you talk about trades when money isn’t moving predicts how you’ll act when it is.
Record yourself if needed. The disconnect between what you think you’re saying and what you’re actually saying might shock you.
Your dinner table vocabulary is your trading psychology report card.
What grade are you earning tonight?
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
P.S. Tim Bohen is about to reveal the same secret that helped him target single-day peak gains of:
199% with MBIO…*
252% with CYN…*
352% with MCVT…*
414% with SBET…*
And many, many more…*
And according to Tim’s research, the potential this secret offers could EXPLODE after Labor Day weekend…
That’s why TONIGHT, August 29th at 8 p.m. EST … We’re hosting an urgent LIVE trade briefing, so you can uncover all the details behind this opportunity for yourself.
But you only have a few hours left to sign up…
*Past performance does not indicate future results
