Good morning, traders…

I woke up this morning and thought, “Today is a beautiful day.”

But a phrase like that can hold unfinished business. 

We say it. We feel it. But do we lean into it? Do we let it frame our mindset before diving into everything else? 

That thought is still with me as I’m writing this email. 

And that simple realization has me thinking about habits, surprises, and the benefits of sticking to simple routines. 

Today, I’ll show you:

• The hidden factor that influences 42% of your trading.
  
• A sneak peek at a new service I’m launching, what’s behind it, and why one amazing community member deserves the spotlight.
  
• A secret insight to help sharpen your mindset and guard against complacency.

One Tiny Shift In Your Routine Could Be The Reason Your Next Trade Hits Bigger (And Feels Easier)…

The Power of Habits

According to research from behavioral experts, habits are estimated to make up more than 40% of our everyday actions. 

That means two things:

1. We don’t even think about almost half of what we do. 
2. If we build the right habits, the right actions will follow.

It’s muscle memory, autopilot, the patterns we slip into, consciously or not. 

This is why the rituals that bookend your trading day matter so much. How you open your trading platform, check charts, breathe, prepare, plan, review setups — they’re crucial. 

Do the following:

Reflect before you trade. Don’t jump into the market cold. Quiet your heart and mind. Meditate on the day’s goals. 

Write down your top 1–2 setups. Not everything you could trade. Only the setups that check all of your boxes. If nothing’s there? That’s your answer. No trade can be the best trade. 

Review yesterday’s trades. What did you do well? What felt forced? Don’t skip this. It reminds you that yesterday’s emotion shouldn’t set today’s tone.

Keep your charts clean. Leave the indicators you regularly use and remove the rest. 

Talk it out with a friend. A trading peer can give you priceless, objective insight into mistakes you might be glossing over. 

A Brand-New Options Course

It’s time to announce a brand-new service: the Options Accelerator Course.

At no cost, you’ll get:

• A curriculum-style course that takes you step-by-step from setting up ThinkorSwim to executing breakout and pullback trades, with built‑in flashcards and self‑quizzes to reinforce learning.
  
• It’s not just videos. It’s guided, tested, and mapped. You get notes, setup files, flashcards, and quizzes at each step.
  
• The goal is to move you from “I don’t know that I don’t know” to “I do know—and it’s second nature.”

I can’t take credit for this one. This was Brian’s brainchild. He’s one of our Smart Money Trading service members, but he has the heart and mind of a teacher. 

He suggested we build something structured, layered, and interactive — and he put in the work. He edited the lectures, created the flashcards, wrote the quizzes, and designed this foundation. 

If you see Brian in the chat, say thanks. I couldn’t ask for a better partner to build this service alongside.

How to Combat Complacency and Overconfidence

One last thing I want to leave you with today: you must protect your mindset (especially when things are going great). 

My two trading accounts are up 50% and 100% in the last three weeks.* 

That feels great. But when things feel too good, danger sneaks in.

When you’re on a hot streak, you need to be even more strict about risk management. Confidence can morph into complacency … fast. 

So here’s the mindset shift:

• Humility is your friend. Think of yourself less, not less of yourself. You’re good—but the market is still writing its own rules. Let’s not hand it an opening.
  
• Periodically reset. Pull your trading account back down to a manageable baseline after a run. Put some money in your savings account. Lock up your gains outside of your brokerage platform.
  
• My Grandma used to say, “Don’t get too big for your britches.” I used to see that as limiting; now I see it as freeing. She meant, “Stay humble and remember your roots, even when you’re doing well.” That’s always stuck with me, and I repeat the phrase any time I’m feeling overconfident. 

If your account is up right now, celebrate. Be proud. 

But don’t let the high notes cloud your judgment. 

Keep your rules tight. Stay humble. Let gratitude guide you, not ego.

Today is indeed a beautiful day. Let’s build on it with intention, structure, and humility. 

Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill

P.S. Want to learn how to execute trades like this?*

The best place to start is in our Smart Money Workshops.

Stop missing the best setups in the options market. 

Join us TOMORROW, August 15 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

The opportunity is yours. You just have to take it. 

*Past performance does not indicate future results