Good morning, tradersā¦
Itās the reason most people get into trading, and ironically, itās also the part that trips them up the mostā¦
You might think that trading is all about making more of it, but the way you feel about money plays an even bigger role than most realize.
Weāve all met that certain type of person ā¦ they canāt stand to lose a dollar, and view any financial risk as an emotional rollercoaster.
Others might have the opposite problem ā¦ degenerate gamblers addicted to the thrill of making random bets without putting any thought into it whatsoever.
Neither of these mindsets leads to success in the options market. In fact, they both lead to abject failure.
Trading requires a unique mentality. One that respects money (without coveting it) and takes calculated risks (without gambling).
If you let money become an emotional trigger, your trading decisions will start to reflect hope, fear, and frustration rather than a proven process.
The goal is to treat money as a tool, not a scorecard for self-worth or a source of stress.
Let me show you how a few simple shifts can transform your āmoney mindsetā (and improve your trading psychology overnight)…
Trade Like a Video Game
Iāll give you some advice no one else will: think of trading like a video game.
The market is the āmap,ā so to speak, and dollars are simply points in the game. Theyāre tools to be used strategically to advance your position.
In a game, the focus isnāt on what points can buy in real life ā¦ itās on using them wisely to win.
The same applies to trading. Treating dollars as game pieces helps take the emotional weight off each trade.
It encourages better decision-making, patience, and the ability to walk away when the odds arenāt in your favor.
Donāt think about what that money couldāve bought ā think about how that money can grow your account.
Traders who embrace this mindset cut losses faster, protect their capital, and wait for high-probability setups instead of forcing tradesā¦
Weāre here to win the game.
The Dark Side of Money Management
Risking money naturally triggers emotions ā excitement after a win or frustration after a loss.
But emotions and money donāt mix well. As much as you can, you want to trade like The Terminator.
Letting a loss get under your skin often leads to chasing bad trades.
On the flip side, getting overconfident after a win can lead to taking on too much risk.
The goal is to stay level-headed, regardless of whatās happening in the account.
As strange as this may sound, you need to detach yourself from the importance of money.
Trading should be (kind of) boring. If you notice your heartbeat racing in a trade, youāre risking way too muchā¦
Respect the Risk (But Donāt Fear It)
A healthy relationship with money means understanding risk and accepting it, not avoiding it or taking reckless chances.
Some traders hesitate to pull the trigger (even when the setup is perfect), while others go all-in and risk way too much to be comfortable.
SPOILER ALERT: Both groups are doomed.
Risk should always be intentional and controlled. Knowing exactly how much to risk on each trade will take a lot of the stress out of the equation.
A good rule of thumb is to never risk more than youāre willing to lose. How much is that? Itās easy to figure out.
Before entering a position, ask yourself: How would you feel if you lost that money?
If the loss would be anything more than a minor blip on the radar, itās time to size down.
Separate Your Money from Your Identity
One of the biggest mental traps in trading is tying self-worth to the ups and downs of an account balance.
Itās easy to feel like a rip-roaring success story after a big win or a hopeless failure after a tough loss, but this is a recipe for disasterā¦
Individual trade results donāt define your value. Losses and drawdowns are unavoidable, even for the best traders in the world.
What separates the best from the 90% who quit is the ability to identify their mistakes (and eliminate them).
Your relationship with money has a huge effect on how you trade. When money is seen as a tool rather than an emotional burden, trading becomes less stressful and more strategic.
Think of dollars as points in a game. The same way poker players view chips on the table.
Theyāre tools to grow your account and win the game.
The traders who last for decades arenāt the ones who chase money blindly. Theyāre the ones who respect it, manage it well, and focus on improving their craft every day.
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
P.S. You donāt need a fancy setup.
You donāt need a bunch of āalgosā and āindicators.ā
You donāt need to spend all day watching charts.
And you donāt need a lot of money.
All you need is a working phone, internet connection, and a trading accountā¦
And you could begin targeting gains up to 20%… 39%… 100%… 148%… 200%… and even 300%…*
*Past performance does not indicate future results
