Good morning, traders…
There’s one trait, above all others, that separates the winners from the losers in the options market.
I’m not talking about after-hours studying, waking up earlier, or marking up your charts…
The difference comes down to something much simpler.
It’s about knowing exactly what you’re looking for every time you trade.
Not sort of, not maybe. Precisely.
You need specificity — the ability to spot your go-to setups like the back of your hand (and avoid everything else).
Most traders can’t grasp this. They chase anything that “looks good.” Or worse, they jump into trades because the name is popular on social media and they have a fear of missing out (FOMO).
And while that might work once or twice, it’s not a recipe for long-term success. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Meanwhile, consistent winners have a very different approach. They’re like hunters, patiently waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger.
They’re clear on their game plan, disciplined in execution, and completely unbothered by the thousands of trades they pass on.
Today, I’ll show you how harnessing specificity can completely transform your trading for the better…
Why Specificity Matters
The best traders I know are some of the most discerning people I’ve ever met.
They’re not just looking for trades that might make money. They’re calculated. They’re hunting for the trades that fit their specific game plan.
They know their ideal setup inside and out:
- What the chart should look like…
- Where the stock is trading in relation to its support and resistance…
- How volume should confirm the move…
- How much risk they’re willing to take on the trade…
- Where their stop loss will be before they even click “Buy.”
And if a trade doesn’t tick every box on their checklist, they pass. No second-guessing, no FOMO, no regrets.
This level of specificity does a few things for you:
- It keeps you out of bad trades…
You’re not throwing darts in the dark — you’re only taking trades with a higher probability of success.
- It eliminates emotional decision-making…
When you know what you’re looking for, you don’t hesitate or second-guess. You trust your process.
- It leads to a repeatable and consistent process…
Consistency is the secret sauce of trading success. And you can’t be consistent if your setups are all over the place.
How to Build Your Trading Checklist
Recently, I talked about the importance of making a checklist for every potential trade.
These are the three factors I’d look for:
Checklist Item #1: Smart Money Volume
The first thing I look for is volume, but not just any volume…
I want to see massive trades from institutional Smart Money players. These aren’t random bets, they signal that big players have high conviction in a move.
If I see millions of dollars pouring into a single options contract on my OMEN Scanner, I know it’s time to pay attention.
But volume alone isn’t enough to get me into a trade…
Checklist Item #2: Confirmation on the Chart
The chart confirms whether I’ll take action.
I’m looking for key support and resistance levels to hold or break as expected.
For example, if a stock breaks above resistance and holds it as new support, that’s often a strong signal to consider.
Similarly, if it’s bouncing off a known support level on lower-volume pullbacks, it might be setting up for a move higher.
If I don’t see a great pattern on the chart, I pass. Smart Money volume by itself doesn’t mean much.
We need both.
Checklist Item #3: News Catalyst
A news catalyst (while not required) is a bonus for any potential setup.
It might be earnings, sector news, or a major event that adds momentum to the trade.
When all three criteria align — volume, chart, and catalyst — it’s a setup I can trade with conviction.
Notice how specific that is. I know exactly what I want to see before I pull the trigger.
Now it’s your turn.
Take some time to review your recent trades. Which ones worked best for you? What patterns or setups stood out?
Build your checklist from those. And once you’ve proven that it works, stick to it.
Recognizing “No-Trades”
The other day, I saw a stock making a big move. It had some news behind it, momentum was strong, and the price action was tempting.
I almost jumped in, but something didn’t sit right…
The volume wasn’t quite what I like to see on a breakout. And it hadn’t closed above resistance yet. It was just testing it.
So, I passed.
The next day, the stock tanked nearly 10%…
If I’d gone against my rules and jumped in because I didn’t want to miss out, I would’ve paid dearly for it.
But by sticking to my checklist, I avoided an unnecessary loss.
This is the kind of discipline you need to develop if you want to make consistent money in the options market.
It’s not easy, but the more you trust your process and stick to your checklist, the easier it gets.
Why Less = More
Most successful traders make the majority of their gains on a few big wins each year.
In other words, they don’t make their money from trading more … they make it from trading better.
They’re picky. They wait for the best setups. And they’re perfectly okay sitting on their hands if nothing fits their criteria.
I want you to be just as picky with your trades.
Be a hunter, not a scattershot. Build your checklist, and don’t stray from it.
You don’t need to catch every move to win at trading, you just need to catch the strongest and most high-probability moves.
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
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