Good morning, traders…
The single most valuable asset a trader can possess isn’t a well-timed market tip, a big account, or an Ivy League MBA…
Your most important trait is humility.
After 22 years in the markets, I’ve realized that humility isn’t an option (excuse the pun).
It’s the pre-eminent personality trait for long-term success in trading.
But sometimes, it’s tough to stay humble, especially when you’re winning.
After big wins, I’m constantly reminding myself that I’m not a genius, I’m not God. I’m just a trader who strung some good plays together.
I want you to do the same.
If you’re not careful, overconfidence can creep and reverse all of the gains you’re currently stoked on.
This is your secret weapon in the options market…
Why Humility Matters
A couple of weeks ago, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) crashed after its Q3 earnings report.
I caught the absolute peak move with put contracts for a 1,454% gain.*
That’s a 15x return … in one day.*
This is where I could fall into the trap of overconfidence.
I could decide I’m unstoppable, increase my position sizes, and loosen my rules.
But I know getting cocky can lead to disaster…
If I think I can’t lose, I will lose.
This paradox is especially apparent in the options market, where weekly contracts can lose 30%-50% of their value in minutes.
That’s why I always try to remind myself to stay humble, even when I’m on a red-hot run of huge wins.
Because those wins aren’t solely due to my trading chops.
Skill and edge are crucial in the market, but luck also plays an important role.
And if it wasn’t for my OMEN Scanner, I wouldn’t have discovered any of these trades.
But even with the right tools, you need to have the right mindset. One that allows you to avoid the feeling of invincibility.
Here are three reasons to stay humble in the options market…
Accepting Uncertainty
Trading with humility allows us to accept the inherent uncertainty of the market.
The stock market is unpredictable. You never know what’s gonna happen in a trade.
No matter how much research you do or how confident you are in your predictions, you can always be surprised.
And if you’re overconfident or incorrectly positioned, these surprises could ruin you.
But if you know you’re at the mercy of the market’s fluctuations, you’ll be better prepared to act quickly when the unexpected happens.
Learning from Losses
Humility also teaches us to view losses not as failures, but as opportunities to improve.
You will face losses in your trading — it’s an unavoidable part of the game. The important part is how you react to those losses.
If you approach bad trades with humility…
Analyzing your losses, understanding what went wrong, and adjusting your strategies accordingly, you can turn those losses into priceless lessons.
But if you think you’re invincible…
Blaming market sentiment, algorithms, and other traders when you lose money, those losses will cause pure pain (with no benefit).
The Winning Approach
Humility can also help your risk management.
Overconfidence can lead to taking unnecessary risks, like putting a huge % of your account into a single trade (or ignoring stop losses).
By all means, pat yourself on the back when you make a good trade…
But don’t continually bask in the glory of your wins, thinking you’re an unstoppable savant destined for greatness.
Stick to your risk management plan no matter what.
If you stay humble, you’re far more likely to take a winning approach.
Like the approach I used to make 2500% gains in my trading account.*
$50 into $1,260 in just 2 months…*
I’ll teach you my 5 best-performing options strategies at my LAST Options Bootcamp of 2025…
This Wednesday & Thursday, December 10-11.
This is your LAST CHANCE to reserve a seat:
Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill
*Past performance does not indicate future results. Not typical.
