A Trading Lesson From the ER

I had to take my 7 year old to the ER for stitches. 

You know how they do in First Grade.

Work hard. Play harder.

He handled it like a champ.

Although halfway through he started writing what looked like a Civil War soldier’s farewell letter.

“Should I not survive this operation, know that I fought bravely.

Your loving son…”

It felt a bit dramatic.

His little brother asked me how it happened. I told him the only responsible answer a father can give: “Snitches get stitches.”

Because I’m a good parent.  

But sitting there for six hours got me thinking about something we traders struggle with.

The real cost of pretending you’re fine to trade when you’re not.

I’m tired. My brain is fried. My emotional bucket is empty. 

Even when it’s “just stitches,” six hours of keeping your kid calm and brave in the ER will drain you.

A few years ago, I would be trading today anyway.

Didn’t matter if my head wasn’t right. Didn’t matter if my body was shot.

That’s FOMO.

Now the situation is different.

It’s not just my account on the line.

My clients get daily analysis from me every night. Videos, charts, screenshots. Walking them through exactly how to read the market.

It’s a huge part of how they learn to see what I see.

And if I’m not in the right head space, there’s real potential their accounts will pay for it as much as mine.

Now here’s the uncomfortable truth.

As an educator, I’d love to know everything.

Even more than that…

I’d love for my clients to think I know everything.

That’s PRIDE.

Combine FOMO and PRIDE, and you get a very dangerous equation in trading.

FOMO + PRIDE = DRAWDOWN.

Not just for me, but for anyone who’s listening to me.

So today I’m an observer until my mind and body are ready.

The market isn’t going to zero. There will always be another trade. 

Don’t test your capital to find out how long it can withstand thinking otherwise.

As I told one of my clients recently: Sometimes the best trade is not taking one.

Thanks for reading,

Jason

P.S. Should word of my condition reach the homestead, kindly inform Mother I remain in good spirits… and my Futures Trading Checklist is available for free download.