The Stock Trading Reality Podcast

“Today” (the day I recorded this episode) I was reminded of how I need to do a better job of deploying my critical thinking skills around the economic calendar. Thankfully the trade I was in turned out really well, but wow, the opposite could have just as easily been true. I know I've talked about the economic calendar before on the podcast; however, the lesson I was reminded of “today” is certainly one worth offering up to you as a reminder. Hopefully none of this is coming across as overly dramatic as that's not my intent. None of this is rocket science, but it does require a bit of thinking on our parts. Let me walk you through this experience and what it can teach/remind us of as active traders in the market.

My YouTube live streams continue to deliver these podcast episode ideas! This past week I had a few interactions that, once again, reminded me of how some people could better themselves as a trader by doing one simple thing. To be fair, I suppose it is not the simplest thing to do, but again, to be fair, it's also not in the realm of reasonableness to say this thing is impossible to do. I admit I probably get more frustrated than I should when I encounter these situations, but I can't stand watching someone make their life harder than it needs to be. I don't think I'll be saying anything ground breaking in this episode, but I do think some people (including myself at times) underestimate the far reaching issues. Let's talk about it!

The Trump Tweet. We're all aware as traders by now how a single press of a button can send the markets into full blow roller coaster mode. We're also aware of how a press conference about a certain topic can contain an off the cuff remark that, once again, sends the market into full blown roller coaster mode. I've been asked enough now the same general question where it makes sense to address it via a podcast. The question goes something like this, “Hey Clay, how do you navigate and manage this type of market where in the blink of an eye, everything goes crazy?!?!”. This is what I have been doing and will certainly continue to do. In fact, I will go as far as arguing that you are absolutely playing with fire if you aren't doing what I do.

More and more people are asking about AI and what I think the effects it will have on the markets. It's not a crazy question at all. Is AI something that is going to wreck the markets and destroy everything we know as traders? Are we going to be eaten alive by its vast intelligence and ability to think way quicker than we are? The core of the question is this: will there be any room for human traders, or are we going to become instinct? Let me give you my thoughts. Spoiler alert, it's a very simple reply due to some of the simple tools available to all of us in the trading world. Let's not overcomplicate this folks!

There is nothing worse we can do to ourselves as traders and investors than deceive ourselves. Deception can be a tricky thing. Self deception can be an even trickier thing. I wouldn't say I was shocked by the discovery, but the livestream on YouTube continues to deliver valuable lessons and reminders for us in the trading world. There is quite a bit of self deception occurring and I'm doing my best to put an end to it. I used to fall victim to it as it is something that seems to be totally innocent. The problem is, if you start playing the game you will begin to take yourself down the pathways which lead to confusion and headaches. Let me walk you through how this game is played and why it's so damaging. Avoiding this temptation will keep you grounded in reality and give you a much better chance to be efficient with your time.

Not a whole lot of money but want the opportunity to grow it fast? Looking for something that moves extremely quickly? Did you stumble upon someone explaining just how much money can be made with these small cap and low float stocks? Listen. I get it. I really do. Like most of us, when we first get started on our trading journey we don't have a whole lot of capital to work with. Because of this, the logic follows that by trading these types of stocks we'll be able to create more capital and then maybe we can consider a bit less volatile assets. I recently got a comment on YouTube that really drives home a concept that many beginner day traders are not aware of. Whether or not you choose to take the path i describe in this episode is up to you; however, I do with 100% confidence believe it is a pathway you need to, at least, be made aware of. Let's get to it!

Do you have the entire context when it comes to risk management? This is a critical skill within the world of trading and one that must be mastered if you want any true chance at success. Perhaps you're now asking, “How do we determine the entire context for risk?” Well, in all actuality, it revolves around a single question. Once you answer this question, the numbers will drive themselves from there. Without this question however, you won't be able to proceed forward in any coherent manner. Yes, you'll be able to proceed and potentially think you are doing a good job, but you aren't. I had an interaction with someone on the livestream who stated with confidence they were managing risk and gave me what they were doing. Spoiler Alert, they had a gaping hole in their plans. Let me walk you through this important question you should always be asking yourself as a trader!

Hmmmm… is this type of trading fake? That's what I was recently told and perhaps you've heard someone make the same claim. This interaction happened on a live stream which was ideal as I could interact with this person in real time. Did this person bring hardcore evidence to the table to support their claim? Were they able to present a case that did indeed expose this trading strategy as fake? I think it's worth examining their claims and seeing if they carry with them any merit. My goal with myself and for this podcast is to always seek after efficiency and the truth. If we're doing something wrong, then I think I speak for most people in wanting to learn from it so we can, by default, do what is considered right/efficient. Let's dig in and see if there's any logic behind these claims.

Do you find yourself struggling in an area of your trading? You aren't alone! The world of trading is a constant struggle. Oftentimes, it's the struggle against all those crazy voices in our head that want us to do really stupid things. Other times, it can be more of a unique struggle that won't be the same for everyone. In this episode of the podcast, I wanted to take the time to share with you a recent problem and struggle I've been experiencing. I also want to discuss what the solution to this problem was and how the solution played out in the real world (no worries, this won't be one of those “I read in a book this is how the solution is supposed to work, in theory”). For some of you, maybe you are having the same problem and not even aware of it? Maybe you have a struggle and can't quite pinpoint exactly what is causing the struggle. Maybe my solution I talk about in this episode will be the exact solution you need? I can't say for certainty that my problem is going to be the same as you; however, I've talked to many traders over the years and I can say this problem is very common! Let me share with you the struggle I recently endured and what the ultimate solution was.

Unless you went outside, dug a hole, and shoved your head into it.. You know things have gotten pretty wild around the world from an economic standpoint. If you're anything like me and others know you're “in the markets”, you know things are getting dramatic when people start texting you with “you ok?”... “what is going on?”.. Etc. We're in a unique time and I want to point out what I believe to be the most important indicator to keep an eye on. It's already being talked about in the headlines somewhat, but for any of you who are loyal listeners, you know I've talked about this indicator for years. Trying to cut through all the headlines and opinions you see in the media and social media is essentially impossible. There's just too much of it! The indicator I share with you in this episode will tell you the true attitudes of people and their thoughts about all this tariff stuff. Let's get to it!

One of the more challenging parts of being a trader is figuring out the difference between good goals and bad goals. Unfortunately, this is not always a black-and-white situation where a goal is blatantly bad (or good). If you wonder why day trading failure rates are so high, in my opinion, I would say “goal setting” is one of those core reasons. I realize this sounds a bit backwards. Most of us growing up are taught to set goals, strive for goals, and of course… never give up until the goal is achieved! In so many areas of life, this is a fantastic attitude that will produce great results. In the world of trading however, the lines get blurred in a hurry. In this episode I want to talk through a goal that I think does more harm than good.

As I've now been live streaming for almost two months now, I've gathered many more real time interactions to my “experience database”. Over the years I've interacted with plenty of people through customer service emails, YouTube comments, and people joining my communities. There's something a bit more unique about the live stream as I can, in a sense, have a real time conversation with them. Through this, I've noticed a massive problem with traders of all experience levels. I have quickly begun to learn that regardless of the experience level, people do not understand the importance of “categories”. It may seem like a moot point, but it 100% is not! If the person you are interacting with begins to make assumptions,  you could be getting advice that is financially dangerous or just sending you down a pathway of wasted time. This is nothing complicated to implement, but it is certainly something you need to be doing as you network within the world of the financial markets. Let's discuss…

I truly hope after listening to this episode you are a bit angry at me because you feel as though I've wasted your time. I hope you are thinking the whole time, “Come on Clay! Really? You really needed to clarify this for me?!?!”. If this is indeed the case, I am so relieved and will have a bit more peace in my rest. Because, as you're about to see, what you may find super obvious is… unfortunately for some…. Not obvious. So in my defense, please cut me a little slack and graciousness as I apparently need to continue to do pieces of content like this to notify the public and those who are beginners of some realities. Is this a problem of pure greed or a problem of total ignorance? I'm not sure. I'll let you be the judge of that, but for my own sanity's sake, I wanted to do another podcast episode addressing the issue and trying to stop people from being a sucker!

It's taken me a while to gather my thoughts on this issue and organize them in a coherent manner. To be fair, maybe they are still all over the place and none of what I am going to talk about will make sense; however, I'm pretty sure it will! In the spirit of respecting your time, if you are a swing trader or an investor, PAM'SS PLANT is not for you. I suppose if you are one of those people who just enjoys all things money and income streams, you may still find this interesting. If you are someone who has ambitions to be a day trader, or is struggling to find a groove within the world of day trading, PAM'SS PLANT is something I believe will offer you a whole lot of value and opportunity. Let me walk you through PAM'SS PLANT and I'll leave it up to you to decide if you believe it could offer value to you and your goals!

I want to be a full time day trader! I've heard this said time and time again over the years. It's a super ambitious goal and one that I can't fault people for having. In the spirit of being brutally upfront: it's a TERRIBLE goal. Please! Before you go kicking me to the curb as some kind of hater or a person trying to send out negative vibes, hear me out! It won't take long, but if you give me a chance, I'll explain why this is a terrible goal and one that I would call borderline impossible. Am I saying you should stop day trading or not even try? Absolutely not! I do believe the proper context needs to be put into place so you can approach this craft in the wisest way possible. If you're still reading right now, I assume that means you are going to at least give me a chance to explain myself, so on that note, let's get to it!

This is more a public service announcement than anything else, but I want you to all be aware that I have begun live streaming during the lunchtime portion of the day. This is free and open to everyone and anyone. You don't need to be a premium member and you don't even need to be a subscriber to my YouTube channel (but if you're not… come on!!!). What's the live stream all about? What can you expect? I want to take a few brief moments and share with you some details so you can determine whether or not it is something you'd be interested in. Let's get to it!

I started claytrader.com back in 2013, so yeah, I've been asked quite a few questions over the years. The question that has got to be one of the most popular is this: “Hey Clay, what is the best indicator?” or, slightly varied, “what is your favorite indicator?”. While I can't say there is anything wrong with this question per-se, it does open the doors to some potentially very faulty ways of thinking about the market. If you are coming into this episode looking for a Holy Grail, then it's not what you'll get; HOWEVER… YOU are the exact person who needs to be listening to this! Even if you aren't looking for the Holy Grail, I would argue it's still worth listening to just to ensure you don't have any blind spots within your approach and understanding of trading and how technical charts work. Let's get to it!

Listen. I've lost count of how many stocks I have shorted over the years. It is a whole lot! As much as it pains me to say it (as it reveals a mistake on my part), I have wasted soooo much time over the years with shorting stocks. To be fair, when I first got started the abundance of new approaches to the market didn't exist; however, I stuck with shorting stocks way longer than I ever should have! What I should have been doing is something only slightly different, but way more time efficient! Let's discuss and see if it is something that can help save you from wasting times and experiencing headaches!

Let me say this upfront. I have no problem if you don't like prop firms and believe there to be better ways of going about growing as a trader. With that being said, I've seen some pretty bad critiques of prop firms that I would argue are arrived upon with logic filled with blind spots. While I'm not going to argue for prop firms per-se, I do want to make sure you, as a listener, are thinking through these choices with a full picture and understanding. I do admit, this critique is on the tricky side given the trueness of the critique. Perhaps you are now thinking, "Wait Clay... how can a "true" critique be "bad"???". A more than fair question, and that's what I want to address! Let's get to it.

In this episode, to those of you who are beginners and just getting started in the world of day trading, I want to introduce you to someone you will, without doubt, experience in your day trader journey. Who do I need to introduce you to? The dirty dog! Over my years of coaching other traders and running the YouTube channel, I've found that while it may not be the most popular way to go about growing an audience, setting expectations in line with reality is the best way to give someone a chance at success. If you show up in the market expecting something that is not reality… when “the thing” happens to you, you'll be caught off guard and not know what to think or do. When this occurs, the self-doubt arises which can lead to uncertainty and unnecessary changes to strategies and overall market approaches. The fact of the matter is, no strategy can avoid the dirty dog and that's exactly why I want you to meet the dirty dog as soon as possible as a beginner. Let's get to it!

I don't mean to be mean, but there are times where genuine care is just being blunt with someone… and that's what I need to do in this situation. I'm not sure how else to say it other than I am seeing some very stupid people out there in the trading world. Are you one of them? Be honest. No judgements on my part as I used to be King Stupid back in the day when I first got started. The awesome (and freeing) fact in this situation is if YOU are stupid, then guess what? YOU are the problem. But if YOU are the problem, then YOU are also the solution! The first step though in fixing the problem is to acknowledge a problem exists in the first place. So let's get to it: are you stupid???

The daily max loss. A risk management rule that has a whole lot of opinions surrounding it. I recently made a YouTube video discussing how a futures prop firm eliminated this rule. In sharing my thoughts, I received some interesting comments and wanted to address one in particular as I believe it opened the doors to explain a deeper reasoning for my logic. Whether you are trading stocks, options, future or anything else, considering where/if the daily max loss rule fits into your strategy is a wise choice to make for yourself. There are some lines of logic that do make really good sense on the surface (as the YouTube comment suggests); however, digging a bit further reveals something else that from my experience, many traders lose sight of. Let's discuss!

Throughout my years as a trader and coach/teacher, I've come to discover a very simple (yet very powerful) question. When people ask me one of the most common questions ever, “Should I hold or sell?”, I respond with something that exposes several issues. In this episode I hope to accomplish one of two things. Either you are the person who needs to be, politely, smacked in the face with this question, OR, you can use this question for someone when they ask you “should i hold or sell?”. If you are someone asking this question, then take a few minutes out of your day as I'll give you some valuable information to consider!  

If I were forced to give a one word arguement for futures trading, it would be this: flexibility. Futures trading is not a Holy Grail area of the market where you money begins to rain down from the sky; however, it is an area of the financial markets that give a whole lot of flexibility. This flexibilty can be explained via three reasons on why you should at least consider learning more. No worries. I'll give you some practical tips that you can use to both begin to learn about futures and enter into their world in a very risk friendly way! Let's get to it!

Are you thinking of getting into trading or have been struggling? Perhaps you've had a form of logic cross your mind via your own thoughts or via the input of someone else that, quite frankly, is really low grade and bad. To be fair, under certain circumstances and contexts, the logic used by some is totally accurate and applicable; however, if you are operating under the proper context of a responsible trader, you'll be just fine! There are many choices we need to make as day traders and swing traders. In many cases, the majority of the battle is ensuring we are using good logic to think through our decisions. I see the logic I talk about in this video time and time again. It's bad logic, but it's very common place among beginner traders and people who (to be blunt), have no idea what they're talking about. Let's make sure you are not allowing this bad logic to influence your trading decisions. 

While I can't make a guarantee, I can say there is a high probability you will be faced, at some point in your journey, with the question: should I change my trading platform? Let me be the first to tell you, changing platforms is a hassle. You will do dumb things. I am currently experiencing the hassle right now as I have switched to a new platform to trade futures. This is not the first time I've switched trading platforms; however, it's been a long time since I have done it. I wanted to offer up a few tips and tricks that will make your life easier and more efficient as you go through the transition. I also want to offer up the way in which I am doing all this in a very "risk wise" way. Given you're bound to do dumb things as you learn a new platform, we need to make sure our risk profile isn't way out of sync. Let's talk about it!

I've recently moved to Iowa and started to attend a new church. Why am I telling you this? I've had a couple people at the church take interest into trading and they are now members of my community. Because they are “friends in real life”, I have an insight that I've never really had before. They have a great and genuine interest and are working hard at the craft. I recently had an interaction with both of them that was an eye opening experience for them both, but in particular, Jim. I'm confident that you can use what Jim realized to position yourself in a better spot as a trader. It's nothing complicated, but it's something that can (and should) be leveraged to motivate yourself in the right ways as a trader. What was this experience and how can you use it? Let's discuss!

I've been talking about prop firms recently, particularly because I am now giving them a try. As I've quickly gained experience, I want to point out a trap that exists within the framework of how they work. Prop firms offer a whole lot of upside potential and require very little risk on your end monetarily speaking, but whether it is intentional or not is irrelevant, there is a trap that can create all kinds of pain and headaches. The good news is, the fix to this trap is very straight forward and can be prepared for if you approach all of this in the right way. What is the right way? What is this fix? I'll walk you through this and more in our episode. Let's get to it!

It's not always rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes people have complaints and sometimes those complaints pertain to us. If you would consider yourself a technical trader (or you are thinking of becoming one), then episode is for you. One of the key's to success is to welcome complaints and see if you have a valid response to them. Who knows, perhaps someone's complaint is valid and there needs to be a deeper consideration of what is being pointed out. Is this the case here? Nope. But, if you ever get this complaint thrown at you, let's make sure you know how to respond and.. politely… correct the person logging the complaint!

The past few weeks have been filled with confusion and frustration. Was I imagining things? Was I playing the victim card? Long story short, I was not! This has taken me on a new adventure that'll be interesting to see where it leads. Want more details? Well, you'll need to listen! (Spoiler: as you can tell from the title, I'm moving into futures with a prop firm). Want to join the firm I'm using? CLICK HERE https://takeprofittrader.com/?referralCode=CLAY

I had a question on a YouTube video and I wanted to address it via a podcast episode. At the core, it's a question of “which is better? Stocks or options?”. While some of you may already be familiar with the general mechanics of stocks and options, I want to step out of the world of theory and into the world of reality. I recently had a trade that helps illustrate the advantage of one asset class over the other. Books certainly have their place in learning, but when it comes to the world of trading, I'd argue using real case studies carry a whole lot more weight. Let's talk about stocks and option via a real life situation!

Maybe you're not aware, but we just concluded this thing we call a presidential election. This has lots of people talking and speculating and all of the above. I want to try and simplify it all in a very straight-forward manner for us as traders. I've been trading through several presidents at this point in my life, so while that does not make me correct about anything, it at least gives me a bit of real life experience I can build from. Let's get to it!

It was recently released that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is thinking of moving to a format where the stock market is open 22 hours a day. This is a huge event, assuming it happens. With that being said, I want to give my thoughts and cover a few details to provide a bit of clarity and consideration to the situation. Let's get to it!

If you aren't aware, let me tell you a secret: day trading is HARD! Because of this fact, we should be constantly on the lookout for any kind of tool that can assist us in our journey. I don't mean any kind of magical indicators or trading bots, but a tool that is designed to provide an additional angle to your thought process. In other words, you still need to be able to think for yourself. Anyone proclaiming a tool that does your thinking for you, run the other way! This tool though is very powerful and it is one you should highly consider arming yourself with. Let's get to it!

The rich just keep getting richer. In fact, there's an article out saying Elon Musk is on pace to become the first trillionaire relatively soon! This is a very hot topic for some, understandably so. How can someone who, already, a bunch of money just continue to see that amount grow and grow. How is that right? How does that happen? The point of this episode is not to convince you of anything, but rather, to offer an explanation and answer to those people who are bothered by this situation.

I assume you know this, but let me quickly make sure: trading is stressful. If you think you can walk into the world of trading and feel zero stress, I have some ocean front property in Iowa I would love to sell you! Due to this fact, any time “stress” in mentioned in the world from any context, I always do my best to listen. If I can learn something new about stress, the logic would follow that I could perhaps deal with it that much better within my trading. I came across an article about Mark Cuban and what he finds valuable within his employees. He mentioned a specific skill that I would say is at the forefront of trading success. There's also a couple other interesting data points about stress that I believe will serve as a reminder to use all, whether beginner trader or veteran. Let's get to it!

When you make an investment of any kind, what would be considered a ‘good' return? This is a more than valid question. We've worked hard for our money and want to be sure we're not being unwise with it. I've discovered that many beginners really have no idea what a good return on investment would be, which makes sense. The problem with this logical ignorance is you have no baseline to judge claims against. When you don't have a baseline, you can set yourself up for potential scams. Unfortunately, I've seen people getting scammed over and over again due to some very crazy claims. To be fair though, if you don't have a baseline, you aren't going to be able to identify something as ‘crazy' or not. Let's dig in a bit deeper.

One of the best moves you can make as a trader is to bust your own bubble! What do I mean? The more you can separate yourself from your personal strategy, the better your personal strategy can become. I understand that may not make a whole lot of sense, but let me explain in this episode! Thanks for a back-and-forth with someone on YouTube, it prompted the idea as the person I was dealing with was, clearly, trapped in their own bubble. Start bursting bubbles and watch your flexibility as a trader explode!

The claim is this, “we both did the “right” things…” This comes from an article I read about the real estate market; however, it opens the door to something I've seen time and time again in the world of trading. So much of trading (and most other things) has to do with the correct perspective. This is where the trickiness comes into play because in order to demonstrate the correct perspective to others, you risk coming across as a jerk and as being mean. I know… I know… the saying has been said a million times and you probably know what I'll be saying next, the truth hurts. I have been told by people they are “doing the right things” within their trading, but are they? How can they or myself know? In all actuality, it's quite easy… let's discuss.

Let's talk about your chances of becoming wealthy. To clarify, I don't mean “wealth” as having a garage full of exotic cars or beach side mansions around the world. By “wealth” I mean enough money to live at an above average standard of living. What are the odds you'll be able to accomplish such a goal? I want to give you a challenge, or more accurately, a test. Another way we could look at this is Step 1 in proving to yourself that you can realistically become wealthy. If you are not able to complete this challenge, then sorry to say, but I'm not liking your chances of getting wealthy. The Wealth Test is nothing complicated; however, if will force you into focusing on various dynamics that all wealth builders need to consider. Let's go!

I came across an article regarding burn-out which caught me a bit off guard. After reading it, the author's points made very reasonable sense, but I had never considered how burn-out could be a good thing. Bringing this into the world of day trading, I think there is much that could be useful. The article is based around someone who has hired 100's of people for management positions, meaning, she has interviewed 1,000's of people. She has learned to ask several questions that reveal important characteristics about a person being considered for a management role. These characteristics can (and should) certainly be applied to us as traders. If you are struggling or just can't quite get over the hump, perhaps asking yourself these questions will be the solution you need. Let's talk burn-out!

I was given some advice via YouTube and it perfectly summarized why and how so many beginner traders are lead astray. I wish podcasts like these didn't need to be done, but as I'll show you with proof, there is a dangerous thought process alive and well that makes perfect sense, but it's lethal. I want to offer you up a warning and help guide you as you navigate the crazy and overwhelming world of “free information”, which includes my content too! Unfortunately, well intentioned thought processes and advice can be some of the worst diseases that exist when you're trying to learn and fine tune your trading strategies and rules. Let's discuss!

I have a single question for you. Do you enjoy building? What does this have to do with trading, investing and money? In my opinion, a whole lot! Maybe this is just me, but sometimes my mind wanders and I just think about stuff - haha! This question is one of the conclusions I came to when thinking through what it takes to find success in the world of trading and investing. Let me explain myself…

If you've been following the headlines, you know that “price controls” have made an appearance. While this is not a political podcast, it “is” a podcast about all things money which includes the economy. Therefore, anything in the political world that has to do with the economy I believe is on topic for the show. My goal is to never tell you what to think about any issue, but just give you some considerations and allow you to come to your own conclusions. I understand price controls sound good on the surface. How nice would it be if companies can only charge us a certain price for goods and services we want? This is the game politicians from both sides love to play. Say stuff that “sounds good” and then hope people don't dig into the comments and their implications any further. I assume my crowd who listens to this podcast is NOT like that. I assume you want to form your own thoughts and are always on the quest for pieces of information to consider within your thought creation. Time to talk price controls!

The month of July was going amazingly well until I went into moron mode. I can only speak for myself, but “moron mode” is just something that is part of me. I've been trading now almost two decades and this is an issue that arises from time to time. The secret to dealing with moron mode is to ensure the moments it happen have large time gaps between them. Do I want to talk about these moments publicly? Of course not. But they happen, so I want to walk you through the dangers of what I did and offer up a reminder of just how nasty things can get. Am I trying to teach through fear with this episode? Absolutely! Sometimes the best medicine for fighting against an issue is through pure fear. Bad for me, but good for you is the fact none of this is “in theory”, this lesson comes directly from my own personal moron mode. Let's talk about it!

I want to keep this short and sweet and try something different in terms of dropping an episode "in the middle" of a current even situation. At the recording of the episode, the pre-market sell off was in full swing and only picking up in momentum. Everywhere I looked, it was one negative headline after another. I wanted to take the opposite approach and offer up some of the fear easing logic that I love to use during these moments in time. Let's get into it and offer a ray of light amongst all the negativity currently in the headlines!

During the early stages of your career in trading, you'll find yourself constantly surrounded by traps. The majority of these traps are due to how your, normal, brain is wired. I say this because I am not implying you are some kind of moron for falling into one of these traps. The human mind, in the spirit of efficiency, tends to skip over details and definitions that matter. What do I mean? I came across someone who is clearly new (and a bit angry) to the markets and they claimed a great sounding strategy. The main part of its greatness of the simplicity behind it. I decided to press this person a bit more and you'll see how the human mind has lead them astray. Hopefully I was able to help them out in seeing the error of their ways, but if not, I hope I can use this interaction to point out a few things that you are potentially overlooking within your trading. Let's get to it!

There was a recent article I read titled, “If you always do these 8 things, you're mentally stronger than most”. From the article, “After spending decades studying mental strength and interviewing and surveying thousands of people for my recent book, “The Mentally Strong Leader,″ I have good news. The mentally strongest people tend to share certain habits we can learn from. There are patterns I've noticed when it comes to what they say (and don't say) and what they do. If you always do these eight things, you're already mentally stronger than most. If you don't — yet! — you can look to this list as a mini-playbook that will help you level up your mental strength.” I want to focus on the number one thing on her list. I've talked about it 100's of times at this point, but now I have a bit more cover fire that I'm not just talking from a theoretical standpoint. Let's get to it.

While I'm known as a trader, I do also invest! Investing does not need to be talked about nearly as much given the long term nature of the strategy; however, I do still enjoy talking about it. I wanted to take a few moments to share with you one of my favorite ETF's for investing. Will this kind of investment be for you? I have no idea. I don't know what your goals are and what kind of place you are in life, but I'd imagine there have got to be some of you out there that would find value in this ETF. An important aspect of investing for me is to be able to understand “what” the ETF is doing and “how” it accomplishes its goal. In my mind, the ETF I will be sharing with you makes perfect sense in a very simple way. I'm not too smart, so I need simple! Let's talk about this ETF and see if it is something that can help you meet your goals in investing!

I recently came across a passionate plea from a retail trader arguing short selling should be banned. This is not a new topic within the world of trading and investing. Short sellers are often the evil people of the market and carry with them a sense of mystery and darkness. They're often times used to blame for falling prices and the backbone of numerous conspiracies. If you believe short selling should be banned, then that's fine. You are more than welcome to carry that opinion; however, I will say I've never seen a “ban short selling” opinion that didn't import false logic. In this episode I hope to give you some talking points to arm yourself in case you come across one of these “short selling bad, ban it!” people. Or, who knows, maybe you are against short selling but have an open mind so are willing to hear me out (which I 100% respect). Let's do some talking about short selling!

I get it. The vast majority of you reading this email do not work in the world of sales. Neither your job title or job description mentions anything about working on a sale's based commission. The fact of the matter is, you are in thee world of sales whether you like it or not. I recently have an interaction with someone who reminded me that many people are unaware of this fact. The sooner you realize you are a salesperson, the sooner you'll be able to position yourself to be as successful as whatever your goals are. Even if you don't want to do sales and want to work at a job where you interact with no one, you are STILL a salesperson. Let me explain how.