The markets are playing more games this week.
On Tuesday, it was all over the place but still ended on a positive note.
Yesterday…not so much…
The media circus is out of control, leaving the big money clueless about where to turn.
They’re running through a dense forest of uncertainty, unable to see two feet in front of them.
Tariffs, Consumer Confidence data, the Russia/Ukraine situation, GameStop (NYSE: GME) investing in bitcoin…
Oh yes, GameStop ran big after announcing Tuesday evening that it would invest in bitcoin. So maybe there is a silver lining…
Our algo, Oracle, caught the action yesterday too.
And by the way, the situation isn’t as bad as it seems. Take a look at the bigger picture and you’ll see that things are far from hopeless.
And despite what the DJIA, NASDAQ, and the S&P are doing, the successful day trades continue to appear. Penny stocks don’t care what the broad market is doing!
To get in on that action, join me during my Pre-Market Prep.
I go live each morning at 8:30 am ET to walk you through those setups and prepare you (hence the name) for the day ahead.
That said, this market whiplash can be exhausting, and choosing not to trade can sometimes be the best strategy.
Table of Contents
There’s No Medal for Trading Every Day
You’re still a trader, even if you don’t make a trade today.
Write that down and remember it.
Sitting out doesn’t make you weak, lazy, or undisciplined.
That’s how real traders survive and win in the long term.
You could be fired up…you’ve done your scans, your chat room is buzzing, and everyone seems to be jumping into trades left and right…
And you’re sitting there thinking, “Maybe I should get in. I don’t want to miss out.”
Or maybe the market continues to be unpredictable, like right now, and you’re unsure if today’s a good day to trade.
Ask yourself the following:
- Are you locked in and focused?
- Is that itch to trade only because of FOMO?
- Is the market making you nervous?
These questions matter way more than most traders realize.
Patience and Taking a Break is a Strategy
Here’s a simple truth I preach every day:
If it’s not in your plan, it’s not a trade.
I build a detailed watchlist every morning. I set price alerts. I map out exactly where I’d want to enter a trade…
And if a stock never hits that level?
Or if I have an iota of doubt?
I don’t trade it.
That’s not a missed opportunity. It’s a smart decision.
When you force a trade, you’re not trading anymore. Instead, you’re gambling. And you’ll likely end up angry with yourself for letting emotion override gut feeling or discipline.
You Don’t Buy the Wrong Jacket Just to Say You Bought a Jacket
Yes, it might sound silly, but it’s a great analogy.
If you go to the department store looking for a jacket and don’t find what you want— wrong color, wrong size, etc. — you don’t (or shouldn’t) grab a random one off the rack so you can say you bought a jacket.
The same goes for trading.
You’re not here to “just take a trade.”
You’re here to take smart trades, and that means waiting until the right setup, or your confidence, comes along.
Even the Pros Know When to Do Nothing
Jesse Livermore, often considered one of the greatest traders of all time, once said,
There is a time to go long, a time to go short, and a time to go fishing.
That quote is legendary in the trading world because it speaks directly to the idea that sitting out is a strategy, not a weakness.
Livermore understood that the market doesn’t owe you a trade every day.
Patience, discipline, and waiting for the right moment are as important, if not more, as knowing when to pull the trigger.
The market will be here tomorrow. There’s always another setup coming.
For more great advice like Jesse Livermore’s, subscribe to my StocksToTrade Advisory service.
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My Final Thoughts…
This game isn’t about how many trades you make. It’s about discipline.
Never, ever trade ”just to trade”.
- Have a plan.
- Stick to it.
- Don’t chase noise.
- And most importantly, don’t force trades just to feel productive.
Most of the time, when you feel like you’re missing out, what you’re really missing out on is a loss.
And when your intuition tells you not to do it, it’s wise to listen.
There’s nothing weak about waiting. The market rewards patience.
So take a breath, review your plan, hone your strategies…
And remember, the trades will always be there tomorrow.
Join my Pre-Market Prep and see for yourself!
Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade