The Hero - Part 1
A Mental Shift For Your Trading Career
A small, select few of you have done this activity before. If you have, you already know how powerful it can be for your trading psyche. On the surface, it sounds simple. In reality. It truly isn’t.
The process forces mental clarity and foresight. It asks you to dig deeper and measure yourself against both your best and worst tendencies. That can be a very uncomfortable place to be
Those who completed this in the past gave overwhelmingly positive feedback on how impactful it was. If you’re one of them, I strongly suggest revisiting it. Redefine your terms. Re-examine your traits. See whether the qualities you identified then are still being honoured. Or, even pursued.
If you’re just being exposed to this for the first time, it is my hope is that it delivers the same results others have experienced. When done with full intent and wholeheartedly, you’ll begin to notice shifts in how you trade. Often sooner than you expect. In fact, almost immediately.
Enough chatter.
Let’s get into Step one.
“For things to change for you, you must change”
Your Hero Trader
Everyone has had a hero. An idol. Someone they look up to. Though, its rarely ever that we take moments to visualize ourselves as the hero. The leader. Or, the person with all the qualities we hope to possess when we finally reach “that pinnacle” or being who we want to be. Its a shame, some people will spend their entire lives trying to be versions of other people, rather than the ideal versions of themselves.
But, were about to break that pitfall. You’re going to define you as a hero. The trading hero you are pursuing.
Activity
On a blank document or sheet of paper, when you have alone time (and perhaps not all in one sitting). You are going to bring your hero trader, to life.
Imagine that you are a Trading Hero. An experienced, confident trader who makes decisions based on logic, strategy, and patience.
Visualize and write down every single detail; The outfit, the setup, the actions.
How do they prepare for a trading day?
How do they think during a trade?
How do they respond to losses?
How do they handle wins?
Pay attention to small details. These details matter more than you think.
Ive attached some interesting questions to answer when defining your hero. Or shall I say, your future selves. The examples are not meant to box you in. They’re simply there to help you observe more clearly.
Please. Be honest & Be specific.
This is the standard you’ll be working toward. The more things your describe or explore. The more powerful the activity.
What does your Hero look like in the moment- how they carry themselves, move, speak, and think while trading?What are their small physical habits during a trade?
Are they still or restless? Do they remain glued to the screen, or step away easily when there’s nothing to manage?
How does your Hero maintain mental clarity and focus throughout the trading day?
When the market behaves unexpectedly, how does your Hero keep short-term events in perspective relative to long-term goals?
How does your Hero maintain boundaries so trading doesn’t consume their entire life?
How does your Hero enter and manage trades? What does disciplined execution look like in practice?
How do they avoid distractions and emotionally driven decisions while in the market?
Where does your Hero trade from? Describe the environment, the atmosphere, and anything intentional about the space.
What does their pre-market preparation look like, and how do they properly close the day after the session ends?
When multiple setups appear, how does your Hero decide which ones deserve attention, and which to pass on?
What checks does your Hero run before executing a trade to ensure alignment with strategy and risk?
When a trade results in a large win, how does your Hero stay grounded and avoid overconfidence?
How does your Hero handle waiting? What allows them to remain stable and patient while a setup develops?
This does not have to be exhaustive, though it does cover a larger basis. Whether you choose to add more details is up to you.
Do The Work
If you take the time to do this properly, the effect will not be subtle. In the days that follow, you’ll likely catch yourself making small adjustments; Changes to your environment, your routine, even how you show up at the desk. You’ll start doing the things your Hero Trader does, often without realizing it. As you reflect, draw on moments when you’ve been in a true flow state. You’ve been trading long enough. You already know more than you think.
This isn’t meant to be finished in one pass. It will evolve.
In the near future, we’ll revisit this Hero to evaluate where you stand mentally during a given trading day or week. That comparison will help identify specific areas for improvement. More on that later.
Take the next few days to draft this out. There’s no set deadline as I know this takes time.
When you’re finished—and only when you’re finished….return to this post and select “Yes, I Have” in the poll below. Once enough people do, that will be my signal to launch Phase 2.
Time to wake the sleeping giant.
Enjoy.