Wednesday Sep 17: Get Ready to Trade: Key S&P Futures Prep for Our AM Room
Wednesday September 17, 2025
On September 17th, during a high-volatility trading session triggered by the upcoming FOMC announcement, Micros Trader delivered a briefing emphasizing psychological discipline over technical analysis. The session outlined the dangers of overtrading, revenge trading, and emotional decision-making—behaviors that have led to substantial losses among retail and prop firm traders. A “one trade and done” approach was recommended to navigate these volatile periods, encouraging traders to wait for only the highest-quality setups. The briefing concluded with the “Stewardship Principle,” asserting that disciplined management of small accounts is essential preparation for larger-scale capital allocation.
Opening Remarks
Today is a Level 10 trading day. We've got the FOMC announcement coming up, quad witching week, and the market is primed for maximum volatility. In this kind of environment, your biggest edge isn’t technical—it’s mental. Psychological discipline becomes the main skill that separates successful traders from everyone else.
Micros Trader put it plainly: “Charts don’t matter today. What matters is discipline. Your edge is your discipline.”
Discipline Over Charts on FOMC Day
It’s easy to get lured into the charts, but the real battle is internal. The single most important skill a trader must develop is knowing when not to trade. Twitter is full of horror stories right now—people losing $80k, $100k, blowing accounts—all because they couldn’t sit on their hands. They couldn’t stop themselves.
On days like today, the safest decision might be not trading at all. If you’re going to participate, the recommended strategy is “one trade and done.” You wait for the best possible setup, execute it, and walk away.
Trap the Trader: Common Psychological Pitfalls
Micros Trader introduced a parody segment called “Trap the Trader,” outlining archetypes of trading self-sabotage. It was funny—but painfully real. Here’s a breakdown of each character:
- Johnny "I just have to trade every day" Johnson – Compulsive trader who can’t stay out.
- Sam "never saw a short I didn't short" Stevens – Bias-driven, one-sided trader.
- Malcolm "make matters worse" Montgomery – Compounds errors by doubling down.
- Rusty "reset" Roberts – Keeps blowing up accounts and funding new ones.
- Freddy "Fomo" Frederickson – Chases price action, can't handle missing a move.
- Patrick "Predict Price" Patterson – Tries to outsmart the market with predictions.
All of these behaviors lead to poor outcomes. Revenge trading, overleveraging, blowing accounts—these are symptoms of emotional and undisciplined behavior.
Real-World Examples: Twitter Scars
To drive the point home, Micros Trader shared multiple examples of traders posting massive losses:
- A trader lost $87,000 by trading FOMC day without a stop loss.
- Another trader blew 20 Apex accounts, losing $650 per account. He walked away... and came back in the afternoon to “trade the trash”—with max size—and blew them all.
- A third trader lost $9,000 the day before his prop firm payout.
These aren’t outliers; they’re cautionary tales. And they illustrate the fundamental truth: if your trading plan includes account-blowing risk, it’s a broken plan.
Prescribed Strategies for Volatile Weeks
Micros Trader offered clear strategies for high-risk periods like this:
- Don’t Trade at All – The best option for many traders.
- One Trade and Done – If you must trade, this is the model.
- Wait for the Best Setup: Only act on a high-conviction, pre-planned idea.
- Stick to Your Trading Window: It must occur during your designated trading time.
- Walk Away After: Whether it’s a win or loss, no second chances today.
Patience is the trade.
Essay Format Questions
- What emotion typically drives your worst trading decisions?
- How would your results change if you only traded one pre-planned setup per day?
Training the Mind: Emotional Management & Drawdown
The goal isn’t just mechanical execution; it’s emotional mastery. Micros Trader emphasized that trading should feel boring. If you’re feeling hyped up, angry, or vengeful—you’re compromised.
Micros Trader offered a mental training exercise: For five days, a trader must intentionally take a small loss right at the open, then walk away and close their charts. The point? Learn to be okay with drawdown. Accept the sting, detach from the screen, and realize that the pain fades when you remove yourself from the environment.
The Stewardship Principle
The final segment offered a deeper, almost spiritual lens on trading. Micros Trader referenced the Parable of the Talents to make a profound point: if you can’t manage $5,000 well, you won’t manage $50,000 well either.
It's not about how much you’re making—it's about how well you’re managing what you have. The servant who doubled five talents received the same praise as the one who doubled two. The lesson? Faithfulness is what matters.
"Lord, help me to be faithful with what I’ve been given. Guard me from the recklessness that risks too much and the fear that risks nothing at all. Help me steward my capital not as an owner, but as a servant accountable for the resources You’ve entrusted to me."
Comments
Post a Comment