Monday October 13, 2025

In a recent commentary, Micros Trader challenged conventional trading wisdom by spotlighting four counter-intuitive principles that emphasize discipline over action. He argues that waiting is not wasted time but a critical phase in execution, and that recognizing when not to trade is often a trader’s most profitable decision. The briefing warns against impulsive trading during chaotic price action—what he refers to as “wild boy stuff”—and promotes the use of public declarations to enforce self-accountability. These insights advocate for a shift from reactive trading toward a more measured, intentional approach grounded in strategic inaction.

☀️ AM BRIEFING

Opening Remarks

For many traders, the market is a battlefield where constant action feels like the only path to victory. The fear of missing the next big move creates a relentless pressure to always be "doing something"—placing a trade, adjusting a position, or hunting for a new setup. The idea of sitting still while the charts are moving can feel like a failure of nerve or a missed opportunity.

But what if the most powerful trading principles aren't about action, but about strategic inaction? What if true profitability comes from patience, discipline, and the courage to do nothing? The conventional wisdom to "always be trading" is a trap. We will deconstruct four counter-intuitive truths from a professional's daily routine that will equip you with a framework for strategic inaction and superior discipline.

1. Waiting Isn't Wasted Time—It's Part of Your Execution

You might see waiting as a passive, unproductive state—the dead space between trades. You’ve done your analysis, you’ve mapped out a plan, and now you’re just sitting on your hands. This is where impatience creeps in, leading to premature entries and forced trades that don't meet your criteria.

A professional reframes this completely by defining a clear, three-step execution process: Plan the trade, wait for the trade, and only then, enter the trade. Waiting isn't a passive gap; it's an active, non-negotiable step in your workflow. The time you spend waiting for your precise setup to occur isn't wasted. You are investing that time in the discipline required to execute a high-probability trade.

Waiting is part of your execution, so it is not wasted time—it is time invested into the process of entering into a profitable trade.

When you feel the urge to jump in too soon, anchor yourself with this powerful professional mantra: "There is another high probability trade around the corner." This mindset shift transforms waiting from a frustrating delay into a core component of your psychological edge.

2. The Most Profitable Decision Can Be Choosing Not to Trade

The psychological pull to participate in the market every single day is immense. It's easy to believe that if you aren't trading, you aren't earning. This cognitive trap, known as Action Bias, drives traders to take on unnecessary risk, especially on days when market conditions are unpredictable or chaotic.

Consider this powerful reminder: there are approximately 250 trading days in a year. You do not need a piece of the action on every single one of them. Your long-term profitability depends on your ability to recognize dangerous environments and consciously choose to stand aside.

As Micros Trader noted, you will never look back a year from now and regret having sat out on one specific, difficult "random Monday in October." Adopting this perspective frees you from the grip of FOMO and elevates capital preservation to its rightful place as your top priority.

3. Learn to Identify and Avoid "Wild Boy Stuff"

Not all price action is created equal. Some market environments are rational and orderly, but others are pure chaos. A professional trader described these dangerous conditions not just as market volatility, but as a personal test of your discipline. He called it "wacky price action" and "wild boy stuff."

This refers to excessively volatile movements that defy logical analysis, such as a massive 15-point candle appearing suddenly during the London session. This isn't an opportunity; it's a warning that the test has begun. Trading in these conditions is gambling, not professional speculation. Your job is to recognize when the market is no longer behaving rationally and have the discipline to step away.

This is not rational price action. We like trading rational price action in great trade locations—and that's so important that you just go: "Nope. I trade rational price action..."

This is where an indicator like the Average True Range (ATR) becomes more than a technical tool—it becomes a mechanical arbiter of your discipline. When it spikes, it's an objective signal that the "test" is underway and that emotional regulation, not aggressive action, is the only winning trade.

4. Weaponize Accountability: The Power of Public Declaration

Let's be honest, we've all been there. You make a great decision—like standing down in a volatile market—only to sabotage yourself ten minutes later. You tell yourself you're done for the day, but you keep the charts open and inevitably get sucked back into a foolish trade you later regret.

A fascinating psychological tool to combat this is the public declaration. (Micros Trader amusingly called it a "public decoration," which in a way is also true—you are adorning your plan with a layer of accountability.) It was observed that traders who publicly announced their intentions by typing "I am out" or "I am not trading this" were far more likely to stick to their decision.

This works because it activates a powerful psychological principle known as Commitment and Consistency Bias. By declaring your plan, you make it harder for your undisciplined self to "come back and be stupid," turning social pressure into a powerful tool for self-mastery.

Conclusion

These four principles all point to a single, unifying theme: professional trading is defined less by brilliant entries and more by superior discipline. True mastery isn't just about knowing when to trade, but having the wisdom to know when not to. By embracing strategic inaction, reframing your view of patience, and building systems of accountability, you begin a crucial identity shift—from a market participant who is constantly reacting to a market professional who engages with it entirely on your own terms.

What is one rule of 'strategic inaction' you can implement in your own trading process this week?

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q&A – AM Briefing Highlights

Q: What is the primary reason Micros Trader advises traders not to regret taking time to wait for an entry?
A: Waiting is part of execution and is considered time invested into the process of entering into a profitable trade, not wasted time.

Q: For which day of the week will the Battle Plan be unlocked for everyone?
A: The Battle Plan will be unlocked tonight, Monday, so that everyone can join the live stream the next morning, which is Tuesday, where the core strategy and battle plan are traded.

Q: What technical term is used to describe the current fast and difficult price action?
A: The price action is described as being very fast, very wacky, and potentially dangerous.