September 3

In tennis, in golf, in trading, in life it's incredibly important - if not, necessary - to focus exclusively on the process. Focusing on the outcome, trying to make an outcome happen, is the exact mindset that inhibits the ability to achieve the desired outcome. There is no try, there is only do.

Instead of trying to hit the ball in, focus on following through. They easiest way to "focus" is to start measuring and collecting the data. How many swings in the point did I actually follow thru on the swing? 2 out of 3? 4 out of 5? Grading myself, knowing I'm grading myself on what I think is the most pivotal part of my swing, forces me to actually do it, and not berate myself if I don't. I'm simply collecting the data, but have fine tuned the data point to the one I believe has the most impact.

What is the equivalent in my trading? What is the one datapoint I can and should and will constantly reiterate to myself? My impulsivity and short patience seems to consistently get the better of me. It's often driven my fomo. But, repeating be patient isn't working.. I think it has to be something with regards to explaining the full thesis. Does what I'm thinking conform with my edge or not? I may be right or may make money but is it a system play?

What is the equivalent of measuring each swing in terms of follow thru's or not. Taking note of the success rate when I do. (It's higher).

I don't know if position size work either. Because I could take several trades. It's something more focused on the actual process.

It needs to be something focused on setup. Articulating the setup to an amateur. If can't articulate the system setup, there is no trade to take. Probabilities. It's a focus on what happened the last 6+ 10m candles.

Not the best trade but first trade in a long time that was very defensible from a trend and HTF standpoint.

SPX Hourly ribbon bearish. SPY Hourly more sideways. SPX 10m ribbon flipping negative with the 8e posting as resistance. SPY had very much been in a downtrend. While I was aware of this the gap was filled and so it was more likely to move up. The longer we spent near the top of gap without hitting it and the more we continued to resist the ribbon the greater it felt like we were heading to break it down. So, the only play was to enter on a confirmed rejection of the 3m21e. Which we got. The 10m tried to put in a bullish engulfing but we weren't able to push over the previous candle high or the 10m8e. That and the confirmed loss of the 3m21e was the signal to enter.

So setup? Trending down. Continued resistance at the ribbon. However, scalp only because major support just below.

When we weren't able to breach the gap I used the 3m21e as my technical stop. Not only was it a proper technical stop, the break and hold was actually the perfect long entry.

On the 10m support continued to hold. We were at PDC/PDH failed to meaningfully lose the LOD. Chop chop chop and only once the 3m21e was lost was their real justification to enter.

I enter close to the 3m21e. Either for an in trend continuation play or a fuller reversal on the 10m.

I considered the 6330cs at .70, they hit 3.5 at the 10m48 and scalp close. Then continued to 5.7... abd 7.7 at the scalp call trigger...and finally $10 at the closest swing high... wow.

We couldn't break below the gap. But, there was no signal to get long until we broke the trendline and put trigger and 3m21e. That confluence was more than enough to get long. Or, even if I was late the 3m48e break and hold and 3m200e was plenty justification to get in. The squeeze continued and the cons hit $14 before closing at $18.3..........................

If I wait for a real setup. If I wait for a squeeze. If I articulate the setup. I don't need much size to generate massive returns. Even today the idea of being extra patient - even NOT trading - I still managed to trade in the chop and scalp against the more sizable and eventually obvious move.

I did enter at CasPar which helped profit regardless. But in terms of grading myself on a specific part of the process.

The play was the reversal.

Crazy entry was at top of gap. Safe entry was after 3m21e flip. Extended entry was after the momentum up through the ribbon and call trigger.

Need to hone in on what the process measurement manta is...