Is It Good or Is It Bad?

Last Monday it was announced that Trade Academy is discontinuing the Mastery. Combined with the uncertainty around Ufunded, that understandably raised a lot of questions.

As I reflected on it, I realized my career has been a long series of changes and reorganizations. Looking back, I'm grateful for everything that's happened, because it made me who I am today. It was not an easy journey. The calm with which I tell my story or guide you today didn't come naturally. It came from learning, over and over again, to deal with uncertainty, change and setbacks.

So I'm incredibly grateful for what Trade Academy has brought me. It showed me that trading is accessible to anyone willing to take the process seriously. As far as I'm concerned, that mission succeeded. The end of the Mastery program doesn't change that.

Of course I had hoped this adventure would last longer. But the question of why something happens, or what could have been done differently, occupies me less these days. We're all small links in a much bigger whole than we can ever fully see. I don't believe in coincidence. Everything happens at the right moment, even when I myself would have preferred that moment to look different.

Humans don't like change. That's a fact. But what ultimately makes the difference is how you deal with it.

What I've learned is not to waste too much energy resisting what has already happened. The most efficient way to deal with change is to move with it. Ironically, that's exactly what the market teaches us every day. The market doesn't care what we think should happen. It simply does what it does.

That reminds me of an old Taoist story: "is it good, is it bad?"

An old Chinese farmer lost his horse.

"How terrible," said the villagers.

"Maybe," replied the farmer.

A few days later the horse came back, followed by several wild horses.
"How wonderful," said the people.

"Maybe," the farmer replied again.

Not long after, his son broke his leg while taming one of those horses.
"How terrible."

"Maybe."

Shortly after, war broke out and all the young men were drafted into the army. Except his son.

Good or bad? The future will tell.

I don't want to gloss over the fact that this development might feel like a setback for some of you. Maybe it feels like something is being taken away. I understand that. But also look at the other side. One Mastery program should be enough to approach the market independently and on your own terms. All the information is available. In the end, the question isn't what you've been given, or what's being taken from you, but what you do with it.

That still ties in seamlessly with something I repeat often: 80% of trading is mental. It's precisely the moments when things don't go as planned that this becomes visible. How you deal with external circumstances always makes the difference. Always. You can choose to keep looking at what's missing. You can fight the circumstances. Or you can use those same circumstances as fuel for growth. The power lies in realizing that choice is always yours.

There will always be plenty of reasons why something might not be possible. Better to look at what is possible. Focus your attention on what's within your influence, and then do everything necessary to achieve what you want to achieve.

"Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking your potential."
— Liane Cordes

Everything you need to make trading a success is present, and closer than you think. I'm not saying that because it sounds nice or inspiring. But because it's true.

Been there. Done that.

A few practical tips to close with.

Make sure your foundation is rock-solid. Stick to the five pillars I often talk about, and make sure your confirmation points are completely clear. I still see students who are well into their program but haven't developed real specialization, or who enter too fast with insufficient confirmation. The good news? That's relatively easy to fix.

And maybe it'll take longer than you'd hoped before you're where you want to be. That's okay. If you're truly willing to keep following the process, it's possible. With or without the Mastery.

Seek and you shall find. Eventually.

Below are three in-depth analyses, from simple to advanced, something for everyone. Once again a wealth of information. Put them on repeat.
1. US500 / SPY - High-confluence VWAP reversal long (BOS/CHoCH)
2. XAU/USD (Gold) / US500 - Reversal shorts (Imbalances, Fair Value Gaps, BOS/CHoCH)
3. US500 - Market structure development analysis + outlook (Imbalances, Fair Value Gaps, BOS/CHoCH)

For those who aren't yet familiar with the fundamental market structure concepts like CHoCH and BOS, protected high/low: rewatch the recording about this, which goes with my week 20 reflection story.

Across Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I still have five appointments available. See the calendar (link removed due to copyright).