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Category: The Lab

The market doesn’t exist in a vacuum. In The Lab, I explore the deeper forces shaping our world—from food insecurity and poverty to global AI infrastructure. This is where I connect the dots between the numbers on a chart and the reality of the human experience.

Key Focus: Economic trends, social commentary, and long-form research.

  • Transitioning from Scalps to Swings: The 8-Day Road Strategy

    Transitioning from Scalps to Swings: The 8-Day Road Strategy

    The Pivot

    “For the next eight days, I’ll be on the road for work. In this business, if you can’t give the 5-minute chart your 100% focus, the mechanical ‘One Candle’ scalping method stays on the shelf. Instead of sitting out, I’m shifting my capital into the Ross Givens ‘Insider’ Swing Method.”

    Leaving the FOMO Monkey and Paper-Handed Rabbit Behind

    “Trading while traveling is the ultimate test of mindset. To make this work, I have to leave two characters behind at the trailhead:

    • The FOMO Monkey: When I’m away from the screen, the Monkey wants to whisper that I’m ‘missing the big move’ or that I should chase a price because an alert went off. I don’t listen. My ‘Buy Stop’ orders are already set. If the market doesn’t come to my price, I don’t chase the market.
    • The Paper-Handed Rabbit: When you aren’t staring at every tick, it’s easy to get spooked by a minor pullback and jump out of a trade too early. The Rabbit lives in fear. On this trip, I trust the ‘Insider Floor.’ My stop losses are hard-coded. I let the trade breathe while I focus on the road.”

    The Logic: Following the Smart Money

    “I’m looking for the ‘Coiled Spring’—stocks trading at a low level where the people running the company are buying with their own money. I’ve identified IBM, CSPI, and TLSI as the primary watches. By setting ‘Buy Stop’ orders above the current consolidation zones, I ensure the market proves it’s ready to break out before I risk a dime.”

    The Preparation

    “Being on the road requires a different kind of discipline. To keep my focus sharp and my energy steady, I’m sticking to high-protein, low-GI fuel like peanuts. It provides the long-burn energy needed for the day and the magnesium needed for recovery at night.

    Stabilize the body, and the trades follow. No Monkey, no Rabbit—just the Zen Bull.”

  • Trading the Void: My First XOM Scalp

    Trading the Void: My First XOM Scalp

    Today was the first active step in the trading journey I’m documenting here. I traded Exxon Mobil (XOM) using a 1-minute chart strategy, but the real chart wasn’t on the screen—it was in my head.

    The Entry: The Grip of Fear

    When I put the money in, I felt fear.

    It’s an honest admission. Despite the preparation and the capital, that initial “Buy” click triggers a survival response. The mind immediately starts calculating the “what ifs.” This is the hurdle every trader must clear. If you can’t act while feeling that fear, you can’t follow a strategy.

    The Setup: The “One Candle” Rule

    I didn’t trade on a feeling; I traded on a mechanical signal.

    • The Logic: I waited for the market open to define a range. I identified a Bullish Order Block—a specific red candle on the 1-minute chart where institutional buyers stepped in.
    • The Execution: I entered as a green candle broke above that block, setting an automated One-Cancels-Another (OCA) order.
    • The Numbers: Entry at $149.35, Stop Loss at $148.31, and a Limit Sell at $150.31.

    The Exit: The Power of Feeling Nothing

    A few minutes later, the trade hit the target. The order filled at $150.31 and the position closed.

    When the sale closed, I didn’t feel anything.

    This is the most important lesson I learned today. In the beginning, there is fear, but the goal is to reach a state of total detachment. If you are thrilled by a win, you are just as vulnerable as when you are terrified by a loss.

    Why “Boring” is Better

    Trading requires a cold, mechanical approach. If I am emotional, I am a “Paper-Handed Rabbit” or a “FOMO Monkey.” If I am detached, I am the Zen Bull.

    Today’s success wasn’t the $28.80 profit. The real success was reaching that state of “boring” neutrality. That is the only way to provide value and service to this journey in the long run.

    Metric Value Technical Context
    Asset Exxon Mobil (XOM) Chosen for liquidity and sector strength.
    Strategy One Candle Rule 1-Minute Bullish Order Block.
    Entry Price $149.35 Triggered on the break of the 15:31 red candle.
    Stop Loss $148.31 Protective floor to prevent the “CRASH” fear.
    Take Profit $150.31 2:1 Reward-to-Risk ratio target.
    Outcome Filled (Win) Order closed automatically via IBKR.
    Net Profit $28.80 Collected from 30 shares.
  • Breathing Through the Red: My $1,000 “Real Capital” Baptism

    Breathing Through the Red: My $1,000 “Real Capital” Baptism

    February 24, 2026 | The $AG Journey

    Current Sentiment: Zen Bull 🐂 (with a Monkey 🐒 whispering in the ear)

    The end of the process.
    The end of the process.

    • Asset: $AG (First Majestic Silver)

    • Action: Holding the Line.

    • Price Level: Watching the $6.00 – $6.50 range.

    • The Environment: The Hedge Fund Whale is churning the water. Silver is volatile, but the math says the support is holding. The Permabear Owl is hooting about a crash, but I’m looking at the data, not the noise.

    • The Struggle: The FOMO Monkey wanted to sell everything when it dipped, then buy more when it spiked 2%. He’s frantic, looking for a “win” to feel safe.

    • The Zen Bull Move: I recognized the Monkey’s voice. I didn’t fight him; I just sat him down and did four rounds of 4-4-4-4 box breathing.

    • Journal Entry: Today I learned that silence is a trading strategy. Doing nothing is often the hardest trade to execute.

    • Result: Position is active. Capital is preserved. Mind is calm.

    • The “Zen Bull” Take: > “The FOMO Monkey trades the price; the Zen Bull trades the plan.”

    Box Breathing Technique

    “I am a practitioner of awareness, not a victim of the ticker.”