Hey Traders,
As you get ready to gather around this Thanksgiving, it’s a great time to pause, reflect, and think about what you’re truly grateful for.
Life moves fast, especially in the trading world, but just like “there’s always a bull market somewhere”… I believe there’s always something to be thankful for.
Here’s the challenge for you today: What’s one thing you’re grateful for this year? It might be a trade that worked out, time spent with loved ones, or just the fact that you’re still here, in the game, pushing forward.
For me, here’s what I’m thankful for:
- The freedom to trade on my own terms. After all these years, I don’t take it for granted that I get to trade the way I want — on my schedule, with my rules. Not everyone gets that luxury.
- The opportunity to teach. I’ve had the privilege of sharing what I’ve learned, especially with home-based, Main Street traders like you. Every time you read my insights or learn about my strategies, it reinforces why I do this.
- The small wins. Trading isn’t about hitting home runs — it’s about stacking those little wins over time. Those wins add up, and I’m grateful for each one that moves me closer to my goals.
- And of course, my family. I wouldn’t be here without their support. Trading can be a lonely road at times, but I always have my family to fall back on. That’s something I’m incredibly thankful for.
- The lessons learned — especially the hard ones. I’ve made some big mistakes along the way, but those mistakes have shaped me into the trader I am today. I’m grateful I made those mistakes early in my career, because they taught me invaluable lessons that put me on a path to success.
Let me tell you about two big ones that stand out:
- The Bus Ride Home:
Early on, I was trying to be the Wall Street big shot. I thought I could pick options and cash in big.
But when a “sure thing” option trade fell apart, I lost the money I needed for my flight home for Thanksgiving.
Instead of flying back to Gary, Indiana like a big shot, I ended up having to pawn my stuff and take a long, humiliating bus ride home.
That moment stuck with me. It taught me how quickly you can lose everything as an options buyer. From then on, I started shifting my thinking to options selling — where I could flip the odds in my favor. - The Izzy Story:
Another lesson came early in my career, during my first week as a stockbroker. I watched a co-worker, Izzy, faint right in front of me.
He was always a nervous wreck, always glued to his Quotron machine, buying risky options.
That day Izzy collapsed, one of his big bets went to zero and it took him out for good. After they wheeled him out on a stretcher, I never saw him in the office again.
That was a wake-up call and made me I realize how dangerous trading options could be when you’re on the wrong side of the bet — the buying side.
That moment stuck with me, and it pushed me toward a safer, more reliable path — selling options, where I could set myself up to win without the risks Izzy faced.
Both of those mistakes were key in my growth as a trader.
They taught me not just the dangers of buying options but also the importance of being patient, disciplined, and focused on consistent, small wins.
It’s those lessons that made me the options seller I am today, and they’ve shaped the way I trade, even now.
So, as you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal, take a moment to think about what you’re thankful for — no matter how small. Remember, the lessons we learn — especially the hard ones — are what set us on a path to success.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Here’s to more small wins, more lessons, and another year of trading on your terms.
Trade well,
Jack Carter
P.S. While no strategy is 100% foolproof, I consider my “profit sharing payments” portfolio to be among the safest ways I trade. And I’m sharing my 3 Golden Rules to picking the top “profit sharing” stocks here!
