Hey, Traders,

I hope you enjoyed your New Year’s celebrations and that you’re looking forward to a profitable 2026.

I know I am! 

This time of year always gets me thinking about how to improve my game in the months ahead — and especially how to avoid last year’s mistakes or missed opportunities.  

That last part isn’t always easy, though. 

Sometimes opportunity can be staring right at us, but we can’t see it because our internal biases are too distracting. 

It’s easy to say, “Trade the chart, not the company,” but then you see a ticker pop up and think, “Oh, that junk runner again?” Or, “This one failed last time — it’ll probably fail again.” 

And just like that, you miss the setup right in front of you.

I’ve talked a lot about this kind of mental baggage because I’ve spent years watching tickers behave much differently than expected.  

Just because your first reaction is to ignore a certain stock doesn’t mean you’re right. 

After all, the market doesn’t care what a stock did last month; it only cares about right now — the chart, the volume, the setup.

That’s why letting go of bias is so important, especially heading into a new year. 

Here’s how to train yourself to think that way. 

Think Fresh, Trade Better

One of the biggest shifts that helped me go from part-time trader to full time was learning to look at every ticker with fresh eyes.

That junk ticker that failed five times? If the chart’s clean and the volume is there, it’s in play. 

That former runner that’s been dead for months? If the breakout’s real, it doesn’t matter what it used to do.

The best traders focus on the present and react to what’s in front of them.

They also use their experience to help them react better instead of assuming the future will be the same.

There’s a difference between being prepared and being biased. 

One sharpens your edge while the other dulls it.

It’s a New Day

As the new year kicks off, it’s a great time to clean out your mental baggage and realize that every ticker you see tomorrow is going to be different from what it was last week or last year. 

It’s just a setup: Your job is to trade it. 

So, next time you catch yourself thinking, “This one’s trash,” or,  “It’ll never work” — pause for a second.  

Look at the chart like it’s brand new.

The best setups are gonna do what they’re gonna do. 

Your edge is in seeing that clearly and executing successfully. 

Stay sharp, 

Jack