Introduction
If you’re searching for how to overcome trading fomo, this Q&A captures my first-person journey learning from Jared Tendler on the mental game of trading. Emotions make you dumb; they compromise clear thinking and decision-making. In this session, I ask direct questions about FOMO, revenge trading, expectations, A-game/B-game/C-game, and how to map emotions so I can trade with clarity. Below is the exact Q&A from the conversation, with grammar cleaned up but tone preserved.
Trader Talks QnA
What are the biggest differences between poker, golf, and trading?
Risk is way harder to define in trading. In poker, your risk is capped—you know the deck and the buy-in. In trading, you must independently define risk, or you drift into gambling. If you don’t define risk, you can’t define edge. The danger is taking big risks without realizing how emotionally compromised you are.
How do you start working with a trader?
I use a detailed questionnaire to map goals, motivations, what they’re like at their best, and their common trading mistakes. Repetitive mistakes reveal deeper emotional flaws—fear, anger, confidence issues, greed, and what looks like discipline problems but is actually emotion shutting off higher brain function.
Is my problem really FOMO—or something else?
Often FOMO is an umbrella. A trader I worked with thought it was FOMO; it turned out to be anger. Missing out felt like losing—to the market and to peers—which triggered self-criticism. He jumped into trades to avoid that anger. Once we saw it was anger, not fear, we could solve the true problem.
How can I determine whether it’s FOMO, anger, or something else?
Start by writing down what’s going through your mind in those moments. Capture thoughts, emotions, physical signs, and decision changes. Use a data collection worksheet to log triggers and contexts. Over time, patterns emerge—then you can map escalation from early signs to full-blown mistakes and act earlier.
How do I interrupt emotions if I catch them late?
You retain more higher brain function earlier in the escalation. Use what I call injecting logic—short, precise self-talk—and take micro-breaks. Think of it like pulling a boiling pot off the stove for a minute. Build discipline around managing emotions now, so you can solve them long term.
What exactly should I be tracking when I spiral or chase?
Track the situation specifically (time, setup, market context), the exact thoughts (“I’m missing it,” “Others are in”), emotions (jealousy, fear, anger), body cues (tight chest, shoulders, grip, scanning fast), and decision shifts (impulsivity, sizing). These are road signs. If you only notice the bridge-out sign at the cliff, it’s too late.
How do I reduce mental fatigue and stay in my A-game?
Take 3-minute resets at least once an hour if you’re on 5-minute charts or higher. Stand, walk, fresh air, push-ups, eyes closed. Don’t bring your phone. This squeezes out accumulated data—what I call a bloated brain. After each reset, reconnect to your thesis and your bigger goals to regain focus.
What is A-game, B-game, and C-game—and why does C-game matter?
You can only guarantee your C-game—your worst shows up automatically. You must earn A and B with sleep, nutrition, exercise, and precise emotional management. Strengthen your C-game so you don’t beat yourself; that stability makes A-game easier and more frequent. Progress means sucking less when you do slip.
What expectations should I have about progress?
Have no expectations—those are implied guarantees. Some issues are simple; others are deep and tied to long-standing traits like hatred of losing or perfectionism. Focus on activity and process quality. Unexpected setbacks can be gifts that expose the real problem beneath the symptom.
What’s the most common issue you see in traders?
Expectations—especially in newer traders (<5 years). Many don’t truly embrace the probabilistic nature of markets. Hatred of losing and perfectionism block deep acceptance. You must build a system to dissect problems—so you can solve FOMO, revenge, or overconfidence now and again later when they resurface differently.
How do I come back from a big loss?
Write about it—dump everything onto paper. Don’t let your mind be the only processor. Then get surgical: Why did it happen—mental and technical? Was it a one-off or a pattern? Big mistakes stick because there’s more left to learn. Don’t rely on “I won’t do that again.” That’s overconfidence and it fails.
Do you have a pre-market routine to center emotions and clarity?
Two parts. First, remove personal baggage: 10–15 minutes of writing an hour before the open, then mentally put it away. Second, clarity: Know your technical plan and your mental goals for the day—what you’re battling and how you’ll navigate it. Review goals to keep the bigger picture in mind.
What misconception do traders have about managing emotions?
They think management and control are the endgame. No—solve the source. If part of your brain is defending against internal impulses, you can’t be fully unbiased and in the zone. Use management short-term, but the goal is to resolve root causes—FOMO, revenge, hatred of losing—so your mind is freed to trade.
Jared Tendler Trade Statistics
While this session focuses on the mental game rather than my P&L, I apply these rules to improve my execution quality, cut repetitive mistakes, and stabilize my C-game so I can access A-game more often. Below are simple notes I track weekly.
- Pre-market mental prep completed: [Yes/No]
- Number of resets taken (3–5 min): [Count]
- Documented FOMO/tilt triggers captured: [Count]
- Rule violations vs. plan: [Count]
| [Metric] | [Value] |
|---|---|
| Win rate (week) | [ ] |
| Risk per trade | [ ] |
| Average R | [ ] |
| Rule breaks | [ ] |
Key Trading Insights from Jared Tendler
Emotions compromise thinking. Map them, catch them early, and use brief resets to protect decision quality. Strengthen your C-game to reduce self-inflicted damage so your A-game can show up naturally.
- Define risk explicitly or you’re gambling.
- FOMO is often anger, perfectionism, or hatred of losing.
- Use data collection worksheets to map triggers and escalation.
- Reset often to prevent bloated brain and maintain clarity.
Jared Tendler Trading Strategy
I integrate mental edge work directly into my trading plan: pre-market emotional clearing, trigger mapping, real-time injecting logic, and structured resets. This lets me follow my setups with less interference from bias, FOMO, or revenge.
Trigger Mapping & Injecting Logic
Capture the situation, thoughts, feelings, and body cues for each slip. Create an escalation map (early/mid/late). Prepare short scripts to counter faulty beliefs (“I must catch this move,” “I can’t lose”). Use them early, then step away for 3 minutes if needed.
Jared Tendler Tools
I lean on a few simple tools to keep my process tight: a written data collection worksheet, a pre-market mental journaling routine, planned micro-resets during the day, and periodic reviews of Trading in the Zone concepts to reinforce probabilistic thinking.
- Data Collection Worksheet (from Jared’s site)
- Pre-Market Journal (10–15 minutes)
- Injecting Logic Scripts (short, targeted)
- Hourly Resets (walks, breathing, no phone)
Common Trading Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t mistake symptom for cause. FOMO might be anger; big losses stick when you fail to learn the deeper lesson. Managing emotions is not the end—solving the source is. Expect to suck sometimes; the goal is to suck less.
- Undefined risk turns trading into gambling.
- Relying on “I won’t do it again” after big losses.
- Perfectionism and hatred of losing blocking acceptance.
- Never taking breaks—leading to bloated brain and tilt.
Conclusion
Learning how to overcome trading fomo starts by mapping your emotions, tracking your triggers, and resetting often. Strengthen your C-game so you don’t beat yourself, and your A-game will appear more. Share your experiences in the comments, and subscribe for more trader-focused mental frameworks.