I’m going to throw myself under the bus here because I think it’s important.
A few weeks ago, I caught myself doing something I preach against constantly — I was putting the data before the process. I had a 90% probability setup staring me in the face and instead of waiting for my rules to trigger, I just hit the button. Cost me a couple of unnecessary losses before the trade eventually played out exactly where it should have.
So I called Nathan Gist.
For those who don’t know, Nate from Unshakeable Trading is my trading coach and hypnotherapist. I’ve been working with him for a couple of years now, and we call our sessions “mental oil changes” — regular tune-ups to keep the engine running clean.
In this week’s video, Nate and I sat down for a raw, unscripted conversation about the stuff nobody in this industry wants to talk about: the psychological side of trading. Not the charts. Not the setups. The 80-90% of this game that actually determines whether you’re profitable or not.
Here’s what we got into:
Why process must come before data — even when the numbers are screaming at you to act
The casino analogy — Vegas is built on a 1-5% edge. You’re the house, not the gambler. But only if you stay in the seat long enough.
Performance under pressure — when adrenaline kicks in, you lose half your brain cells. That’s not a mindset problem, it’s a conditioning problem.
Why “good” disruptions are just as dangerous as bad ones — I hadn’t meditated in two weeks because I’d been filling that time with other productive things. Sounds harmless. It wasn’t.
The hardest trade you’ll ever make — sometimes it’s not trading at all
Nate also shared what he’s building — The Trading Lab, a weekly group program designed to condition traders for the moments that actually matter. Think of it like a gym membership for your mind. He’s also offering performance interventions for traders who know something’s off and want to fix it fast.
I don’t say this lightly — I would not be where I am today without this kind of work. If you’re serious about taking your performance to the next level, check out what Nate’s doing.
🔗 Connect with Nate:
Unshakeable Trading — CLICK HERE
Nate’s Substack — CLICK HERE
Trading Lab Registration — CLICK HERE
Watch the full conversation above and let me know what hits home for you.
Until next time—trade smart, stay prepared, and together we will conquer these markets!
Ryan Bailey, VICI Trading Solutions.
