The BIGGEST Trading Problem You're Making (and How to Fix It!)

Co-hosting Mind Over Markets with Louise Bedford has been eye-opening.

Throughout our trading journeys, we've discovered the same foundational truth: your mindset can either make or break your trading success. It’s not just about strategies or tools, it’s about how you think, react, and grow.

While Louise and I have walked very different paths, the lessons we’ve learned (and continue to teach other) come down to this: break free from self-imposed limits, stop over-complicating things, and lean into support systems that fast-track growth. Together, we’ve seen what works and, just as importantly, what doesn’t.

Let’s dive into the trading traps we’ve identified and the mindset shifts every trader should embrace.

Mindset.

We’re not talking about vague self-help ideas; this runs deeper. Are you operating with a fixed mindset, where you believe success is static, or a growth mindset, where you believe effort and learning produce results? The answer can predict whether you’re stuck or thriving.

A growth mindset helps traders thrive because it focuses on improvement over time. Traders with this mindset know:

I’ve seen it again and again in my own journey and in the thousands of traders Louise and I have spoken with: mindset is everything.

A fixed mindset is the opposite. It’s the belief that success is innate and static. Traders stuck here tend to:

This mindset wasn’t just something Louise or I “saw” in others, we’ve both experienced it ourselves. It’s a human tendency, but one you can overcome.

For me? Seeing others’ success used to trigger my insecurities. For Louise, simplifying her process used to feel “too easy” to actually work. Through years of experience, we’ve realized awareness is key. Once you see the patterns, you can change them.

Many traders are their own worst critics. We’ve heard it time and again: “I hate myself for that bad trade,” “I’ll never get this right.”

It’s a vicious cycle because that negative voice stops you from growing.

What We’ve Learned:
You’d never talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself. Louise told me a while back: frame your self-talk with compassion. Speak to yourself as though you’re coaching someone else. If that doesn’t work, try a trick, make the voice silly or neutral, like Donald Duck. These simple shifts build emotional resilience.

Pro Tip: Talk to yourself in third person: “Jordon, it’s just one losing trade; keep moving forward.” This creates emotional distance and keeps you rational.

Both Louise and I fell into this trap early on. We see traders getting stuck thinking, “If it’s not complicated, it won’t work.” Adding layers, nuances, and unnecessary rules might feel like progress, but it often leads to paralysis. Simple systems, consistently executed, outperform messy, complex ones.

What We’ve Learned:
Louise likens a trading plan to bowling bumpers. The bumpers guide you, not suffocate you. Keep the basics intact: clear entries, exits, and risk management. If you can’t explain your trading plan to an 8th grader, you’re doing too much.

Markets test you under pressure, and complexity crumbles under stress. That’s why simplicity works. It lets you focus on what matters.

This is one of the most common mistakes we see. Traders think they have to figure it all out solo. Ego gets in the way or they assume asking for help shows weakness. In reality, the opposite is true, collaboration speeds growth.

What We’ve Learned:
Louise loved sharing a moment when her mentor, Chris Tate, reminded her to “be a pig” during a massive trade. That single phrase helped her hold onto her winning position longer, turning it into her biggest profit ever. That’s the power of mentorship and community.

For me, opening up to other traders changed everything. I used to think independence was strength, but really, it isolated me. Learning from others’ experiences saved me years of heartache.

Many of the mistakes traders make can be traced back to money blocks - unconscious habits or beliefs sabotaging progress.

Here’s how Louise and I help traders uncover those blocks. Ask yourself:

Awareness leads to breakthroughs. Louise says it best: “Anything blocking you from your money is a mindset issue that has to go.”

Shifting to a growth mindset isn’t an instant fix, it’s something Louise and I work on daily. The habits I’ve built (and the lessons I’ve learned from others) have all been stepping stones in the process. The key takeaway? Growth, simplicity, and collaboration are the tools that will take you further than anything else.

Disclaimer: Trading involves risks. This content is for information purposes only and is not financial advice.