Valley of Despair or the Bear Market

"How's it going?" my friend asked me today. Here's what I shared:

Starting a new project always sends a thrilling surge of emotions and aspirations through me. It begins with an idea that gains some initial traction as I execute on it.

As the silence settles, I find myself deeply engaged, doubling down on time and resources to delve further into the concept. The thrill of discovery and learning keeps me hooked.

Suddenly, it takes off. The metrics start soaring, surpassing all previous records, almost unbelievable.

Fueled by success, I dream bigger. I'm all in—investing in new equipment and software, expanding the team, and amplifying our message. We're creating something exceptional, meticulously planning and executing... until deployment.

And then, a sudden stillness. The outcomes are solid, targets met, yet the anticipated euphoria is understated. Despite my efforts to temper expectations, they still skew towards the unreal.

This, I've come to term the "Valley of Despair," or the "Bear Market" of project cycles. But as any seasoned trader knows, after every bear, comes a bull. It's all about preparation, so how do I prepare?

Working in the 'Zone':

Inspired by Mark Douglas's 'Trading in the Zone'

Being "in the zone" means a mental state of complete focus, leaving the person fully immersed in the task at hand.

1. Prepare for entering the "Zone"

Entering the right mental state is essential before you begin trading or engaging in any project. Start by setting a clear objective, crafting a strategy, and:

Kick off each day with a review of your pre-established plan:

Think of your objective as a specific destination. To reach this destination, you'll need several key elements:

→ The Motivation - Why are you heading there?

→ The Means of Transport - How will you get there?

→ The Map - What precise steps will you take to reach your destination?

Therefore, before you dive into your work zone, always ensure you:

• Revisit your plan;
• Assess current market conditions;
• Establish realistic daily goals.

2. Maintaining the "Zone"

Managing Emotions - Recognize emotional triggers and use techniques and technology to remain detached and objective:

• Utilizing "Do Not Disturb" on Microsoft Teams: I've recently discovered a highly useful feature on Microsoft Teams—the "Do Not Disturb" status. Activating this mode silences all notifications, allowing for undisturbed focus. It's a simple yet effective way to maintain concentration during periods of deep work.
• Disconnecting from Outlook: The frequency of interruptions during work can be overwhelming. In one experiment, I turned off Outlook to avoid disruptions from calls and messages, which can sometimes total up to 5 calls and 10 messages per hour, all labeled "urgent." Upon reconnecting after a few hours, I found the world still intact—just a few missed communications waiting. Surprisingly, the emails were direct and to the point, outlining specific tasks clearly. This allowed me to efficiently tackle and respond to each one within thirty minutes, freeing me up to initiate another focused work session. This experience was a revelation; it confirmed that taking control of my digital environment could significantly enhance productivity and mental clarity.

3. Sustainable Peak Performance over Long Term

Make time for learning - if you want to keep the long term peak performance it's important to constantly take courses, upgrading your skills, talking to the experts and sharing what you have learned. Remember the 80/20 Rule - 80% of results come from 20% of efforts.

Trading Journal - Maintain a log of your results to enable periodic review and improvement. Without an honest record of your outcomes quantified in numbers, you lack insight into your performance and progress, which can stall your forward movement.

The journal should be as simple as possible - 2 prompts:

1. Expectations:
2. Results:

Review Weekly & Adjust the Plan:

Look at the "Map" - your plan, review your results from the "Journal" and ask the following questions:

1. Have you hit the Milestones on the Map?
2. Have you taken time to Rest and Recover?
3. Are you on the right Path?

The Bear Market does 2 things I told my friend, it makes Great Traders and it Breaks the Bad ones. So, whenever I hit that valley you will find me planning, analyzing, preparing and in the Zone! Better not poke the Bear, he is patiently awaiting the Bull.

Warm regards,

Aydimir