SMB Capital Roundtable - Lance Breitstein, Brett Steenbarger, Mike Bellafiore, Jeff Holden

Mar 19, 2025

Guest

Lance Breitstein

Guest

Join Mike Bellafoire, co-founder of SMB Capital, renowned trading psychologist Brett Steenbarger, trader development head Jeff Holden, and top trader Lance Breitstein as they unpack the secrets behind molding elite traders. They dive into the structured environment of prop trading firms, the psychology of trading, and the importance of mentorship. Key topics include navigating market volatility, fostering team dynamics, and refining individual trading strategies for success. They also explore the psychological hurdles traders face and the power of community in overcoming challenges.

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Evaluating Traders in Internships

01:31 • 7min

Nurturing Trader Talent and Team Dynamics

08:48 • 16min

Navigating Trading Opportunities and Market Volatility

24:24 • 3min

Navigating Trading Challenges Together

27:42 • 10min

The Power of Collaborative Trading in a Prop Firm

37:20 • 3min

Empowering Independent Traders

40:02 • 6min

Navigating the Trading Runway

46:07 • 15min

Cultivating Success Through Community

01:01:02 • 21min

Refining Trading Strategies and Self-Reflection

01:22:04 • 18min

Empowering Traders with Unmatched Resources and Support

01:40:31 • 2min

The Trader's Mindset: Balancing Success and Satisfaction

01:42:59 • 12min

The Gap and The Gain

The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

This book introduces the concept of 'The Gap and The Gain', developed by Dan Sullivan, which helps high achievers understand why they are often unhappy despite their accomplishments. It explains that measuring oneself against an ideal (the Gap) leads to dissatisfaction, while measuring against past achievements (the Gain) fosters happiness, gratitude, and motivation. The book is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance, offering practical advice on how to shift focus to appreciate progress and achieve greater fulfillment and success.

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones. The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results. Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation. The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth[2][4][5].

Steal like an artist

10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Austin Kleon

This book, which began as a speech given by Austin Kleon to college students, expands into a manifesto for creativity. It outlines ten transformative principles such as 'Steal like an artist' (honoring, studying, and transforming ideas), 'Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things,' and 'Use your hands' (emphasizing physical work). Kleon argues that creativity is not original but builds on what came before, and he provides practical tips and inspiring concepts for artists, writers, musicians, and anyone generating creative work[2][3][4].