The past two weeks have been heavy, so I thought I'd lighten things up by reminiscing about simpler times watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
During Friday's session, as Brandon and I passed control to Gianni, I quipped "My sister was bitten by a moose"—a reference to the movie's absurd scrolling credits.
That level of nonsense made me laugh as a young man, and now, as an adult, I laugh at how easily amused I was.
Despite the film's deliberate absurdity, there are three genuine life and trading lessons we can glean from John Cleese, Eric Idle, and the rest of the Pythons.
Lesson 1: Be Wary of Unknown Animals
The Grail seekers encounter what appears to be a harmless, cute, fuzzy rabbit.
It turns out to be "the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you've ever laid eyes on," quickly dispatching the approaching soldiers.
While we should indeed be cautious around unfamiliar animals in real life, this translates perfectly to trading.
We must approach new strategies, indicators, and instruments with similar wariness.
They may look relatively safe and normal, but we should remain cautious until we understand their temperament and behavior patterns.
(I'm looking at you, bitcoin futures.)
Lesson 2: Have a Plan and Follow It in the Correct Order
The Pythons apparently have a rabbit obsession.
In their attempt to infiltrate the French castle, they devise a plan to build a giant wooden rabbit, sneak inside, and overtake the French—essentially recreating the Trojan Horse strategy.
They build the rabbit, push it to the gates, and watch as it's taken inside the castle.
The problem? They forgot to get inside the rabbit first.
Robert Burns wrote that "the best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry"—so imagine how many poorly conceived plans fail.
In trading, make sure your plan is crystal clear, with every step precisely defined. Then follow it religiously, in the exact order you've established.
Lesson 3: Be Decisive
This lesson comes from a scene that always made me chuckle. Near the film's end, the Grail seekers reach the Bridge of Death over the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
To cross, the Bridgekeeper demands they answer three riddles correctly.
Sir Lancelot faces easy questions: his name, his quest, and his favorite color. He answers confidently and crosses safely.
Sir Galahad approaches next, and when asked his favorite color, responds "Blue, no—yelloooooooo!" He's immediately thrown into the Gorge.
Whether it was his hesitation, wrong answer, or last-second change of mind, his indecision costs him everything.
In trading, once you've created your plan, you must act decisively.
Hesitation, second-guessing, or mid-trade modifications will alter your reward-to-risk ratio, change your probabilities, and undermine your established strategy—potentially costing you that trade and exposing your account to unacceptable risk.
Conclusion
By remaining cautious with unfamiliar markets and strategies, creating and following precise plans, and acting decisively, we increase our chances of fulfilling our quests.
When losses do occur, we can say "'Tis but a scratch" and actually mean it.
Have a great weekend—perhaps with a nostalgic movie that gives you a few chuckles.
Blake Young