Lessons from My Burning Man Experience

Dear Traders,

I just got back from my fifth Burning Man, and wow, what an experience. This one was probably the most transformational yet. They say “You don’t get the Burn you want; you get the Burn you need”, and I truly felt that this time.

I had some intense moments that really taught me a lot about myself. The connections I made, the lessons learned, and those random, beautiful interactions with people—all of it is shaping me into a better person.

This year, I joined my great friends at Discotheque Pancake. We set up a party tent and served pancakes to the community, and it was a massive hit! People loved our pancakes, and our talented DJs kept the energy going with amazing music, day and night.

It wasn’t easy, though—getting everything across the border was a real challenge. The border officers didn’t know what to make of all the trucks and equipment heading to Burning Man, and they held our team for two days. But our camp leaders and members went above and beyond to make it happen. I’m incredibly proud of the growth and progress I’ve seen in our camp and the dedication of our leaders. God bless them for their hard work and spirit.

One piece of art that resonated with me deeply was a motto I always try to live by: “Follow that dream, follow that instinct.” This year, I’m committed to truly living by those words and taking everything I’ve learned with me into the next year—and hopefully, back to Burning Man once again.

As we kick off September, it’s worth noting that this month has historically been the toughest for stocks. Over the last decade, the S&P 500 has dropped an average of 2.3% in September, making it the only month with consistently negative returns.

Yesterday, we saw a tough day in the markets. The ISM Manufacturing PMI came in below expectations, showing that manufacturing activity has contracted in 21 of the last 22 months, extending the second-longest downturn in history.

This news contributed to the worst trading day since the August 5 market crash, with the S&P 500 falling over 2%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks alone lost $550 billion in market cap, with the total market losing over $1 trillion in a single day.

Adding to the turmoil, the Department of Justice is investigating Nvidia and other chip companies for potential antitrust violations. Nvidia, which dominates 90% of the AI chip market, saw its stock plummet, erasing $360 billion in market cap—the largest single-day loss in history.

Today, we also learned that U.S. job openings fell to 7.673 million in July, well below the expected 8.184 million. This is another sign of a weakening labor market. As a result, the odds of a 50 basis point rate cut in September have surged to 40%, up from 20% just a few days ago.

This Friday, we’ll get the last jobs report before the September Fed meeting. Expect increased volatility and be ready to capitalize on day trading opportunities.

In tonight´s webinar, Dr. Kenneth Reid will explore the mindset of a trader nicknamed Rainman, who, despite only five months of experience, has mastered a focused, calm approach to trading. Inspired by Ryan Holiday’s book “Stillness is the Key”, this webinar will teach you how to develop the same clarity and precision in your trading.

Join us this evening at 8:00 pm ET for this Psychology Webinar with Dr. Kenneth Reid, in the Webinar Room.
Last but not least, we have our Back to School offer now. You can get an Elite Annual membership for 50% off. With this membership, you have access to all the weekly webinars, Bear Bull Traders Education Center, and replay examples to practice your strategies.

To your success,

Andrew Aziz