lisa Harbinger

There’s a simple pattern I see every day in the VIP Trade Room (weekdays at noon ET!) — and it’s the difference between traders who consistently win and those who keep getting stopped out. It’s not about finding better levels or using fancier indicators. It’s about how you actually execute your entry at those levels. Let me show you what I mean. The Amateur Entry vs. The Pro Entry Picture this: You’ve identified a key support level. Price is moving down toward it. You’re ready to go long. Here’s what a beginner does — they buy the moment price touches that level. They see the level, price hits it and boom — they’re long. No confirmation. No patience. Just hope that the level holds. Here’s what a pro does — they wait. They watch price test the level and confirm it holds without breaking down. Then, and only then, they enter as price moves back up above that level. One clean test is all you need. A lot of traders obsess over multiple retests, but a single solid test followed by a clear move in your direction is enough to validate the level. The cleaner the test, the stronger the signal. The same principle works in reverse for short entries. Don’t short just because price reaches resistance — wait for price to break below the level and confirm the breakdown before you enter. I actually drew this out recently, and I suggested everyone screenshot it because this concept is so fundamental yet so commonly misunderstood. Levels Show You WHERE — Price Action Shows You WHEN Here’s the thing most traders get wrong: Levels like VWAP or key support zones tell you where to watch, not when to enter. I use these levels to see if price can test without breaking. If we’re moving up and approaching a level, I’m not going long yet. I wait for the test. If it holds and we start moving back above? Now I’m going long. Same for shorts. Price is moving down, I want to go short, but do I enter immediately? No. I wait for the breakdown to confirm, then I go short. And yes, sometimes price might bounce back above a level after breaking it — that’s OK. The level provides context and location, but price action provides the trigger. You’re trading with the confirmed direction, not trying to predict what might happen. This approach works because you’re entering after the market has shown its hand. You’re not guessing. You’re responding to what actually happened — not what you hoped would happen. You don’t need more than one test of a level. One clean test and confirmation is enough. Stop overcomplicating it. How Market Internals Guide the Best Entries There’s another piece most amateurs ignore — market internals. Tools like ADD can tell you whether the broader market environment supports your trade idea. If ADD is strong and pushing higher, that strength can confirm long setups and invalidate weak short ideas. When internals line up with your levels and price action, the trade becomes far higher quality. Some days you’ll look at the chart and see a great setup, but internals are screaming in the opposite direction. That’s a day to sit on your hands. Other times everything lines up, and those are the trades that feel effortless because the market is already leaning in your favor. The Psychology Behind Waiting for the Right Entry None of this works if your psychology isn’t in check. Getting your mind right is often harder than learning the technicals. Most traders know they should wait for confirmation, but they jump the gun because they’re afraid of missing the move or eager to make back a loss. Patience and discipline aren’t just trading virtues — they’re survival skills. The moment you trade from fear, hope or impatience, you default back to amateur entries. But when you stay calm and wait for the market to give you the green light, everything changes. Your entries become cleaner, your stops get tighter, and your confidence grows because your decisions are grounded in evidence, not emotion.