The heavy glass doors of the exchange floor hadn't even swung shut before Lawrence felt the sweat prickling his collar. It was 1991, and the air in the pits was thick with the smell of floor wax and desperation.
The next morning, Lawrence didn't rush into the pit. He sat on the periphery, watching the VIX—the "fear gauge" McMillan had helped popularize. He saw a massive spike in implied volatility. The old Lawrence would have bought expensive calls, hoping for a moonshot. The new Lawrence, mentored by the ink on the page, saw the overpricing. He sold a credit spread, leaning into the high premiums. McMillan on options
Lawrence stopped seeing options as lottery tickets. Through McMillan’s eyes, they became tools for hedging, for generating income through covered calls, and for structured speculation via spreads. He learned that time—theta—wasn't just an enemy; it could be a landlord collecting rent if you sat on the right side of the trade. He discovered the "Greeks," the silent gears turning behind every price movement. The heavy glass doors of the exchange floor
AI responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more He sat on the periphery, watching the VIX—the