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Dykstra: A Relentless Approach

Lenny Dykstra

I consider my system a powerful running back that wears down the defense.

It can take hit after hit, but in the end, it takes me into the end zone. Take Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants for example. The 6'4" 264-pound running back is tough to bring down. He usually knocks over opponents while they try and tackle him to the turf. Needless to say, he is a bruiser. He has the ability to take many hits, yet he still breaks free for the end zone, leaving opponents in the dust.

This past Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, Jacobs led the Giant offense with 117 yards rushing on 17 attempts. That's almost 7 yards per carry. His powerful approach eventually tired out the defense, leaving the Cowboys vulnerable. The Giants ended up winning 35-14. In short, he is relentless.

My system works the same way. Sometimes I go in for a quick score, like I did recently with Halliburton (HAL Quote), United Technologies (UTX Quote), Parker Hannifin (PH Quote), Caterpillar (CAT Quote) or Microsoft (MSFT Quote).

Other times my picks take their lumps, but they eventually reach the end zone. In fact, I have taken picks to the house 81 times without any failures this year, a remarkable feat considering the volatile market conditions of late.

No matter how many times I may get knocked around in this fickle market, my faith in my system has allowed me to stay in the game and grind out some more wins. Some of my biggest scores were on picks that caused short-term pain before crossing the finish line.

Take Tesoro (TSO Quote), my pick on June 13. It took 85 days to turn into a win. And, in addition to my initial buy, I had to average down six times, for a total of 70 contracts. Doing so required me to invest a total of $32,900. However, my payoff was big: $7,100. I also picked Tesoro earlier in the season on April 23. That time it required me to average down three times and my win was for $4,100.

I won big ($4,100) with Cameco (CCJ Quote) after just two weeks in play and three rebuys. General Electric (GE Quote), my pick on Aug. 27, pulled down a $5,750 victory after just 23 days on the board. Garmin (GRMN Quote) brought me an $8,100 win after 36 days, while Dow Chemical (DOW Quote) took 83 days and produced a $6,700 victory.

Instead of taking the fall when I'm challenged, I stay on my feet and make it home for a score. Keep this attitude in mind. Nothing is perfect or foolproof. Everyone hits some bumps, but the ability to keep pressing forward is an important character trait to have. Like Brandon Jacobs, I find a way to reach the end zone.

However, some people get fearful when they take an unexpected hit. They take their marbles and go home. This is not how I designed my system. Instead, I look to take advantage of the hits I face. When Jacobs sees a safety running toward him, instead of trying to spin away from the defender, he looks to increase his chances of getting the touchdown by knocking him over, making a hole for himself.

When my pick falters a little bit and takes a hit by the market, I don't run away. Instead, I take the opportunity to improve my situation as best I can. That's what winners do.

Always remember: Life is a game, enjoy the ride.

Lenny Dysktra manages Nails on the Numbers, a subscription service sold by TheStreet.com. He is 81-0 this season on his options picks. Dykstra writes regularly about options trades for TheStreet.com.