El Cardquistador

In the world of cardboard, my friend Professorflood is one of the best I know at helping other sellers level up. He preaches a mantra that sits at the bedrock of any successful business:

Think. Plan. Do.

It’s a linear, disciplined approach designed to turn inventory into capital.

For a seller, this is gospel.

But for those of us in the trenches of collecting, I’d argue a rigid plan is the fastest way to miss the Grail card you’ve spent five years chasing. Collecting isn’t a factory line—it’s a dogfight. And for that, you don’t need a plan.

You need an OODA Loop.

The Seller’s Factory: Think, Plan, Do

Professorflood’s strength is helping sellers clarify who they are and what they should be selling before a single dollar changes hands. His approach isn’t about prospecting—it’s about intentional selling.

• Think: Define what you want to sell, what actually sells, and who you’re selling to. What does your audience respond to? What do you specialize in? Where does your knowledge give you an edge?
• Plan: Set your buy-in parameters, decide how you’ll present the card, choose your grading path if applicable, and select the platform that fits your audience.
• Do: Execute the listing with consistency and discipline.

It’s efficient.
It’s scalable.
And it works—because the seller creates the action.

This is manufacturing. Inputs go in, outputs come out. Success comes from clarity and repetition.

The Collector’s Dogfight: The OODA Loop

Collectors don’t control the market—we react to it.

That’s where the OODA Loop comes in: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Designed by military strategist John Boyd, it exists for environments where conditions change faster than plans can keep up.

• Observe: You aren’t just watching prices—you’re reading the vibe. What’s hitting auction? Who just liquidated a collection? Which era is quietly flooding the market?
• Orient: This is the critical step. You filter what you’ve observed through your own collecting goals. If a scarce 1952 Topps high-number appears at a price you didn’t plan for—but you know it’s effectively a one-of-ten opportunity—orientation tells you this is a buy, regardless of the monthly budget.
• Decide: You commit based on current reality, not a spreadsheet made three weeks ago.
• Act: You strike while the iron is hot.

No hesitation. No paralysis.

Why “Plans” Fail Collectors

Rigid adherence to Think–Plan–Do turns collectors into checklist followers.

You wait for the card at the price you planned for.
You pass because it’s “not on the list.”
You hesitate because the timing isn’t perfect.

The market doesn’t care.

Rare cards don’t surface when it’s convenient for your bank account. They surface when the iron is hot—and disappear just as fast.

The Collector’s Truth

A seller needs a map.
A collector needs a compass.

A map assumes stable terrain. A compass accepts chaos.

The compass tells you where you want to go—but lets you sidestep the swamp, climb the mountain, and take the shot when the opportunity appears.

That’s the difference between accumulating cards and winning the dogfight.