We pride ourselves on what our traders do via interaction and helping one another. Sure, we try to "lead from the top" etc. by setting up mentoring groups, teams, etc., but when the traders take the ball and help one another it really warms my heart (and helps the traders bottom line).
Regarding the openings, all I can say is that still between 25%-30% of the money Brigtht traders make is from the opening only strategy. We have had to adapt, of course, and I can't do it manually nearly as well as I could for the last few decades. We have really cool automated programs that are in use daily. We, as a group, enter between 30million - 50 million shares each day for the opens. The last quarter of 2008 was one of our best, for obvious reasons, and we've had to narrow envelopes and expand the "net" a bit this year, but still an oveall money maker. I'm having to allow new traders to automate sooner than I like, but still, it's the only way to make is consistent.
The "value added" concept is something that we have insisted on for years from our mentors and affiliates. We despise the MLM concept that many firms use...unless a group is adding value to the traders, the new people fall under corporate management.
Regarding Jake and John.... I have met most of the people in the industry over the years, and for reasons mentioned by the previous poster, is why I pretty much stopped going to those expos a few years back...few real traders or trading firms taking part any longer. This little dinner and event was put together by an old friend, and I told I would try to help. I never "go along" if there are big fees or anything involved...these guys have always been well accepted from what I've seen....and, as the web flyer says, ...I'll try to bring everyone back to Reality, LOL.
OK, time to head out to my brothers birthday party...so many parties every year, so little time. Still recovering from 3.5 hours at the Jimmy Buffett concert last night, LOL. Good show however.
All the best,
Don