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Sorry to bore those who aren't interested but I forgot the most
important part.
My business friend wants to retire.
His succession plan was to handover to his son but they had a falling
out.
It is a very hard business to sell because it is a boutique
construction company and very few have both the capital and the
expertise to run it.
Once the staff can run the business, without the owners, then it
becomes very sellable since it will be very profitable and self-
managing.
brian_z
--- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "brian_z111" <brian_z111@xxx> wrote:
>
> Paul,
>
> Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
>
> > I also assumed that many of those who wanted/relied
> > on AB's drawing capabilities might also have deserted us already.
>
> Dennis, Joseph, Murthyuresh and Bill are still here.
> They strike me as being people with a good knowledge of AB and also
> not the types to make frivilous complaints.
>
> > Believe me, the law
> > of diminishing return applies far more rigourously in human than
> > CPUs.
>
>
> I have to agree that this is a factor but born business people
thrive
> on that challenge.
>
> Small business challenges are the same all around the developed
world.
>
> Example:
>
> Friends of my wife - husband and wife 6 figure+ PA turnover every
> year - earthmoving and construction.
>
> He was on mobile and got calls all day, every day and night of the
> week.
> He was a one man 'operating' band - she 'did the books' and was the
> hidden business brains.
>
> I told him "if you are available 24/7 they will call you 24/7, if
you
> are available 9 to 5 they will call you 9 to 5 and you will still
do
> exactly the same amount of business".
>
> Also - the decision to change from a 'one man band' operation to
> a 'business model' is very hard for anyone and excruciating for
some.
>
> I told him "you have to learn to trust people and delegate and then
> you can get some fishing time".
>
> Today his mobile is private and only for family use.
> He has a business (sort of) manager and an office (sort of) manager.
>
> I told him "Now you have to give your 'manager' his own project to
> run from start to finish and give him a % of the profit.
> If he is successful then give him the next project as well and take
> your first holiday in 10 years" (his wife always listens quietly).
>
> Then I said "It doesn't matter what you do the staff will never do
it
> exactly as you will do it yourself and they will never be quite as
> good at it as you are".
>
> He turned to me and said "Yes, but they are good enough".
>
> His business has doubled in the last 3 years.
>
> His wife is a very good student.
>
> brian_z
>
> --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Paul Ho" <paultsho@> wrote:
> >
> > Being a patron of AB for more than 4 years. I would say that AB
is
> > very much an AFL centric product. The changes in the AFL engine
and
> > its capabilities has been nothing short of phenomenal. In
contrast,
> > the hand drawing features of AB has hardly changed in the last 4
> > years, and probably not much has changed for much longer than
that.
> > Although not publicly stated, I presumed that it is the direction
> > that Tomasz wants to go, and this specialization has been very
> > successful. I can also assumed that many of those who
wanted/relied
> > on AB's drawing capabilities might also have deserted us already.
I
> > have known some of the problems Dennis has mentioned long time
ago,
> > but somehow I have never bothered even to mentioned them,
probably
> > because I developed myself more on AFL as a trading and charting
> > tool, and hardly use the drawing tools these day.
> >
> > Tomasz is a one man band. So I can apprecriate and am very happy
> with
> > the product direction he has taken. I dont think Brian's
suggestion
> > of hiring a few more programmers is the answer. Believe me, the
law
> > of diminishing return applies far more rigourously in human than
> > CPUs. What I would like to see is that Tomasz opens up the hand
> > drawing capability to third party contribution throuh the use of
> > plugins, much like the AFL and data plugins. Once done, I'm sure
> that
> > people will roll their own drawing tools. Of course, existing
bugs
> > will still need to be fixed.
> >
> > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "brian_z111" <brian_z111@>
wrote:
> > >
> > > > And no, I can not hire 2 more programmers because then I
would
> > need
> > > >to rise the cost of the program 3 times
> > > > and then everyone would scream that it is too expensive and
> will
> > > >walk away. Then it would mean the end of product.
> > >
> > > Since Dennis's intent is to invite constructive comment and
since
> > the
> > > forum does act as an informal customer feedback center:
> > >
> > > the content of your reply relates to a lot of personal and
> business
> > > decisions - not sure if you are inviting comment on those
matters?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > As a customer:
> > >
> > > I am not certain that I am a price buyer (once again this
relates
> > to
> > > business theory and application), probably not.
> > >
> > > The price is nice but is it the reason I buy AB?
> > >
> > > In the first place I made a choice to make trading my home
based
> > > business (I could have chosen something else), so that makes me
a
> > > business customer I guess (albeit a small-time one).
> > >
> > > You can't trade professionally with anything less than approx
> $100K.
> > > If I invested that amount with an Aussie fund I would pay
around
> 2%
> > > expenses, so 2K PA is a reasonable operating cost.
> > >
> > > When I first started my costs were high (books, training
courses
> > etc)
> > > but now I can operate around those figures (I do my own tax and
> > only
> > > need software/data/computer/internet - but I would have
> > > computer/internet anyway - I don't need specialist computers
for
> > > trading).
> > >
> > > Of course that is only if we don't consider brokerage as a
> business
> > > cost - if I daytrade 100k what is my annual brokerage bill? -
> > > mentally I lump this in with gross edge - commissions == net
edge
> > but
> > > in business terms it is on the books as operating costs.
> > > Software/data costs are a tiny fraction of annual commissions.
> > >
> > > Anyone who has operated a business, in one of the major
economies
> > of
> > > the world, will know that trading costs are laughable compared
to
> > the
> > > costs of running other businesses - most businesses in
Australia
> > run
> > > on very low net returns compared to the capital invested in the
> > > business.
> > >
> > >
> > > Also when I bought AB I was not a naive trader.
> > > I knew what I was doing and had owned two other software
packages
> > > prior to AB.
> > >
> > > On that basis I would say I am a specialist customer (perhaps
> that
> > is
> > > AB's niche in the market).
> > >
> > > Specialists want the software to do the things they want it to
do
> > > (pretty hard since we all want different things).
> > >
> > > Adding all of that up I vote for:
> > >
> > > please hire another programmer, give people more of what they
> want
> > > (give the optimizers their dual core stuff, give the chartists
> > their
> > > snap and draw or whatever, give the Aussies their YahooFdata
etc,
> > > etc) and put the price up - maybe even add some features
> > > to the UKB :-)
> > >
> > > Metastock is the point of comparison for AB - it is approx $500
> PA
> > > for EOD and from $1000 for Pro - so AB can stand that price (of
> > > course they have 'lease' MS for a monthly fee which allows us
to
> > > pretend we are not paying $1000 a year and so that makes it
feel
> > > nicer).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Re price buying:
> > >
> > > If I buy a cheap car I get less features.
> > > If I pay more I get more features and better appointments.
> > > If I buy the cheap car I still expect the (lesser) features to
> work.
> > > If they don't I won't buy it again at any price.
> > >
> > > (if an existing feature doesn't work this has a far more
negative
> > > effect on customers than not having the feature they want in
the
> > > first place? - psychologists claim that one negative experience
> far
> > > outweigns many positive experiences - also it is human nature
to
> > buy
> > > the cheaper model and then complain because it doesn't have the
> > > features they didn't pay for - that will never change).
> > >
> > >
> > > Re: walking away
> > >
> > > When it comes time for you to buy a new car what do you do
Tomasz?
> > >
> > > Are you going to stick to a brand, out of loyalty, if a
competing
> > > model has better reliability, features and appointments at the
> same
> > > price?
> > >
> > > How about availability, delivery and service?
> > >
> > > What motivates you to buy a product and then rebuy it over and
> over?
> > >
> > > Also you will find your needs change with time - as the kids
grow
> > the
> > > house and the cars get bigger and after they go you and your
wife
> > can
> > > have an office each (they used to be the kids rooms).
> > >
> > > So, perhaps people will walk away if their needs change and/or
AB
> > is
> > > no loner meeting their needs.
> > >
> > > - better ask your wife, about the car, before you buy though -
> it
> > > always pays to get a second opinion ;-)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Re: what do customers want?
> > >
> > > We want it all - don't you?
> > >
> > > That will never change either.
> > >
> > > The more that companies meet those 'impossible' needs the more
> > > customers they get.
> > >
> > > For example - who goes to Starbucks to pick up a coffee, then
> goes
> > to
> > > Wendys to pick up a donut and takes them to the burger shop to
> put
> > > them together for a nice breakfast if they can get a nice
burger,
> > > coffee and donut at Maccas (plus a free paper to read as well)?
> > >
> > > - better get a second opinion from the kids on that one too ;-)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hope my perspective offered some helpful feedback.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > brian_z
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Tomasz Janeczko" <groups@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > You people don't seem to realise that I am THE ONLY PERSON
who
> > > works on AmiBroker code.
> > > > The day has only 24 hours and one person has only two hands.
> > > > Now if even few people ouf of 8000 users submit "ideas"
> everyday,
> > > no matter what I do I can not implement
> > > > them IMMEDIATELLY.
> > > >
> > > > And no, I can not hire 2 more programmers because then I
would
> > need
> > > to rise the cost of the program 3 times
> > > > and then everyone would scream that it is too expensive and
> will
> > > walk away. Then it would mean the end of product.
> > > >
> > > > So, considering that I am the ONLY DEVELOPER of AmiBroker and
> > wrote
> > > everything from scratch with my own hands, I can say that:
> > > > a) I am doing more than anyone in this business to make
> customers
> > > happy
> > > > b) I am implementing MORE features/user requests/ideas than
> > anyone
> > > else in this business
> > > > c) I am going an extra mile with responding PERSONALLY on the
> > > public mailing list to many of your posts.
> > > >
> > > > I can not do MORE than I am doing now. It is physically
> > impossible
> > > for anyone.
> > > >
> > > > So, if I tell you that I am going to check things, I will do
> > that,
> > > but this is all subject to TIME and PHYSICAL ABILITY
constraints.
> > > >
> > > > Pushing the string does not help at all. It makes things
worse.
> > > >
> > > > Best regards,
> > > > Tomasz Janeczko
> > > > amibroker.com
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: wavemechanic
> > > > To: AmiBroker, User
> > > > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 2:47 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: [amibroker] Study Charting dare I say bugs...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dennis:
> > > >
> > > > I completely agree with your overall assessment and know
that
> > at
> > > least several users also completely or partially agree but may
or
> > may
> > > not respond - so you are not alone. Much has been said through
> the
> > > years on the Yahoo board/AB website/support mail about
> > > bugs, "clunkiness", and desired/necessary features. Because of
> the
> > > type of problems that you mentioned (I am also indicator mode
> > > oriented), I use the EOD version of AB and then only at "half
> > > throttle" because my applications and programming needs are not
> as
> > > extensive as that of a number of other AB users. Like you, I
use
> > > broker supplied and personal software for RT streaming and
> charting
> > > studies (no "shoe" fits all). These issues, however, are not
> > > restricted to AB as evidenced by a recent review on another
board
> > > where the user compared AB/Metastock/Tradestation/Blocks and
> ended
> > up
> > > (as I understand) with a Blocks package that includes
> > > charting/streaming data/EOD data/backtesting/useful standard
> > > features - so things are evolving.
> > > >
> > > > Bill
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Dennis Brown
> > > > To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 12:12 AM
> > > > Subject: [amibroker] Study Charting dare I say bugs...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Friends,
> > > >
> > > > AmiBroker is a wonderful program for many things. In
fact
> I
> > > use only
> > > > a fraction of its total capability for my trading style.
I
> > > trade only
> > > > single ticker (futures) real time and write whole trading
> > > systems just
> > > > in AFL in indicator mode. This is actually more like the
> > > traditional
> > > > chart trading that is offered by many brokers.
> > > >
> > > > I would expect that AB, which supports all these
functions
> as
> > a
> > > very
> > > > basic operating mode would be at least as good as other
> > > charting
> > > > programs.
> > > >
> > > > However, even though the fundamental operations are there
> > (and
> > > I think
> > > > potentially better), the interface (either design or
> > > implementation
> > > > bugs --I don't know which) has made it hard for me to use
> > this
> > > product
> > > > for drawing even basic lines on the charts while
trading.
> In
> > > fact, I
> > > > need a second chart from my broker's application open to
> the
> > > same
> > > > ticker just so I can draw lines where I want them even
> though
> > > AB would
> > > > be superior at this if it were not for the bugs. This
has
> > been
> > > going
> > > > on with me for over a year now and it is costing me.
> > > >
> > > > I have other trading friends that I have recommended try
AB
> > in
> > > the
> > > > last week, and I am embarrassed to think what they will
say
> > to
> > > me when
> > > > they figure out that these basic features don't work
> > properly.
> > > I have
> > > > actually refrained from recommending AB to them for quite
a
> > > while --
> > > > hoping these things would be fixed first.
> > > >
> > > > I don't know how many other traders are frustrated by the
> > same
> > > bugs,
> > > > but if you are, please join the conversation so that
Tomasz
> > > knows that
> > > > this is important to you also and perhaps we can get some
> > > higher
> > > > priority on getting the study charting to work properly.
> > > >
> > > > Here is a short list of my frustrating bugs --there are
> > others
> > > on the
> > > > suggestions and bug lists, but I am only pointing out the
> > ones
> > > that
> > > > cost profits by either making it very slow to do a simple
> > > operation
> > > > that makes one lose the trade opportunity, or creates
> > > frustration and
> > > > emotion which takes one out of the trading "Zone", or
makes
> > the
> > > line
> > > > drawn correctly to become inaccurate causing one to miss
> the
> > > trigger
> > > > point for a trade. If I have missed any that you feel
are
> > > costing you
> > > > profits (not the nice to have pretty things) than please
> add
> > > them to
> > > > the conversation.
> > > >
> > > > #726. Handles from a selected study line are not
> respected.
> > > Often
> > > > several lines are anchored or pass through the same pivot
> > > points.
> > > > Price levels, Trend lines, Forks, Fibs, etc., often use a
> > > common pivot
> > > > point. However, as a trade progresses, new pivots become
> > more
> > > > important and the lines need to be adjusted in real
time.
> It
> > > is easy
> > > > to select a study just by clicking on it in a spot where
it
> > is
> > > unique,
> > > > and the handles will appear along the line. However,
> unlike
> > > any other
> > > > charting program I have ever used, clicking and dragging
on
> > > the
> > > > visible handle will not usually work properly if any
other
> > > study
> > > > crosses very close to that handle. The problem is that
AB
> > will
> > > grab
> > > > the earliest drawn study and not the selected one --it
will
> > un-
> > > select
> > > > the one you selected and select the oldest one and drag
it
> > > instead.
> > > > After playing around for a few valuable seconds trying to
> > grab
> > > the
> > > > right line, I end up having to move the whole line away
> from
> > > its
> > > > current location and reposition all its handles. Very
> > > frustrating and
> > > > takes the time and concentration away from the trading
> action.
> > > >
> > > > #728. Horizontal price levels do not stay horizontal.
The
> > > horizontal
> > > > lines (price levels) do not snap to a bar with the magnet
> > mode
> > > on.
> > > > They just are placed at the cursor level. However, if
you
> > > click on
> > > > the line, it jumps to an angled line that snaps to the
bar
> on
> > > the left
> > > > side of the screen. Its operation is just bizarre and
> causes
> > > errors
> > > > in placement of the price level after the fact.
> Completely
> > > > unacceptable behavior for trading.
> > > >
> > > > #890. Study handles change when off screen. Lets say
you
> > have
> > > the
> > > > magnet on and are zoomed out and draw a trend line
between
> > two
> > > peaks.
> > > > Next you zoom in on the trading action so that only the
> right
> > > hand
> > > > handle is visible on the chart. Now say the prices have
> > > advanced to a
> > > > new peak and you need to adjust the right handle to the
new
> > > peak (this
> > > > is a very common occurrence). Most of the time, that
> handle
> > > that is
> > > > off screen jumps to a new bar position and is no longer
on
> > the
> > > peak
> > > > you selected. Of course that changes the slope of the
> trend
> > > line to
> > > > the wrong one, but you never know it when trading and you
> end
> > > up
> > > > placing bad breakout trades because the line is in the
> wrong
> > > place
> > > > now. Completely unacceptable behavior for trading.
> > > >
> > > > #990. Drag shadow is on the wrong bar. When dragging a
> > study,
> > > there
> > > > is a thin "shadow" line that shows which bar you have
> dragged
> > > the
> > > > handles to. However, when the mouse is released, the
study
> > > gets moved
> > > > to a different bar than the one indicated by the shadow.
> > This
> > > wastes
> > > > valuable time with two or three attempts to figure out
> which
> > > wrong bar
> > > > to put the shadow on to get the study to go where you
want
> > it.
> > > This
> > > > is an annoyance.
> > > >
> > > > And here is one more that I just found today. If I draw
> > trend
> > > lines
> > > > on a one minute bar snapped to peaks, then switch to a 5
> > minute
> > > view,
> > > > the trend lines are shown on the wrong 5 minute bars.
And
> > > heaven help
> > > > me if I select the line in that view, because it will
snap
> to
> > > these
> > > > wrong bars.
> > > >
> > > > There you have my short list. Please speak up if these
> > issues
> > > affect
> > > > you.
> > > >
> > > > Best regards,
> > > > Dennis
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between
users
> > > only.
> > > >
> > > > To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail
> directly
> > to
> > > > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
> > > >
> > > > For NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTS and other news always check
> > > DEVLOG:
> > > > http://www.amibroker.com/devlog/
> > > >
> > > > For other support material please check also:
> > > > http://www.amibroker.com/support.html
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --
> > --
> > > --------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > > > Checked by AVG.
> > > > Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.4.1/1510 - Release
> > Date:
> > > 6/19/2008 3:21 PM
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
------------------------------------
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