Interview  |  JUN 1997

On the Aerodynamic Trader: Constance Brown by Thom Hartle

On the Aerodynamic Trader: Constance Brown by Thom Hartle Aerodynamic may seem like a peculiar description for a trader, considering what the word brings to mind at first glance: smooth and sleek, streamlined to minimize resistance. And yet, think about it. Successful traders are mentally streamlined. Winning traders display minimal emotional resistance to a high-risk environment, only trusting their skills to trade. This focused mental state is comparable to those of top athletes who go into head-to-head competition concentrating on their goal, free of any excess mental baggage that could weaken their performance; they operate with a mental toughness to bring home the gold. One trader knows both challenges: Connie Brown, who was at one time a world-class swimmer, and who is today a professional trader as well as the author of the work Aerodynamic Trading. Stocks & Commodities Editor Thom Hartle interviewed Brown via telephone on March 24, 1997, about trading, the similarities to athletic competition and other topics. Q: So did you come right out of school and jump into trading? A: No. My business career began with Eastman Kodak. I was first hired as a sales representative and had various positions throughout my 11 years there. By the time I finally resigned from Kodak, I was a brand manager with responsibilities for Kodak’s professional color films. That was back in the days when the Hunt brothers had such an impact on the silver market. Q: So you were aware of the Hunt brothers and the silver market before you actually got into the market? A: Definitely! Silver is a major cost factor in manufacturing film, so I became very interested in the futures markets. Of course, I didn’t know very much about the markets, but I started asking a lot of questions, and my interest grew into a passion. Soon, I found I was working on my charts most of the night and on the marketing plans by day. Something had to go. I was still very young at the time, and the prospect of living in Rochester, NY, for the rest of my working days, well —

by Thom Hartle