The History Of Lobster (And An AI Lesson)

Lobster wasn’t always a high-ticket delicacy. And I’m not even talking about your fanciest New England friend’s childhood memories. A long time ago, lobster was little more than the Chinese takeout of rural Maine.  The reason lobster “blew up” was the railroad.  That’s right.  No Red Lobster without Big Railroad.  The story is simple, but … Continue reading The History Of Lobster (And An AI Lesson)

Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 11/23/2023 Edition

What are you doing with all of this semi-free holiday time? If you need some YouTube or podcasts, I have some self-promotional fun for you - links at the bottom: “Hold My Beer” Breaking News #9. It’s primary season (and the season lasts a full year, so yeah). As the crazy gets crazier, or goes … Continue reading Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 11/23/2023 Edition

Melting Ice Cubes Vs. Forming Glaciers

There’s poetry in finance, if you look for it. There’s poetry in personal financial planning too. Here’s three business types to strategically understand for personal and professional gains (and maybe more importantly, for avoiding losses too).  A melting ice cube is an idea that’s vanishing.  A glacier is an idea that’s fortified in place and … Continue reading Melting Ice Cubes Vs. Forming Glaciers

Punk Rock Economics (How To Start A Scene, Not Sell Out, And Save The World)

A friend of mine was telling a story about a small business event where a sponsor chose to order food from a nearby chain instead of getting it from one of the local restaurants the sponsor had personally invited to attend(!). The sponsor proceeded to eat the takeout in front of the restaurant owners. In … Continue reading Punk Rock Economics (How To Start A Scene, Not Sell Out, And Save The World)

You Can’t Talk About Markets Without Talking About Marketing

No price exists without a story.  No transaction happens without a story.  Actually, stories. Plural. No price, no transaction, no anything - without stories.  Which is why this statement is so important: You can’t talk about markets without talking about marketing.   The buyer decides a price makes sense. A variation of the decision process occurs … Continue reading You Can’t Talk About Markets Without Talking About Marketing

Podcast Of The Week: Julie Fredrickson on Infinite Loops

Julie Fredrickson at Chaotic Capital has this thing about how adaptability is more important than predictions. I’ve been following along with/reading her stuff for a few years now, but that idea and how it shows up everywhere is so powerful.  When James O'Shaughnessy practically leads off the conversation with the question (well, after comparing hippies … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Julie Fredrickson on Infinite Loops

Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 9/28/2023 Edition

How you gonna do it if you really won’t take a chance The YouTube/podcast parade continues -  We have a NEW episode of Breaking News up this morning, “Voldemort 2024! The Biden/Trump Rematch Nobody Wants.” We talk about the strategies political incumbents use to defend against newcomers, why this election will be the mud-slingingest yet, … Continue reading Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 9/28/2023 Edition

8 Steps To Empire-Building Compound Returns By (Jimmy) Buffett

"8 Steps To Empire-Building Compound Returns," by Buffett. No, not Warren - we're talking about Jimmy Buffett.  THAT Buffett has his "big 8," aka the 8 songs he plays at every show.  50 years of music, 29 albums, 40 world tours, best-selling books, clothes, restaurants, and it reduces to... Doing 8ish things well, repeatedly. Want … Continue reading 8 Steps To Empire-Building Compound Returns By (Jimmy) Buffett

Podcast Of The Week: Matt Breitfelder – Investing In Human Capital

Matt Breitfelder was interviewed by Ted Seides on Capital Allocators and I think this one extends beyond his HR work in the investment field.  Matt and Ted's talk isn't just another culture-building checklist - it's a talk about self-awareness, and how the cultures that have shaped us can be as useful as the cultures we … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Matt Breitfelder – Investing In Human Capital