January 26, 2024
Sometimes, people just need to be pushed. Whether they know it or not, they need a good push. A good confrontation. A wake-up call. I was on vacation last week. I walked into the gym, as I do every day on vacation. As I jumped on the Peloton bike, I noticed I had the “One friend is working out” notification on the bottom right of the screen. I looked at the button, clicked it, and saw who it was…Ryan, that’s who! Adrenaline rising, I immediately joined the ride. He had been going for about five minutes before I started the ride. So, as […]
January 19, 2024
I am simply amazed at the news. One day, the sky is falling. The next day, everything is great. One day, a recession is imminent. The next day, we’re set for an epic run and the economy is thriving. One day, we are on the verge of complete and total financial meltdown, and the next…well, you know the story. I recently read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book, “Be Useful.” ‘Incredible book in general; remarkable human being. The biggest thing I took away from the book, his podcast, and his online presence in general is the opening statement: “Welcome to the positive corner […]
January 12, 2024
I started writing these weekly messages on March 16, 2018. That makes 302 Friday Thoughts in the books. And with today’s message and the first one of 2024, that makes 303. What I have learned over these last five+ years is that all things will pass. Difficult times – and times of great success – pass us by, always changing. I’ve also come to the conclusion that focusing on the past is never a good idea. However, knowing where you come from and what it took to get you to where you are today are critical components for continued success. […]
January 5, 2024
‘A young man, 24 years old, successful, hard-working. He went to dinner with his grandparents one evening at their request. The three of them sat down at the table, ordered drinks, and started chatting. Soon, the waiter came by to check-in. But no one was ready to order just yet. As they continued their conversation, the Grandmother asked the young man what motivated him to work so hard. “You really want to know?” the young man responded. “Yes, of course,” she replied with a big smile on her face. “I want to make you and Grandpa proud of me,” the young […]
January 1, 2024
Stock Market Strong market headwinds pushed stocks higher through December, continuing November’s rally and nearing record highs before falling just short on the last trading day of the month – and the year. In all, the S&P 500 closed just 0.6% below its record high of 4,796.56 on January 3, 2022. The index rose for a ninth straight week to end December, Q4, and 2023, the S&P 500’s most substantial quarterly gain since Q4 of 2020. Wall Street’s three major indices all finished December positive, adding to their strong gains in 2023. The Nasdaq climbed a remarkable 40%+ over the […]