April 12, 2022
Over the last week, I was on vacation with my family – experiencing my very first week as a member of the 45-year-old club. Through it all, I can’t help but think just how lucky I am – and how lucky I’ve been throughout my life. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but the overwhelming feeling that permeates my thoughts are those of gratitude. Why it takes vacation or time away to realize that, I don’t know. Maybe it’s having time and space to be able to reflect or being outside of my normal routine that allows me to […]
April 5, 2022
March stock market recap Wall Street rebounded soundly in March after seeing negative returns in February. For the month of March, the three major indexes showed positive returns. March 2022: Dow Jones Industrial Average +2.3% Nasdaq Composite +3.4% S&P 500 Index +3.6% Stock market in the red for Q1 Finishing well into the red, Q1 of 2022 marked the worst quarter for the stock market since Q1 of 2020, two years ago, when the S&P 500 sank 20%. Stock market recap for the first quarter of 2022: Dow Jones Industrial Average -4.6% Nasdaq -9.1% S&P 500 -5.0% Market corrections According to Yardeni Research, […]
April 1, 2022
As we get closer to closing out the first quarter of 2022, I thought it was a good time to reflect on the year – what has gone well and what still needs to be worked on. The bad news is that I’m definitely off course and still have a lot of ground to make up. But the good news? It’s up to me to rip up my map and create a new one. Let me explain: Every year I write up a business plan. However, this guiding document is never just about business. My detailed plan also covers my goals and […]
March 26, 2022
The phone rang and I picked it up. It was my longtime client, James. “How are things going with business and in your world?” I asked. “I made more money than I ever thought I would have last year,” James replied. “And this year will be the same. Covid helped save our business. We are thriving. I am in escrow on another piece of real estate in Mammoth.” “Wow, man, that is awesome,” I said. “Things sound like they are really going well.” “Yes, for sure on the business side, but…I may have to put Jesse into a home,” he said almost apologetically, his […]
March 18, 2022
I was on a plane the other day and happened to read something that resonated with me… “Remember when you go into the world to keep your eyes and ears wide open and be kind. Love one another. Take care of each other. Tell the truth and always do your best. Listen to the big people and the little people. Explore new paths and have fun. Know that you are loved like crazy. Give thanks for all your blessings. Above all else, love and you will do wonderful things in this world.” -Poet Rebecca Puig I got a lot out […]
March 13, 2022
You never know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, and you also never know how much you missed it until it’s back. Those were my thoughts as I attended a conference live and in person this week. (Yes, ‘actually in the same room with other human beings. Remember when we did that?!) WOW, HOW I’VE MISSED THAT! One of the speakers, a prominent economist, spoke about how today (due to what we’ve all just come out of), workers are much more productive. In those volatile two years, we’ve learned how to use tools like Zoom and Teams, among others. That […]
March 9, 2022
I was with a long-time client of mine last night, just catching up over drinks. He recently changed jobs and has an impressive and prestigious position now. But, knowing him, that’s not unexpected, as he comes from an affluent New York real estate family and is someone I’ve always respected as smart and hard working. He’s also happily married to his college sweetheart (who was a D1 athlete) and they have three kids. ‘Plenty of money, happy family. On the outside, it all looks perfect. Sounds like another talented, young, successful guy, right? Simply charging through life with all the […]
March 5, 2022
The Stock Market. As February waned, news of increasing conflict in Ukraine upended markets both home and abroad. For the month: The Dow Jones Industrial Average -3.53% Standard & Poor’s 500 Index -3.14% Nasdaq – 3.43% However, despite initial swoons upon the news of Russia’s invasion, stocks rebounded and have exhibited manic volatility throughout the end of February and the first days of March. Wall Street Falls into Correction Territory. The last three years have seen a windfall on Wall Street, with robust gains for investors. In fact, the S&P 500 saw returns of 31.49% in 2019, 18.4% in 20202, […]
February 21, 2022
Kaizen is a Japanese term best translated as “change for the better” or “continuous improvement.” Perhaps my favorite definition of Kaizen says it all, “The art of perfection.” It’s a business philosophy that’s interwoven within every aspect of Japanese enterprise. Kaizen means that any operation can be continuously improved, and that includes all employees. Kaizen sees improvement as a gradual and methodical process, one with no beginning and no end, as it’s built into the very core of productivity. It’s a concept that interests me greatly, and I often find myself stopping and taking account of my business and even life, measuring […]
February 15, 2022
Why is it easier to focus on what we don’t have than be grateful for what we do have? When staring at a glass that’s half full, why do we sometimes instead see it as half empty? We’re all guilty of this at times, but some go on to make it their calling card. When left unchecked, that negativity becomes the filter through which we see the world. Soon, we’re left doubting ourselves and feel like we’re falling short, no matter how far along we are in our journey. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever found yourself thinking about who you […]