The disadvantage of good times

“Dear Stan,

I’m CEO of a specialty adventure touring company which I and two others founded in 2006. While I had about a dozen years of experience in the industry prior to founding this new business, I had never led an organization that had outside investors. Myself, friends, family and other people we invited put several million dollars into the company to get it going. We had great plans for multiple locations in major markets and a good return for our shareholders. With the economic challenges we are facing now, there is little chance that our expectations will be met for several more years.
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Towards a political symphony

For sheer compositional innovation in timing and phrasing, there is no composer to rival Al di Meola. There is not one lyric in any piece he’s written. The story is in the emotion of the music, conveyed by the structure, the rhythm and the surprising transitions that guide you comfortably through an aural experience you could not have prepared for, and which would have made you nervous had you the time to think about where it was taking you. Instead, you arrive where di Meola wants you to, just in time, safe and feeling fine. Refreshed by the journey. Amazed at the experience.

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Why inflation doesn’t matter yet

In 2010, the year’s inflation rate was 1.64 percent. The year prior we experienced deflation for the first time in many decades, at -.34 percent. This year’s annual rate, so far, is averaging 2.14 percent. It’s not screaming upward, but it’s definitely rising. Continue reading →

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Choosing up sides

As you consider joining your fate with others, would you rather work with a lazy genius, or an average person who won’t give up? Continue reading →

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