“If you reach for a star you might not get one, But you won’t come up with a handful of mud either.” Leo Burnett Stuff I’ve failed at: the early years Grammar School. I was a miserable kid. In every sense of the word. The fact that the nuns kept referring to all the bad… [Continue Reading]
The. Worst. Used. Car. Ever.
Spitfire Back in 1977 I was renting a little studio up in Rogers Park, a neighborhood on the far north side of Chicago. I was young, single, employed, carefree and making some bucks. I needed a toy. A sports car. That’s the ticket. I lived in the city. I didn’t own a car. Didn’t need… [Continue Reading]
Top Ten reasons your future is so bright it hurts my eyes to look at it
Today is Father’s Day and my not so little girl took me to lunch. I even had a hot fudge sundae. She paid. I tried to because she’s just back from wandering around Iceland for three weeks on her own dime and I know she’s broke. But she insisted. “It’s OK Dad,” she said “I put… [Continue Reading]
How not to drown in The Sea of Assholes
As my dearly departed sainted mother used to say, “God must love assholes. He made a lot of them.” Of course, unlike me, she was far too refined to use the word “assholes.” A number of years ago I had a two part epiphany. 1. Since I already knew the world had plenty of assholes,… [Continue Reading]
What We Own and Why We Own It
Note: This 2011 post was updated in 2018… What we own and why we own it: 2018 In the simple path to wealth I created for my young daughter nine basics guidelines. Readers noticed that the plan called for only one investment: VTSAX — Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. Here’s why: 1. VTSAX is an Index Fund at… [Continue Reading]
How I Failed My Daughter and a Simple Path to Wealth
Literally since the day she was born people have been complimenting my daughter. Her looks, her brains, her charm (she takes after her mother) and her behavior. For that last one I sometimes get credit. Not that I deserve it. Mostly I’ve stood by and simply watched in awe and tried not to get in… [Continue Reading]
The Myth of Motivation
Alec Baldwin, with his best flinty-eyed glare, announces the new sales contest. “First prize,” he says “is a brand new Cadillac Eldorado. Second prize is this set of steak knives. Third prize: You’re fired.” The movie is “Glengarry, Glenross.” Baldwin is the ruthless sales manager addressing his motley crew of losers and has-beens. Their mission… [Continue Reading]
Why You Need F-You Money
Shortly after 9/11 my company kicked me to the curb. Six months earlier our division president had taken me to a congratulations lunch for a record breaking year. We were explosively growing and embarrassingly profitable. Over a bottle of fine wine we discussed my very bright future. It was the best job I’ve ever had…. [Continue Reading]
My short attention span
Now that I’ll probably never have a full-time job again I’ve finally figured out something. I’m good for about four years. I just quit my job. Best boss I’ve ever had. Great properties. Wonderful team. Fine industry. Customers who were friends. My boss said, “You may not believe it now, but in a couple of… [Continue Reading]
The Monk and the Minister
OK, let’s get this blog off and running. Here’s one of my favorite parables to get us started: Two close boyhood friends grow up and go their separate ways. One becomes a humble monk, the other a rich and powerful minister to the king. Years later they meet. As they catch up, the minister (in… [Continue Reading]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
