ContrariLand

When studying economics in college, I assumed that investing and economics were sciences, where getting the right discount rate[1] allowed for the accurate valuation of anything.  That turns out to be dramatically wrong.  Instead, those seeking to become great investors would be better served in taking classes in evolutionary biology or psychology[2].   This allowance of Continue reading

I have been listening to this podcast “60 songs that explain the ‘90s”, which is fun.  An episode on Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” got me thinking.  “Jagged Little Pill” sold a crazy 30 million copies.  Was she the “best” singer?  No way, but she was very different with a very distinctive sound that you Continue reading

If there has been a single theme to the last decade it has been “disruption”: Existing industries altered by the introduction of new technology.    As Marc Andreeson wrote more than a decade ago, Software is Eating the World.  This collision between old industries and new technologies makes it easier and cheaper for new entrants to start a business, and more Continue reading

Lists of the “Best Books”,  “Best Music” or the “Best Art” suggest that the best of everything was made long ago. Not just decades, but hundreds of years.  Were there more geniuses in the 1700s than today?  Or are today’s geniuses simply spinning up new memes on Twitter? This question got me thinking about historical geniuses and their habits.   If we Continue reading

In a post-Covid, “work from anywhere” world, cities (not companies are the forefront of the war for talent.  The game today is not offering tax breaks to draw Amazon HQ2, but instead to draw the next Jeff Bezos to start it in your town. If Economic Development 1.0 was Foxconn, then Economic Development 2.0 is Mayor Suarez of Miami.   What will Continue reading

A few thoughts on stuff Housing starts are increasing at a pretty quick pace. The below tweet from Taleb has stuck with me…. The venture capital market (like many markets) has been going bananas this year. Where has it grown the most? Austin and Miami have gotten most of the attention but the cities with Continue reading

Over the last Christmas vacation, I watched both Godfathers 1 and 2 twice apiece.  After spending 40 years never having seen either, it was time to rectify, and I offer the following lessons I learned (I’m saving #3 for next year).   Speak less. In the musical “Hamilton”, the lead character is advised to “Speak Continue reading

In trying to find insight and to look at problems in a new way, I find it helpful to ask some seemingly random questions. It helps turn the snow globe in a different direction and hopefully shake loose some creativity. In the below, I offer five questions that I have found helpful. 1. What will Continue reading

I read the book //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=clintmyers-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=145161683X&asins=145161683X&linkId=6e38a2025a5b611c50d0425cf3d7eee7&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff“>Abundance by Peter Diamandis a while back and absolutely loved it.  Some of my notes: In our economy creative ideas are the ultimate resource, yet the school systems do very little to foster them People have an individual overconfidence bias.  However, there is a bias for negativity across the world at large Homo Continue reading

I read the book “Eat People” by Andy Kessler ages ago and just came across my notes.  In the spirit of re-writing to inspire some thoughts: Beer and professional sports today are like bread and circuses that Caesar used to sedate the masses. Supply creates demand (Say’s law).  If we just worked from existing demand, Continue reading