I was toying with the idea of starting a GoFundMe for my latest Kickstarter. This way I could get cash flowing to help launch my funding operation. What will I be doing? I’ll be funding things! My things. For stuff. Yup, I’m actually going to do you the courtesy of not promising to perform specific activities and then keeping my …
Microsoft forecast disruption from mobile, got disrupted anyhow
This chart from top Apple analysts Asymco shows that it is not enough to predict the future – you have to take actions that matter. Otherwise, you will be acting after you have been disrupted. The curious thing about disruption is that predictability does not result in immunity. If the new trajectory threatens the current profit formula, the trajectory is …
How to get beyond the parasite economy
It is the middle of the night between Friday and Saturday, and I am thinking about Guitar Center. If the above sentence appears strange to you, we are in the same boat. I do not know how bizarre and random your life appears to you, but mine is definitely some sort of mysterious fractal. About four months ago, I was …
Guitar Center’s real problem: their customers are broke
Stephen Nellis at the Pacific Coast Business Times wrote a nice article about why Guitar Center’s future hangs in the balance of this last Christmas’ results and the debt-for-equity play by its major creditor. It is a nice summary of what has gone on so far, with a couple of opposing perspectives from Paul Majeski, the publisher of Music Trades …
Investing in marijuana
OH COME ON, I DON’T PUT UP CLICKBAIT THAT OFTEN, GIVE ME THIS ONE. Actually, I got this story from the illustrious Jim Lee, Managing Partner of the investment firm StratFi. He has a great newsletter, and he totally trolled me with this one: “Does marijuana deserve a place in your portfolio?” Oh for Pete’s sake, of course I clicked. …