general thoughs | Trade the Picture

Lifestyle Management Inc.

January 5, 2012 // 0 Comments

Earlier today I was closing some deals when I remembered that it was time for me to address the eBusiness Cashual nation. I started eBusiness Cashual (eBC) while traversing a myriad of sumptuous hotels and satellite castles that Robin Leach could only add to his champagne wishes and caviar dreams. It was within these undisclosed locations that I made my formal Cashual breakthrough: my rags to riches tale is fodder for more than a Hollywood epic. I had undervalued myself—I had a higher purpose. As this indubitable knowledge materialized, the eBC concept was conceived—yet it remained unborn. The possibility hung in the air in front of me like a 15-year-old awaiting his driver’s test. Still the dream was taking form, and I believed in it. Laboring to birth my business brain-child, I considered the most important aspects of industry and production. The best businesses are the ones that empower others to create their own businesses. Think eBay or Google or Amway. How many people have founded businesses upon the generous platforms of the these giants? The catch: though free to a large audience, these businesses do require some fees to be paid. Someone is taking a cut. But If I could come up with a business so robust that it was impervious to these cagey cuts, a profit would be profit. Now I have transcended entrepreneur and become philosopher. If I define my business as one that empowers others, but also disables the process of profit skimming, I may just have a new concept: the reverse pyramid scheme! Standing atop my pyramid and reveling in my intellectual bounds, I realized after all, it is all about me. In attempting to explain how it wasn’t, I confirmed that it was. The best businesses are free to a very large audience, are viral, and no one else takes a cut of the profit. Deducing through the algorithm, it becomes clear: The best businesses are lifestyles. Thus the painfully beautiful birth of eBC—the lifestyle of Vinnie Vega—sprawling in it’s newborn purity before you. EBC is a collaborative enterprise contact management cloud solution from which we can all gain. It is what it is. There is no face or book in it. Here at eBC, we start in the street, steady on our feet, and we always keep it eBusiness Cashual. We Love You [...]

Sovereign Outlier Triangulation

February 16, 2010 // 0 Comments

As the previously documented sovereign event approaches, the uncertainty that remains draws me closer to the prosperity that will effect the collective consciousness of my readership connection. To further dissect the economic scenario that is playing out, I will offer some thoughts on where things are, what could cause things to reverse, as well as how to best prosper from the sovereign contagion that is spreading like wildfire. Greece In my prior post, I outlined the sovereign default risk that we face—somewhere, sometime soon. Several geographies are flashing extremely risky scenarios. Greece is in need of a bailout and they lay on the precipice of disaster if some aid is not found. Any proposal of aid I have seen will not be a solution, rather a band-aid on a broken bone. However, a band-aid could buy Greece some time–which they are in dire need of. Ireland Economic woes in Ireland are severe, and they are not being given the focus they require. Further trouble in the place where I kissed the Blarney Stone could be the impetus for the contagion to spread further, causing the market dislocation that I anticipate. Dubai Risk in Dubai is priced where it was at the height of 2009. Further trouble and inability to restructure will cause fallout in Dubai—which will affect Europe, which will effect Greece, and the dominoes will continue to tip. Last week in Dubai, I found money dealers paying extremely large mark-ups for physical gold. Indeed, rumors of gold being used as legal tender in Dubai are true. Again we see my thesis substantiated: the risk aversion trade here is not the US Dollar, rather the precious metals–gold and silver. Spain: The Wild Card All of the above geographies could stabilize, or with further troubles, could act as catalysts for the contagion to spread quicker than it already is. I’d note that Spain was a large driver of contagion over the past two years. The housing bubble in Spain was by far the largest real estate bubble compared to anywhere else. They also face a severely high unemployment rate. However, even with all this trouble, spreads on banks in Spain are not showing the stress they should. When the stress of the housing bubble and unemployment rate percolates into Spanish banks, it will be easy for Spain to pick up where it left off. More in need of a bailout this time, Spain will contribute to the strain in Europe, affecting Greece, affecting Ireland…tip, tip, tip. All That Glitters Though the catalyst remains uncertain, the looming event is undeniable. Remember, when the entire universe lunges to take risk off the table in a reaction to what I anticipate, gold will stand, glittering amidst the debris. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: if you don’t own gold, you should. And the beat goes [...]