Like most self-employed people, I do it all: accounting, advertising, tech support, you name it. I spend almost as much time running the business as I do writing or consulting. That’s not unusual, and a lot of the stuff of running a business is fun. But some of it is a drag. I do many… [Read More]
Blog
Lies, damn lies, and misused statistics
Recently, I attended a presentation put on by a television network to promote a show that would be going in syndication on one of its channels. Everyone who attended received a t-shirt and a glossy booklet touting a new demographic study that would compare the characters to Americans nowadays. The results were really interesting. They… [Read More]
Fun at FinCon13
Last night, I went to a party held at a hotel rooftop bar across the street from Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won. How fun!
Barbarians at the Gate, workers, and wages
I’ve started showing Barbarians at the Gate in my corporation finance classes because it is a great story that ties together so many items on the syllabus: investment decisions in existing businesses, sunk costs (the Premier cigarette), the differences between cash flow and accounting income, and the use of leverage. Plus, James Garner is so… [Read More]
Cash is still the king
I prefer to use cash as much as possible. It makes me mindful of my spending, and it is accepted everywhere. Yesterday, I had lunch with friends at their high-rise apartment. I parked in the building garage. When it was time to go, I realized that I left my wallet at home. Would they take… [Read More]
