One of the classic rules of investing, intoned to all entry level financial professionals, is that one must develop the art of controlling the highs and the lows---and that to be at the top of one's savvy game, one must in fact reverse human emotion ---when there is fear, develop greed....and when there is greed...develop fear.
Why it was only last week, when Warren Buffett, the top gun guru who owns Berkshire Hathaway, and who recently bought GE at 22 and has been telling everybody in America to buy, buy, buy...especially since he has a big position in GE now, and he has even wryly said that it is important for America to buy since otherwise he might not look good----
The only problem----it is a rare person who can reverse human emotions--why recently when a friend owned Apple Computer at 180 and had purchased it only months before at 120, I mentioned that taking profits was good---to which he responded that he was holding for long term and I could tell that he was multiplying it out---why at that rate of increase, he..well..it would be worth a ton...but in the plunge it came down to 80 or so.
On the other side, when the market plunged a week ago I mentioned to a loved one that it might be nice to buy...a little, not the whole S&P, just a little....and even that suggestion was met with...well...glares that telegraphed that that individual thought I might have lost my mind.....
So there it is----the vast disparity between the platitude and the reality---if anyone out there has indeed reversed human emotions, or has a simple way to do it with maybe a combination of taiche, yoga and zen meditation....email me at the Observer at fre2observe@yahoo.com I am all ears.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley now on Mediafly
The various podcasts of The Evansville Observer as well as the Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley are now distributed on Mediafly as well as the Itunes network. They are free to all.
Click on the post to see the listing.
Click on the post to see the listing.
Sermon of the Week: October 19, 2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: Sermon of the Week: "Give to God the things that are God's"----what does that encompass?
Monday, October 13, 2008
"We're All in this Together" and other funny stories
Whenever total strangers appear out of the blue, maybe bankers, and such, opine the words "After all, we're all in this together," I just know----there is a little something funny goin on. After all, if they wanted a loan, ok. I would understand. But an outright theft disguised as a friendly bonding exercise is totally out of place.
Then when banking executives and high placed derivitave types explain that we are all in this mess together---I have to stop them and say: NO. You made a big mistake and you are outta here. You did fraud and misjudgement on your own time.
Then when banking executives and high placed derivitave types explain that we are all in this mess together---I have to stop them and say: NO. You made a big mistake and you are outta here. You did fraud and misjudgement on your own time.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
"Faith is just for Old Guys"---a true story
Recently I have been working at a local catalog firm in the sales department for the Christmas season----and last week, I loaned one of the classic Evansville Observer pens to one of my co-workers when her pen ran dry.
A minute or so later, I saw her looking at the Observer site, and she exclaimed ,"Wow, you even have sermons on here---old guy stuff."
I just smiled. After pausing a moment, I replied:
"Ya. I guess so. And sometimes young guy stuff too. It depends."
Over the years I have always noticed how the youngsters get to Confirmation and then are never seen again---usually till their first born when they as new parents get a larger view of their position in the larger universe. The birth of a first born can do that.
Still. There is a decided slant in the demographics of modern churchgoers to the older ages.
Last week, as I reviewed the essentials of banking, and the highly leveraged world it is---I reflected on how much faith is the very building block of success of our banking system----and the loss of it is a very scary event.
The loss of faith last week has shaken the very world financial system, and I hope that those in leadership regain not only the faith of the everyday citizen, but I hope that they are worthy of that faith. We certainly need it. It ain't just for "old guys."
A minute or so later, I saw her looking at the Observer site, and she exclaimed ,"Wow, you even have sermons on here---old guy stuff."
I just smiled. After pausing a moment, I replied:
"Ya. I guess so. And sometimes young guy stuff too. It depends."
Over the years I have always noticed how the youngsters get to Confirmation and then are never seen again---usually till their first born when they as new parents get a larger view of their position in the larger universe. The birth of a first born can do that.
Still. There is a decided slant in the demographics of modern churchgoers to the older ages.
Last week, as I reviewed the essentials of banking, and the highly leveraged world it is---I reflected on how much faith is the very building block of success of our banking system----and the loss of it is a very scary event.
The loss of faith last week has shaken the very world financial system, and I hope that those in leadership regain not only the faith of the everyday citizen, but I hope that they are worthy of that faith. We certainly need it. It ain't just for "old guys."
Sermon of the Week: 10-12-2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: October 12, 2008. Rich food and first class wine....no Thunderbird. The very best.....plan on it.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
