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Just because unemployment is rocketing doesn’t mean there are NO jobs out there. Yes it’s tougher to find a job, but companies still need to find good people. Below is a listing of an article that Fortune just put out regarding companies looking for qualified people. You should be forewarned, however, that negotiating in this job market is quite different than yesterday’s. Firstly, don’t be greedy with a salary minimum. Many people today are forced to find work at 10% lower than their previous jobs. May feel like a step in the wrong direction, but as long as it’s the right job you can still set yourself up in the right long-term direction. Secondly, understand that these companies aren’t giving out jobs like candy (anymore). They now are looking for specific duties to be met with specific character traits to do so. You need to dazzle them with your skills and how you are above average, better than the rest of the pack. You need to thoroughly understand what your role will be, and effectively explain how you’ll be beneficial to the company in this role. None of this “I’m determined” bullcrap. No, you need a specific action plan and proof that you know what you’re doing. With that said - let’s find a job!

I’ve been doing some reading on owning gold lately, and a lot of this seems to make sense. Although gold really has had a run over the last two years, it’s currently off it’s highs hit in February. Gold could be a good add to your portfolio to best diversify yourself, away from riskier stocks and still holding upside in the face of poor economies. You can purchase gold directly from your bank, although I’d be concerned about driving around with gold in the trunk of my hatchback. In case your car has poor shocks, like mine, you can purchase gold under the State Street ETF GLD. Here’s some reasons why gold may be a good add to your portfolio.

1. Economic stimulus plan and inflation. For the record, I do think the economic stimulus plan is a much needed thing for our current economy, and I applaud the Obama administration in doing so. However, a market or government that prints too much money is liable to see the value of each dollar they print decline, leading to inflation. A near trillion dollar budget is a virtual certainty to cause inflation in the next few years. Gold is an excellent hedge against inflation. When the cost of living rises, gold prices rise. 
2. Dollar weakness. Similarily - I don’t think the economic stimulus plan’s long term impact on the dollar will be favorable. Actually, it’ll be downright awful. We’re already in an age when countries like China and India are one tech graduate away from becoming a superpower over us. If the world views other countries’ currencies as more attractive (ahem, see DUBAI), the value of the dollar will decline. Large trade deficits and other similar economic features can cause the dollar to decline. In the last eight years, the dollar ran so far and so fast from the prior administration, gold was left to pick up the pieces, precisely causing it’s fantastic increase over the last several years. The dollar has indeed stabilized, but if you’re betting against the dollar long term - then you’re betting on gold.
3. BRICs and demand. This is quite simple. As demand increases, gold prices go up. And the wealth of so-called third world countries is on the rise. The BRIC countries are just an example. Last I checked, the Indian obsession with gold and gold products is reminisicent of residents of the Nile River circa 1000 AD. The more we see wealth increase across the globe, the greater demand we’ll see for gold.

There are two major areas that I see as potentially improved over the next four years in the current administration. (quite refreshing to be able to say that). First, clean energy and green initiatives. Second is education.

Most of this is quite well known, and therefore it’s generally priced into the industry. But in my opinion, if you missed the wave after Election day, now is a good time to open up a couple key industry leaders in the green tech and education industries, see who is poised to grow the greatest. This is more of a growth play given the reallocation that Obama will help with. But which companies are rich in cash, have a faithful customer base, and the ability to grow customers fastest? Which companies have the best cost management techniques? All these questions can be answered by opening up a few annual reports, quarterly reports, and sell side reports. They key is to hold on for several years, as any change that the President implements may not take effect in the stock price for quite a while - perhaps until the next administration.

This book is garbage. I donated it to my local library shortly after completing it. First off - the number of plugs Ferriss puts in his book is unbelievable. He’s clearly getting a small cut from each of these people who want to “advertise” in his book. Secondly - he talks mostly about himself throughout this book. As opposed to Guy Kawasaki who might actually give instructions, and most likely will inspire, Tim Ferriss is so insecure about himself that he has to talk about his own dance skills before he gets into the meat of the book.

This is the plan that Timmy here recommends - get your company to let you work remotely. Once they say yes (because that’s just SO easy for everyone apparently), then you stop actually delivering results because now you’re working from home, you outsource all your tasks to do (yes he really tells you to outsource ALL your job work), you travel to countries where the dollar is quite strong, and then in your spare time on a beach lagoon you create a product that can sell. You sell this product in exclusive magazines and TV - you don’t try and mass market it because then it becomes a commodity. By only advertising in select places, you control the price forever, as he says. Bear in mind - you’re doing all this because your company is willing to turn a deaf ear to your lack of results.

Wait - there’s more. Instead of creating a product - which can be easily replicated - create something else - INFORMATION, he says. Create an instructional DVD or CD (and of course he shows you the best places to produce them for you), or perhaps write an instructional book, and then sell this book to the masses. I’m sitting there reading this book and it occurred to me - this guy just DID EXACTLY THAT to me! He created so-called information, marketed the hell out of it via a blog and a catchy title, and then I lost my $19.99 to him. So I’ve been made out like a fool, and it was so easy that he explains how everyone can do it.

This book is so filled with garbage that Tim Ferriss actually spends several pages in his book writing a line by line SCRIPT that you can use with your boss when you persuade them to let you work from home. Save your time and your money. Guy Kawasaki is better - start a good business, claim tax benefits, and work hard, and you’ll be happy. Did anyone really think you can make enough money to live and support a family when you only work four hours a week? Pure garbage.

I’m hooked to this website http://www.vator.tv. It’s the ultimate resource for entrepreneurs and above all is quite inspiring. From an interview with venture capitalist Nat Goldhaber at http://www.vator.tv/news/show/2008-12-18-are-you-the-next-billionaire - this is a quick snippet.

Goldhaber really inspires you here. A successful venture capitalist himself, he states that this is the time for billionaires, not millionaires. The previous interview on Vator TV discussing valuations being down 50% had discussed the fact that investors are looking to invest TODAY given the low valuations. It’s quite simple to get funded and quite simple to become a billionaire…

Have a great idea, a great team, and great technology, and you will get funded. Good businesses will indeed get funding because now is the time when businesses can succeed easier than at the top of an economic boon where they inevitably will get eaten up as the economy tumbles. Any good business will get funded today. Goldhaber speaks of the fact that there are so many opportunities today - find the right opportunity, create something that everybody wants and needs but doesn’t exist, and you’re on your way to billionaire status.

With that said - I’ve met plenty of extremely wealthy people and becoming a billionaire isn’t easy. But the most successful ones never do it for the money. Nor should you.

Regarding yesterday’s post, essentially I am putting myself out there as a consultant, to help our fellow limousine service operator grow his business. And if I maintain a small equity stake by doing so, I’m thrilled. Here’s a copy of the email sent to him yesterday. I’ll follow up with a phone call this weekend.

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Yesterday while I was at the gym, someone had placed a business card under my windshield wiper. It’s some type of an executive limo service. But the business card was pretty unprofessional. The email address was something like “iluvbasketball@optonline.net”, the logo was pretty poor quality and for some reason appeared twice on the card, the commas were in the wrong places, and lastly it was clear that this guy was the sole owner and employee of his limousine service. Instead of doing what I normally do (throwing it out), for some reason I hung onto this card.

I thought, maybe this guy has a great car and is a great driver with ultimate professionalism,  but he hasn’t the slightest idea about business and revenue generation. Perhaps he doesn’t have a website nor have the capacity to design a catchy card or logo. Perhaps he’s bootstrapped and recently laid off and didn’t want to hire a designer. Or maybe there’s the possibility that he’s not fluent in English and therefore at a handicap to other executive limo services who are fluent.

And then a light bulb went off - regardless of what this guy’s specific situation is, perhaps I can help him! He’s the guy with the car and the great driving. I’m the guy with the business skills. I can help strategize and formulate a framework for how to grow your limousine service into a mid to large size establishment. I can help you design a logo, a website, establish a marketing plan, forecast revenue and expenses, and manage costs. I can help target high net worth clients to establish regular recurring revenue streams for you and your business. I can do all this for a nominal fee or a small percentage of revenue.

I’ve identified another opportunity to make an incremental income. The truth is that I know nothing about executive limo services - but I do know businesses. I know how to develop a business strategy and execution plan which needs only slight modification from industry to industry. And I’m on a hunch that I probably know a bit better than this guy. 

With that said, I do plan on emailing him and following up with a phone call. It’s unlikely he’ll respond, but taking the proactive approach and just seeing if there’s gold in them hills is the bare minimum I can accept. Who knows - if the guy only wants me for a logo designed and I charge a mere $100, well that’s $100 more than I had yesterday. I’ll keep you posted.

I am pleased to say that I’ve just completed my second MBA class, Market Driven Management.

I’m a non degree student just starting out with my MBA. I have yet to take the GMATs and all, but I figured it’s never a bad thing to learn. So I registered for this class taught by Professor Kevin McEvoy, and boy did I learn.

The class structure was 100% team based, where 70% of your grade was based off of two presentations. Essentially the mission was to create a marketing strategy for a product of your choice with your team. What a better way to learn.

We’ve been working hard, slaving for nights upon nights trying to dot our i’s and cross our t’s and make sure all the key questions have been answered.

• What is your company about?
• What is your product?
• What is your target market? Why?
• What are your financial figures? Forecasts?
• Where are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your competitive advantages?
• Whom are your competitors?
• What is your marketing plan and strategy? How much will it cost?
• What is your price point?
• Break even level?
• What differentiates your product?
• How and where will you be promoting this?
• What is your channel outlet and distribution strategy?
• What are your tracking and control methods?

This is just the surface! Our product of choice was Nexium, the heartburn healer by AstraZeneca. I must say, we did quite well. If you can stand for large emails, shoot me an email and I will send you a copy of our Powerpoint presentation. A+ material.

If you have the opportunity to learn, I recommend you take it. Knowledge always has the best returns.