Embracing Diversity in the Venture Capital Industry
I recently had a conversation with a (white male) VC fund manager (“VC” or “manager”) who had an impressive number of diverse founders in his portfolio. In the venture capital industry this is not very common, but sorely needed. When I congratulated him about the high-degree of diversity in his portfolio, he said “it wasn’t something they set out to do; it kind of just happened.” He … Continue reading Embracing Diversity in the Venture Capital Industry
The Dip
I listened to a podcast this week called What You Will Learn where the hosts were discussing Seth Godin’s book, The Dip. The Dip is a figurative location that describes a low point in your personal or professional life where you either give up or keep going. For any worthwhile endeavor, arriving at the dip is inevitable. The typical cycle begins with a strong start … Continue reading The Dip
Keep Moving Forward
I read a Medium post last week by Michelle Elizabeth wherein she was expressing how tired she is of talking about race. She is tired of having to deal with the pressure and feelings of race being at the center of everything she does and everywhere she goes. She is tired of having to explain to those who aren’t Black that the challenges Black people … Continue reading Keep Moving Forward
Become A Smarter Investor by Asking Better Questions
The process of becoming a smarter investor isn’t solely about intelligence; it’s about curiosity. I don’t think intelligence and curiosity are mutually exclusive. But I do think that while intelligence inspires one to acquire more facts, curiosity inspires one to ask more questions. When I think about this comparison and how it applies to the world of investing, asking more questions can be immediately beneficial. … Continue reading Become A Smarter Investor by Asking Better Questions
My Top 5 Investment Principles
My top 5 investment principles for investing in the stock market. Continue reading My Top 5 Investment Principles
Being Black “and” American
Being black and American in America. Continue reading Being Black “and” American
Three Things I Predict Will Change in America After The Coronavirus is Under Control
In a few short months, the coronavirus (Covid-19) has wreaked havoc throughout the world. Sadly, thousands have fallen ill and passed away, hundreds of thousands have been temporarily displaced or permanently eliminated from their places of employment, and many businesses have shut down. We are living in unprecedented times. Like many countries around the world, the United States is still in the early stages of … Continue reading Three Things I Predict Will Change in America After The Coronavirus is Under Control
Life Lessons for the New Year
Every year I like to read Byron Wien’s Top Ten (economic) Surprises for the year. I’ve written about Byron before, but for those who don’t know him, he is the Vice Chairman for Blackstone, a large wealth management firm with $554 billion in assets under management. While Byron’s list of economic surprises are interesting and helpful, I always find his “Life’s Lessons” commentary at the … Continue reading Life Lessons for the New Year
What Happens to VC in an Economic Downturn?
I was recently talking with a close friend of mine about the U.S. economy and he asked me how an economic recession would affect the venture capital industry. He works in the heavy equipment leasing industry and he was telling me that he’s beginning to see some companies postpone capital spending on construction projects because of concerns about the economy. I always enjoy hearing his … Continue reading What Happens to VC in an Economic Downturn?
Income-Generating vs Non-Income Generating Activities
One of the lessons I learned early on in my career was the importance of distinguishing between “income-generating” activities and “non-income-generating” activities. Income-generating activities are activities that have the potential to generate revenue and non-income generating activities are activities that do not. No matter who you are or what field you work in, every business activity can be clearly delineated as one or the other. … Continue reading Income-Generating vs Non-Income Generating Activities
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