Summary:

In this episode, I debunk the myth of a popular motivational phrase - "You can do anything you set your mind to," which often leads to unrealistic expectations and frustration. While hard work is valuable, each person’s abilities are influenced by both natural talent and environmental factors, which can limit success in certain fields. For instance, achieving highly specialized accomplishments, like being a professional athlete or winning a Nobel Prize, often depends on innate skills and intelligence.

Notable figures like John F. Kennedy, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk exhibited unique talents early in life that shaped their success. The common factor among these individuals was an early identification of their "life’s task"—a concept explored by author Robert Greene. Greene and other thinkers suggest that each individual has a unique purpose aligned with their skills, often rooted in early passions. However, society and education systems may prevent us from focusing on this purpose, pushing us instead to "strengthen weaknesses" rather than hone innate strengths.

Meaningful success, according to Greene, comes from identifying and dedicating oneself to this "life’s task," even if it requires resilience and overcoming societal pressures. Simplistic motivational phrases like “Believe in yourself” and “You can do anything” overlook these complexities and can mislead people.

Ultimately, the goal is to find a purpose that aligns with individual skills, allowing for true fulfillment rather than pursuing ambitions based solely on external motivational messages. Achieving this "life’s task" brings deeper meaning and satisfaction but is a unique journey each person must discover for themselves.

References:

1. Monish Pabrai on My First Million: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XikIr0kedY8

2. Robert Greene on The Huberman Lab Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50BZQRT1dAg&t=7860s

✔️Summary:

In this episode, I interviewed Marcia Gawood, an angel investor, who discusses her journey into the world of angel investing. She shares how she transitioned from a corporate job at Kaplan Education to becoming fascinated by innovative companies at a local angel investing meeting. Angel investing, she explains, differs from venture capital because angel investors use their own money, while venture capitalists invest using funds from other investors. Marcia emphasizes the accessibility of angel investing, highlighting how anyone can get involved with as little as $50 through equity crowdfunding, thanks to changes in SEC regulations in 2016.

Marcia mentions the importance of investing in groups for sharing expertise, especially in industries like healthcare, where she is passionate due to personal circumstances. She also addresses the significance of assessing a company’s team, scalability, and the problem-solving potential of their products. Evaluating the founder’s drive and compatibility with their team is key, as is understanding the broader market context.

She also discusses her involvement with angel groups like Golden Seeds, which focuses on women-led businesses, and Mindshift Capital, a global venture capital firm. Passion for certain causes, such as women's health, motivates Marcia's investment decisions, as well as the potential for both financial returns and societal impact. Finally, Marcia shares advice on how beginners can start angel investing, such as attending local startup events, conducting research, and considering investment platforms like equity crowdfunding sites.

⭐️About Marcia:

Marcia Dawood is on a mission to empower and educate everyone to realize their potential to invest in positive change. She is passionate about bridging the gap from early-stage inception to building thriving, profitable companies.

A proponent of diversity in startup leadership, which has proven to yield better outcomes, Marcia supports companies that are working on solutions to big problems in the world, like hunger, clean water, medical advances, and climate change.

Marcia is also an advisor to the Securities and Exchange Commission on the Small Business Capital Formation Committee.

Author of Do Good While Doing Well, TEDx speaker, and the host of The Angel Next Door Podcast, Marcia walks the talk and holds investments in over 50 early-stage companies and funds. She is committed to expanding support for diverse companies that overcome the world’s biggest problems and accelerate positive change.

She is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital and a member of Golden Seeds, one of the largest angel groups in the US. Both groups focus on investing in women-led companies.

She is Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), the global professional society for angel investors. She is a founding member and current chair of the ACA’s Growing Women’s Capital Group, which is building syndication and collaboration among US investment groups focused on women-led companies.

Previously, Marcia was the COO of Portfolia as well as a managing partner at BlueTree Capital Group, where she was responsible for investment strategy, diligence research, and member education.

Prior to that, Marcia won numerous awards as a top sales executive for Kaplan Education for ten consecutive years. She is also a co-author of the book You Can, You Will, which was an Amazon bestseller in 39 categories in four countries.

Marcia received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

💜 Resources:

► Equity Crowdfunding Platforms: Republic.com, WeFunder, and StartEngine

► Book: "Do Good While Doing Well" by Marcia Gawood

► Marcia's podcast "The Angel Next Door": https://www.marciadawood.com/the-angel-next-door-podcast

► Marcia’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4i4qb3E8E

In this episode, I analyze Nvidia stock from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives following its stock split in June 2024, with my analysis dated September 13, 2024.

On the qualitative side, there is significant support for the stock, both from external sources and the company's management.

However, the quantitative analysis tells a different story. None of the four valuation methods I used suggest a buy, though it's important to note that these assessments are based on very conservative assumptions typical of value investors. Therefore, it's unsurprising that they all indicate a "not buy" recommendation.

In conclusion, valuing a company with Nvidia's unique positioning and extraordinary growth potential is challenging, especially when it stands out as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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(Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. My podcast and YouTube channel are for educational purposes only and merely cite my own personal opinions. In order to make the best financial decision that suits your own needs, you must conduct your own research and seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor if necessary.)

In this podcast episode, I start with a Joe Rogan Experience episode featuring Peter Thiel, which touches on various controversial topics, including Bill Gates and his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Listening to these "conspiracy theories" almost shatters my worldview, especially regarding the role of powerful individuals in capitalist societies. It makes me wonder - is capitalism evil?

I then go on to explain capitalism, socialism and communism. In reality, socialism and communism have historically failed due to lack of incentives, inefficiencies, and power abuses. In comparison, capitalism, which isn't perfect, has proven to work in many diverse geographic and cultural settings. Ultimately, I conclude that it’s not capitalism that is inherently evil but rather the actions of evil individuals, who can be present in any economic systems - capitalist, socialist or communist.

Despite the controversies surrounding Gates, I express hope that his intentions may be driven by a desire to leave behind a positive legacy, though he may be trying too hard in doing so.

References:

https://nypost.com/2024/08/06/us-news/bill-gates-is-desperate-for-what-he-cant-buy-a-nobel-prize/

https://www.newsweek.com/kim-jong-un-assembles-new-pleasure-squad-young-women-319030

In this podcast episode, I emphasize the importance of recognizing that personal finance is truly personal, and that popular advice from personal finance gurus often doesn’t fit everyone's unique circumstances. I share 5 pieces of prevalent personal finance advice that did NOT work for me at all, and I also share what would have worked with the 20/20 hindsight.

1. To become wealthy, you need to budget, be frugal, and save a large percentage of your income. Following this advice had made me feel deprived and I wasn't truly happy. Instead, now I realized that increasing earned income might have been more beneficial.

2. House hacking is a great way to save money, because housing is the largest expense category. This strategy was simply too difficult, if not possible at all, to implement in the area I live. I should have hacked child care instead.

3. Other people appear wealthy but they are actually poor, so don’t fall into the comparison trip. This is good advice if it's actually true. There can be a concentration of people who are indeed wealthy in the costal areas, which is where I live. Instead of denying this fact, I should have put aside my ego, and learned from these well-to-do individuals much sooner.

4. Retirement, better yet early retirement, is the holy grail. I challenge the notion of early retirement as a universal goal, advocating instead for finding passion in work.

5. Invest in index funds that mimic the market, such as the S&P 500 index. While index funds are popular, and it may well be the best advice for many people, learning to pick individual stocks can be more rewarding if done thoughtfully, and if it suits your aptitude and personality.

Ultimately, I conclude that personal finance should be customized to one's own life, values, and happiness.

Value investing is a time-tested approach to investing, but it’s often misunderstood. Here are five common myths about value investing, debunked:

Myth 1: Value investing is too hard.

Many believe that determining a stock's intrinsic value is difficult. However, intrinsic value is based on the future cash flows a company is expected to generate. While this requires some analysis, the principle is simple: invest when a company’s stock price is below its intrinsic value.

Myth 2: Value investing doesn’t work.

Skeptics argue that value investing can’t work because if it did, everyone would do it, and there would be more Warren Buffetts. However, the success of value investors like Buffett disproves the Efficient Market Theory, which suggests that market prices always reflect true value. The consistency of returns from value investing in Omaha, Nebraska, and elsewhere, shows it does work—just not for everyone.

Myth 3: Value investing is boring.

While it’s true that many value investors focus on established companies, the idea that value investing is inherently boring is wrong. The key is understanding companies within your “circle of competence.” Successful value investors have made significant gains in industries like gaming, social media, and tech, not just “boring” businesses.

Myth 4: Value investors avoid high-growth companies.

Contrary to popular belief, value investors have invested in high-growth companies like Amazon. Bill Miller, a well-known value investor, famously invested in Amazon when its stock was undervalued during the dot-com bust, proving that value investing can involve high-growth stocks.

Myth 5: Just follow what other value investors are buying.

Simply copying famous value investors is a mistake. Value investing requires buying stocks at a discount, which means doing your own research and understanding your circle of competence. What works for Warren Buffett may not work for you.

In conclusion, value investing isn’t as difficult or outdated as some might think. With the right application, it remains a powerful investment strategy.

In my last YouTube video about Tesla, I was skeptical about investing in it. But after diving deep into the company, guess what? I changed my mind! The stock hit a 52-week low sometime this year, so I started buying shares between $140 and $180. Now, it's around $220 (July 30, 2024), so it’s been a decent profit so far, and I'm holding for the long term.

I discuss three main reasons that made me change my mind in this episode:

1. Dude is crazy and uncompromising - it’s a bad trait to be likable but good for business. A big reason for my change was Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk. It shows Musk as a driven, multifaceted person who, despite being difficult, gets things done. For example, he insisted on unique Tesla door handles, even though it raised engineering challenges and costs, in order to make EVs more desirable, which was his original vision.

#2. Elon really believes in his vision and would do whatever it takes to make it happen. He truly believes in EVs as the future because fossil fuels will run out. His relentless drive to change the world, not just make a profit, is inspiring and a common trait in the founders of groundbreaking companies.

#3. Just like any companies that disrupted, whose growth trajectory, and stock price for that matter, never followed a linear path, neither will Tesla’s. Value investor Christopher Tsai made this critical point. He compared Tesla to Ford's trajectory and impact on the auto industry. Despite challenges, he thinks Tesla is set for success, especially as EVs become inevitable due to limited fossil fuels. In many ways, Tesla is way ahead of its competitors, and therefore will become the ultimate low cost EV manufacturer.

In short, Musk’s vision and the "getting things done" ability, Tesla’s leading position in the EV revolution, and validation from seasoned investors convinced me to invest. Even though I was skeptical before, I now see Tesla as a company ready to shape the future.

In this episode, I discuss a recent trip to China. In particular, I share my positive and "not so positive" experiences from this trip.

To start with, the pros:

1. Modernity

2. Hospitality

3. Good customer service

4. Affordability

5. Delicious food

Moving on to the cons:

1. Uncleanness

2. Lack of amenities

3. Crowdedness

4. Environmental pollution

5. Restricted internet access

Overall it was a great trip, and I can see why many think that China is going to take over the US as the next world power. That being said, I discuss the varied opinions from notable investors, some optimistic and others wary, reflecting the complexity of the investment landscape in China.

Where do I stand? Like the old adage says, "never say never". I remain cautious about investing in China due to government policies and economic slowdown which create challenges in long-term planning. However I am hopeful that there will be future changes in government policies that encourage innovation and stimulate business growth.