Daily Intent

Santa Barbara, CA
If you are a regular reader of the Market Street Report, you may have picked up on my intense enjoyment in finding opportunity when others are seeing doors, walls, fortresses and everything negative.  Moreover, you may have picked up on my desire for Americans to rid themselves of entitlement, enrich our lives in knowledge, and sharpen our financial astuteness.

This week’s focus on innovation and opportunity centers in on gift cards: a world that we have all come to love and hate.

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Santa Barbara, CA
Are you an optimist?

In my travels I have found Americans, most in particular, the West Coast Americans to be the most optimistic species on the planet.  As a culture, we believe anything is possible.  We believe life should be easy and enjoyable.  We believe American politics can be run by a perfect leader that is charismatic, intelligent, ethical and a bit omniscient.  And rightfully so.

We are amidst the entrepreneurial capital of the globe in the Silicon Valley where 70 percent of all venture capital money is directed in the United States.  We are home to Microsoft and Amazon, Apple and Google, Boeing and Intel, and the forever optimists in Hollywood.  Our movies end consistently happy, positive, or at least with an inspiring lesson.

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Santa Barbara, CA
Week 2 of your November Resolution.

The second week is when your body begins to feel the true soreness and exhaustion from the first week of energized and inspired workouts.  Waking up early isn’t quite as easy.  One “snooze” is needed.  Last week you forgot about all the barriers to getting back in shape.  This week a subtle awareness of challenge begins to creep in.  A couple more holiday parties / events are in the fold.  Your workout buddy may have even bailed this morning.  This is all normal.

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Santa Barbara, CA
It’s cold.  It’s wet.  It’s dark.  I’m tired.  I’m sore.  I’m not feeling well.

It’s November.  Gone are the days of consistent community activities to get you out off your front step and out into the streets, out along the water: running, jumping, lifting, pulling, kicking, swinging, diving, lunging, twisting, and spinning.  Gone are the many triathlons, half marathons, and marathons.  Until next spring.

Fewer motivators.  More festivities because of the holidays.  It is difficult.  It takes more planning and creativity.  It may require even a gym membership.

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Santa Barbara, CA
“It’s an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States…I love those bets.”
Warren Buffett, this week after solidifying Berkshire Hathaway’s largest deal ever.

Warren Buffett’s company went all-in on Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.  Burlington Northern is a giant railroad company.  They transport foreign and domestic products – from televisions to refrigerators to clothing to even cars – from the West Coast (Los Angeles and Long Beach) to the major cities in the Midwest.  Asia supplies most of the goods.  And Buffett believes our economy, once it begins humming along, will invigorate large profits for this company.

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