Does freedom comes from living simply like a monk or opulently like a Trump? It’s the eternal question we all ask ourselves. A TV sitcom I was watching some time ago had a scene with a bunch of stereotypical millennials throwing an unemployment party (yup, you read that right) for[…] Read On
Overheard this morning in the Tobak household: “Have you seen this year’s property tax bill?” “I know, right? They’ve piled on a laundry list of local bonds, taxes and initiatives. And the assessment went up.” “Trying to figure out how we’re going to pay it by Friday.” “Take it out[…] Read On
In a moment, I’m going to ask you to close your eyes, think about one word, and tell me what comes to mind. Not yet; first you have to know what the word is. The word is “success.” Now close your eyes, sit quietly, and tell me what comes to[…] Read On
For a while, we upgraded iPhones every two years. Then it slipped to three. Going forward, who knows? Will I upgrade to Apple’s new iPhone 8 or X? Nope, and I’ll tell you why: We have so many gadgets now that upgrading has become an annoying, time consuming, expensive pain[…] Read On
I’m always amazed by the persistence of popular maxims. Some, like “all that glitters is not gold” and “experience is the best teacher,” have always been true, while others, like “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” and “cleanliness is next to godliness,” were probably never true. And yet, they[…] Read On
Some of the most powerful life and business lessons are apparent paradoxes. I say “apparent” because once you learn to question popular dogma and look at things objectively, the paradoxes ultimately resolve into truths. I’m not making this up. It’s fundamental to how things work. It’s a yin and yang thing.[…] Read On
I’m upset. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. Actually, I’m mad at myself. Why? The most emotionally charged of all reasons, at least for me: money. I stuck with a conservative investment strategy and, in a year when making 10 or 20 percent was a no-brainer, my portfolio[…] Read On