May 2019
86 articles published this month.
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Notes From My Journal
18 Things You Absolutely Should Know About Investing in Art
Ah, Gabriela! My middle school crush. Her father, Eric Albreicht, an eminent art critic, had lined every wall of their home with beautiful paintings. The walls of our house were lined with books. (Books were…
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A Word to the Wise
Frisson (noun)
Frisson (noun) – A frisson (free-SOHN) is a shudder of emotion; a sudden strong feeling of excitement. As used by Martin Amis: “A novel comes not from a decision but a frisson, a sort of shiver that goes…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Burger King's Original Whopper Cost Just 37 Cents
Burger King served its first Whopper in 1957. It sold for 37 cents.
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Worth Quoting
Gandhi on Being the Change You Wish to See
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
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Worth Reading
Mr. Money Mustache on “The Real Benefit of Being Rich
This is a short essay by Mr. Money Mustache, who, some years ago, decided to quit his high-stress, highly paid corporate job and retire young on the savings he had acquired. He is now living a very rich life…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Mexican Fine Art Collection Debuts In Coral Gables
This month, the Rojas Ford Fine Art Gallery in Coral Gables, FL is featuring art from our Mexican collection. The initial evening event brought in a sophisticated crowd.
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Notes From My Journal
My Partner Is Much Richer Than I Am - So Why Don’t I Invest Like He Does?
Bill Bonner (partner/mentor/friend) made a massive fortune by investing 80% of his time and money in a single business. He is a cautious investor. But he’s also – from my perspective – a very courageous and…
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Worth Quoting
Aswath Damodaran On Warren Buffett's Limited Applicability
What works for Warren Buffett won’t necessarily work for you or me.” – Aswath Damodaran
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A Word to the Wise
Diffidence (noun)
Diffidence (noun) –Diffidence (DIF-ih-dunhs) is timidity; lacking confidence. As used by Golda Meir: “Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.”
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Electric Razors Buzz In Different Keys
An electric razor in the USA buzzes in the key of B flat; in England, it is in the key of G.
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Worth Reading
James Altucher on “The BEST Thing About Self-Publishing
The worldwide web has changed the world. In some ways for the worse. But in many ways for the better. It is, for example, better today for writers that have the tenacity to publish their own books. The first…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Anthony Hopkins' Hidden Talent As A Waltz Composer
I didn't know Anthony Hopkins was a composer. I don't know much about waltzes. I'm sure there are some that would criticize this one, but to me it's pretty impressive. The audience seems to enjoy it. It could…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
How You Can Give Away Money Without Paying Even MORE Taxes on It
I know. This sounds obnoxious. But one of my top financial priorities these days is giving away the wealth I’ve accumulated. What most rich folks do is hoard everything they’ve got until they croak. Then they…
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A Word to the Wise
Temporize (verb)
Temporize (verb) – To temporize (TEM-puh-rize) is to be evasive in order to gain time or delay acting. As used by Washington Post columnist Lloyd Grove: “I am still temporizing and twiddling on that [where he…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes
1% of US households own 34.6% of all privately held wealth and 42.7% of all financial wealth. But they also pay 38% of all income taxes.
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Worth Quoting
Michael Masterson On Success And Luck
“In retrospect, success looks like luck. Looking forward, it looks like hard work.” – Michael Masterson
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Worth Watching
Weapon of Choice
Weapon of Choice (Netflix).- An intriguing 90-minute documentary about the amazing proliferation of the Glock as the preferred weapon for police, the military, and criminals. Glock, the engineer that invented…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Four Women Battle Through Vivaldi's Summer
These ladies are quite competitive foursome as they perform "Summer" by Antonio Vivaldi...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Copywriting: A Great Freelance Gig, But Is the Market Overcrowded?
I’m retired but I need income. What’s the best part-time retirement job? I’m sick of the nine-to-five. How can I make good money working from home? Whenever I’m asked these questions, I do my best to list four…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Copywriting Is A Booming Career Choice
If you or someone you know is a fledgling copywriter (or wants to be), here are some facts to think about: * The industry is huge – $2.3 trillion by some estimates. That’s almost twice as much as the finance…
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A Word to the Wise
Cerebrate (verb)
Cerebrate (verb) – To cerebrate (SARE-uh-brate) isto use the mind; to think or think about. As used by Michael Innes in An Awkward Lie: “If you simply retire to your own room, shove your backside into an…
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Worth Quoting
Word of the Day: Self
“Self-sufficiency is the greatest form of wealth.” – Epicurus
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s The Barefoot Writer
Including: * Online Pandemonium Sparks Billion-Dollar Needs; Only ONE Kind of Writer Can Sort It Out * Is Kitchen Sink Syndrome Killing Your Productivity? * The Antidote to Failure: 3 Words and a Foolproof…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Hidden Cost Of Giving Too Much
This presentation is naive in a big way. It is very true that giving makes one happier... but she never questions what giving does to the recipient. The answer is that it may make them temporarily happy - but…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
6 Ways to Maximize the Potential of Your Superstars
CB recently wrote to me about one of his superstars – a promising young (23-year-old) copywriter who has already contributed many great ideas to the business. In fact, he’s so good, that CB is worried about…
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A Word to the Wise
Imbroglio (noun)
Imbroglio (noun) – An imbroglio (im-BROHL-yoh) is an intricate and perplexing state of affairs; a complicated or difficult situation. As I used it today: “[Right now] I’m involved in an imbroglio over one of…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Half of Americans Never Leave Their Birthplace Region
Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace.
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Worth Quoting
John Dos Passos On Purpose Beyond Family
“A man’s got to work for more than himself and his kids to feel right.” – John Dos Passos
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Worth Reading
5 Truths to Accept Before Your Mind Can Improve
I’m pretty sure this guy is a longtime Michael Masterson reader. In any case, he succinctly restates five “truths” that must be accepted in order to have a long and successful career. LINK
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Timeless Tale Gets a Visual Refresh
A retelling, with graphics, of an old story.
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Notes From My Journal
Career Doubts and Regrets: Here’s How to Eliminate Them
A friend and former protégé, who went off to start his own very successful business, wrote me a while back. He said: Today I find myself wealthier than ever before. And I suppose freer than ever... yet I find…
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A Word to the Wise
Milquetoast (noun, adjective)
Milquetoast (noun, adjective) – The word milquetoast (MILK-tohst) defines a very timid, unassertive, spineless person.As used in today’s journal entry: “Now I feel mired in a milquetoast existence that slowly…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Freud on Dreams and Repressed Desires
Sigmund Freud postulated that dreams are the symbolic expression of frustrated desires.
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Worth Quoting
Lao Tzu On Finding Completeness Within Yourself
“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing — May 2, 2019
The dermatology industry has it all wrong… Sunlight is not your enemy. Including: * Which cancer procedures are legitimate… and which ones clinics use to pad their bottom line * Why following mainstream advice…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Best Wedding Photographer
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