Mistral’s 100Eu Pitch deck – A couple things to point out. AI will be a geopolitical issue. Haven’t been thinking much about this angle, but it’s really sensible if you start to think long long term. Meanwhile, this is another clear argument that clean, quality data will be a differentiator. This is, to a relative outside, a lucid articulation of the need and of the opportunity. I’m not super deep in the space, but I find it as persuasive as many other “big ideas”. Finally, so glad to see the investment pitch coming in memo form vs. powerpoint deck. So much more thoughtful. Makes you wish for the old days of a business plan vs. PPT .
Month: June 2023
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Bullshit Jobs ❧ Current Affairs
Some light reading over the weekend…
Bullshit Jobs ❧ Current Affairs – What qualifies and what to do about them…
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A Hallucination: Kerouac on the power of investing
I asked ChatGPT (JackGPT) to conjure up an imaginary letter to kids about investing.
Dear Cats and Kittens,Ah, the road! The open highway, the endless possibilities, and the lure of freedom. That’s what we dig, isn’t it? Living life on our own terms, pursuing the kicks and the thrills that make our souls sing. And what’s more, doing it all while being young and free. But hey, dig this: how about we take a little detour from the usual road trip and venture into the wild world of investing? Yeah, you heard me right. Let’s talk about makin’ some green, baby!
Now, I ain’t no suit-wearing Wall Street cat, nor am I some genius mathematician crunching numbers in a corner office. I’m just a wanderer, a free spirit, sharing a few thoughts on how you can make your money work for you. See, we all want to retire early, don’t we? To say goodbye to the daily grind and embark on endless adventures. Well, my friends, let me drop some pearls of wisdom your way.
First things first, forget the naysayers. They’ll tell you that money is the root of all evil, that chasing riches will consume your soul. But hey, let me tell you a little secret: money is a tool. It’s a means to an end. And if used wisely, it can set you free. So don’t be afraid to dream big and aim high.
Now, investing ain’t no magic potion. It takes a little bit of know-how, some guts, and a whole lot of patience. But trust me, it’s worth it. So here’s my first piece of advice: educate yourself. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend workshops, and learn from the pioneers who came before us. Knowledge is power, my friends, and it’s the first step towards financial independence.
Once you’ve got a good grasp of the basics, it’s time to take action. And boy, do we love action! But remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about long-term gains, not quick wins. So resist the urge to jump on every hot stock tip you hear. Instead, focus on building a diversified portfolio. Spread your investments across different asset classes like stocks, bonds, and real estate. This way, if one area takes a hit, you won’t be left high and dry.
Speaking of stocks, let’s dive a little deeper. Now, I’m not gonna pretend I’m some guru who can predict the next Apple or Google. But here’s what I know: invest in what you believe in. Look for companies that align with your values and have a track record of success. And hey, don’t be afraid to take a risk now and then. Some of the greatest fortunes were made by those who dared to go against the grain.
But investing ain’t just about stocks. It’s also about building passive income streams. And let me tell you, my friends, there’s nothing sweeter than money rolling in while you’re sippin’ margaritas on a tropical beach. So consider real estate. Buy a property, rent it out, and let the tenants pay your mortgage. It’s a tried and true method that can provide a steady income for years to come.
Now, I know what you’re thinkin’: “But Jack, I’m young and broke. How can I even think about investing?” Well, my young padawan, let me share a little secret with you. It’s called compounding. It’s the eighth wonder of the world, as Einstein said. Start early, even if it’s just a few bucks a month. Let time work its magic, and watch your investments grow exponentially. Remember, a dollar saved today is worth a lot more than a dollar saved tomorrow.
But hey, life ain’t all about money, is it? It’s about experiences, adventures, and the joy of living. So don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Take risks, follow your passions, and don’t be afraid to fail. Because in the end, it’s the moments we cherish, the memories we create, and the people we love that truly enrich our lives.
So my friends, as you embark on this wild ride called investing, remember this: it’s not just about getting rich quick. It’s about creating a life that’s filled with freedom, joy, and a whole lot of kicks. It’s about retiring early, not to sit in some stuffy retirement home, but to keep living life to the fullest.
Now, go out there, my fellow wanderers, and make your dreams come true. The road is waiting, the possibilities are endless, and the adventure of a lifetime is just around the bend.
Go Go Go Go. Go find the open road,
Jack
image: From Dall-e. Prompt: A black and White image of Jack Kerouac. He’s holding a stack of money in his hands -
An ode to long term investing
In the realm where fortunes ebb and flow,
Where dreams take flight and hopes alight,
A prudent path, one ought to know,
To navigate the stock market’s might.For long-term ventures hold the key,
To unlock treasures beyond compare,
With patience as your steadfast decree,
Your wealth shall flourish, beyond compare.Like seeds sown deep within the earth’s embrace,
Investments nurtured, day by day,
They sprout and grow at a measured pace,
Through market storms, they find their way.With compound interest as your faithful guide,
Long-term investments, they’ll forever bide.Through market booms and times of dire strain,
Long-term investors have the strength to bear,
They weather storms, unshaken by the pain,
And watch their portfolios rise and flare.For time, dear friend, is on their side,
As dividends accumulate and reinvest,
With each passing year, their wealth will glide,
On steady wings, with no unrest.In the stock market’s vast and shifting tide,
Long-term investments are the wisest quest.The benefits are grand, if you but dare,
To seize the long-term strategy’s allure,
Through trials and triumphs, you shall fare,
With steadfast patience, you’ll endure.So let the naysayers disperse in doubt,
While you, with prudence, stay unwavering,
For long-term investments, there’s no route,
That promises rewards more favoring.Invest today, with faith and insight,
In stocks that stand the test of time’s delight.What if Walt Was Passionate about Compounding Interest?
O Captain, hear my verse, I pray,
And lend your ear to words untold,
Of compounding interest’s wondrous sway,
Its power to transform and unfold.From humble roots, this force takes flight,
Invisible, yet steadfast and true,
It labors in the stillness of the night,
As fortunes bloom, the years accrue.O debt, you’re vanquished by its might,
As interest grows, like branches tall,
A tree of wealth, reaching for the light,
From seeds of prudence, it stands enthralled.With each reinvestment, small and grand,
The earnings of earnings swiftly amass,
Compounding interest, a magic wand,
That turns mere dollars into fortunes vast.The mathematician’s theorem, it proclaims,
A gentle riddle, yet profound,
For time is the ally that never wanes,
In compounding interest, glory found.Behold, the secret lies in patience pure,
To let the magic work its spell,
As tiny droplets form an ocean’s lure,
Compounding interest, a tale to tell.Like whispers carried on the wind’s caress,
The earnings grow, in rhythmic dance,
From penny saved to treasure chest,
Compounding interest, its charms enhance.O Captain, see how wealth multiplies,
Through steady growth, it takes its flight,
Compounding interest, a sweet surprise,
A beacon shining through the darkest night.No wonder, then, the wise embrace,
This force of nature, tried and true,
For with compounding interest’s grace,
A modest sum becomes a grand debut.O ye who yearn for lasting gain,
In compounding interest, place your trust,
Through days of sun and nights of rain,
Your wealth shall flourish, never to rust.So heed these words, my fellow soul,
And let compounding interest guide,
A path of riches, forever whole,
Where dreams take shape and futures bide.In the spirit of Whitman’s verse, I sing,
Of compounding interest’s sacred lore,
Its power, like a bell, does ring,
A hymn of wealth forevermore. -
Writing is Our Super Power
We humans will soon be drowning in text and images, if we’re not already. Your TikTok, podcasts, email inboxes and favorite websites will be overrun with “content” that will be synthetic, manufactured out of thin air by code.
I’m generally a technology optimist, but I’m feeling a little pessimistic as I watch the explosion of AI writing and writing tools. Just like most of us have lost basic arithmetic skills, the ability to do math in our heads, because we rely on calculators, we’re at risk of losing the ability to come up with unique ideas and thoughts.
What do we lose when we turn over the writing to machines? More importantly, what are the benefits of creating for the creator? What’s in it for she who takes the time contemplate how to put one word in front of the other in such a way that others will be able to understand, to be persuaded?
We write because we can. But, we should be conscious of what the writing itself does for us. It helps us remember. Recalling and committing things to words helps lock them in, at least temporarily into the actual neuron network in our brains.
Writing forces us to clarify what we even know and believe. Translating the buzz and jumble of ideas, images and words in our head into a relatively clear string of letters, phonemes, words, sentences and paragraphs literally forces order and logic onto our increasingly scattered brain (speaking for a friend).
Writing gives us a chance to persuade. As we commit the ideas to words, we can choose what arguments we make, how we structure them, and how we support them.
Writing gives us a chance to get good at a craft. At our best, we might even be sort of poetic. There are a few among us that might even leave behind actual art via their words.
AI, however we define that, will result in an amazing toolbox for humans, a mix of apps, devices, agents and oracles that will make our lives easier and better in unimaginable ways. Within the next 5 years, everyone will have a device on their wrist that can conjure up enthralling entertainment algorithmically, can autogenerate a movie for your pleasure, can make a recommendation so you don’t have to think about it.
As the algorithms get better, as they become more pervasive our natural tendency will be to lean on them even more, to incorporate them into our lives because its just going to be easier to let the machines do it.
Writing is something any literate person can do, but increasingly fewer of us will. It’s a super power for us humans, it’s our way to organize the world, at least in our own heads and on our own pages. If we want to compete and thrive in a world that’s saturated with synthetic, sort-of-good “content”, we have to keep thinking for ourselves, creating out thin air our own ideas and beliefs, and writing is our way to do that.
