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I’ve long been of the opinion that emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the hardest skills to acquire. But with it, it’s a heck of a lot easier to admit what you don’t know. And ask for help. And seek out mentors, advisors, and people smarter than yourself. To share your dream with others and then trust they can help you figure out how to execute it. Phil Knight’s EQ is on full display throughout the founding of Nike and in his candor retelling the story some 50+ years later.
A business' intrinsic value fluctuates very little. Yet, the price that the ever-moody "Mr. Market" will pay at any given time can fluctuate dramatically based on outside economic and political forces.
At Pilot Wealth, we feel no need to explain it, no need to tell a story. Instead, we recognize volatility happens and we welcome it.
From workforce and employee engagement issues to changing technology to the skyrocketing real estate market, business leaders face an ever-shifting array of challenges and opportunities today. Constant awareness and evolution are vital to staying ahead of the curve and continually gaining momentum.
Please join us for the fifth annual Leadership and Economic Summit on November 29, 2016 at the Multnomah Athletic Club. We've gathered some of the region's most successful business leaders to share how they're approaching today's challenges, offer insight on their success, and discuss what's ahead in 2017.
For the last 7 years the vast majority of economists and analysts alike have incorrectly forecasted rising interest rates and the possibility of rampant, out of control inflation. Recently, however, these same soothsayers have flip-flopped and said that they now believe that interest rates will likely stay lower for longer.
A sideways moving market, as we have seen recently, requires a different mindset to navigate. Indeed global developed markets have been flat for a couple years now, emerging markets have been flat for 10 years, and US Small Cap stocks have had zero return since late 2013. Most Wall Street sources have described it as, “The most hated bull market ever.” The following charts have us asking ourselves, is it possible the bull market ended and no one noticed yet?
We just finished hosting a few open houses for friends of the firm, and whether it was one too many glasses of wine or the volatility we saw in the first quarter, I think we stumbled on an interesting topic. Truth be told, we are a little late publishing this newsletter. In spite of some volatility in the first two months of the year, not much has changed. Thus, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, we wanted to revisit a discussion (reference the earlier newsletter) regarding the emotion investors experience during market volatility.
As of this writing at the end of January 2016, the markets have been quite volatile. We have had a few conversations over the last couple years with clients wondering why we were so conservative. A few actually pointed to other investors who were earning a more substantial return, while their returns were more subdued. It is amazing how quickly the narrative in the market has changed from momentum-based risk taking to capital preservation.
I had grown to expect the offering from Wal-Mart for the variety of merchandise and competitive pricing. This is the essence of their brand promise, great selection and low prices. I do not, on the other hand, go to Wal-Mart expecting to receive exceptional customer service, be greeted by name or see a familiar face. Because whether intended or not, that too is part of their brand promise.
For those that have grown up in the Pacific Northwest, the story of the most famous suspension bridge to be built, and subsequently destroyed, in our own backyard is well known. For the rest of the world the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, more commonly known as Galloping Gertie, is no more than a footnote on a study of failure analysis for a university level structural engineering class.
Along with the sinking of the Titanic, the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse was a sobering reminder of the devastating cost of hubris.
If you have been following the financial headlines of late you may have noticed a consistent theme around the ills of over stimulated markets. Every day we go deeper into this historic market run up the warnings become more pronounced. Even to the seasoned investor, the current state defies conventional logic.
Leveraging a theme discussed by Nick a few months ago in his article titled, “Heads We Win, Tails We Don’t Lose Much,” there is a correlation in the view of risk Nick illustrated and how we can look at risk in our businesses, and more importantly, what we can do to skew the curve in our favor.
If you recall the childhood game of Rock, Paper & Scissors, then you likely know as much about investing as many in the markets. To come out ahead however, it requires developing a strategy rather than leaving it to chance as those that are disciplined will undoubtedly be better off in the long run. Listen to this latest installment of the Chart of the Week and hear Nick and Rick's take on how applying a strategy to either activity will benefit you in the long run.
Taking the discussion further from two weeks ago on the Conscious Competence Learning Model, Rick explains where many leaders fail to leverage the learning from the model to apply it to their leadership and organizations. Listen to this week's Chart of the Week to learn where the Mastery Gap is and understand how you can challenge yourself in your leadership.
Almost everyone is feeling good about the prices at the gas pump these days, reflective of the price of oil that has dropped precipitously over the last few months. Who wins and who loses, however, is worthy of discussion and in this weeks' installment of the Chart of the Week, Nick walks us through who is on which side of the equation.
In a bit of a changeup this week, Rick will be leading the discussion of the Conscious Competence Learning Model, useful for understanding how and what we learn both from an individual leadership and an organizational perspective. Listen in to learn how you can apply what and how you've learned in 2014 to propel your 2015 initiatives, ensuring you are maximizing the potential of your business in the coming year.
We write a newsletter every other week for business owners called Pilot’s Log, a monthly newsletter about current markets called Navigating Markets, monthly articles, and our quarterly letters to clients and friends. Add your email to receive these in your inbox.
2233 NE 45th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97213
Office: 503-847-9723
