Sweating the Small Stuff...

In last Thursday's Wall Street Journal (03/27/08) a small article on the front page caught my eye. The article, titled "Freedom's Ring: Kosovo Covets A Dialing Code", is about how the newly independent country of Kosovo (formerly of Serbia, which is formerly of Yugoslavia) is quite adamant about getting an international dialing code. Right now they share it with Serbia.

At this time the only way to get an international dialing code is not by calling AT&T but by joining the United Nations. This might not seem like a big deal, it is when you have to wait to join the U.N. and your newly formed country's credibility hinges on getting all the T's crossed and I's dotted as fast as possible. Why does this matter to the new Kosovars?

Imagine something as little as an International Dialing Code being just as important as the Kosovar national flag, Kosovar national anthem, or the Kosovar Independence Day. All symbols of national identity, yet if one wants to call the Kosovar Parliament, they still have to dial a Serbian phone number. So much for true independence?

Yet, these new Kosovars are willing to endure just about anything for the opportunity of getting an International Dialing code. The WSJ story mentions an incident of Anton Berisha, chief telecom regulator of Kosova, along with his daughter and aunt came under gunfire by people he believes are part of a Serbian telecommunications company that lost a mobile phone license auction to a Slovenian company. That was not all, two weeks after the gunfire; attackers assaulted Mr. Berisha again, with one firing an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) at him and his security detail, luckily it caused no grave damage or injuries.

So, for the foreseeable future, if you find yourself in Kosovo and want to order some of the local cuisine from the Pristina Grand Hotel Cafe in Pristina (Kosovo 's Capital) then dial the Serbian International Dialing Code of 381 plus the number (38-20211).

There you have it, when people tell you not to sweat the small stuff. Always remember in Kosovo's case, the small stuff is what countries are made of.

So sweat away!!!

Let's tag this with:
Dave Guerra, Kosovo, Kosovo Independence, Pristina, Kosovar, Telecom, Anton Berisha, International Dialing Code, United Nations,Wall Street Journal,Sweat the Small Stuff,Pristina Grand Hotel Cafe

Gold (not that I told you so but...)

Just a quick follow up to my last post on GOLD and my friend. Well just when I thought I was going to have to eat crow out of a golden pie pan, I was denied. Seems that the quick upswing in gold prices (over $1000/oz) was just that: a quick upswing. Gold closed today at $916.35/oz.

So does this mean that the bottom is about to fall out on the gold market?
NO, it means that a chance for my friend to get into the game may be not that far off. Still anything over $900 is riding a wave that will crash. I say pull the trigger on your buy order when things start to stabilize and the up-swing returns. Hmmm, why does this sound a lot like channeling stocks? Uh, because it is.

In the end, I still say find the next wave and there is always another wave. Do your homework and don't let the media do it for you. 'nuff said.

let's tag this post with:
Dave Guerra, Gold, channeling, stocks, commodity

Always believe in, because you are GOLD!!!

Gold (another 80's reference)....a guy that I know came up to me on Thursday and said, "Gold!" and I said what? He then proceeds to tell me that the price of gold was close to a thousand dollars an ounce and how it is time to buy. I looked him right in the eye and asked him if he was serious and with a serious face he said "Yes."

It was with a heavy heart that I asked him why was he riding a wave that everyone else is going to ride? He gave me a puzzled look. I restated my question, why do you want to get in on something that everyone else has gotten in on? His response was a priceless puzzled look. I told him, "Right now you see the price of gold is at the top of a wave and like every wave it will come crashing down. Now, don't get me wrong GOLD will never be worthless but if you go in now with a minimum $10K block at the current price (approx. $980/oz.) and when the price corrects itself, it will be lower than the starry eyed price you see now and your $10K will be worth a lot less."

He responds, "but they say it will go up."

I say, "Just like 'they' said to the Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) holders that the interest rate will go down and now look at them," again another puzzled look, "What I am trying to say is that those that are talking are the ones that want you to dump your money into something so they can get out, make a profit, and leave you holding the bag."

So what did I recommend?
I recommend to my friend. Find the next wave and jump on while it is still growing and then get out just as the news media starts to leak the story to the public. He again gave me this look of utter confusion. I asked him if he had been tracking the price of gold or did he just happen to hear about the price of gold in the press? Reluctantly, he stated that he had just heard about it. Well my friend, it is time for you to start doing your homework and quit thinking like everyone else. Remember, $984 is the price of entry, the price to play. You have to give up $984 of your money just to get in the game, the last best time to have gotten in the game was on Monday, April 2, 2001 when Gold closed at $255.95. Guess what? That Gold ship has sailed!!!

I told him to look at other commodities such as foodstuff, other precious metals, and pharma. Find the next big hit, get in, and ride the wave for the long haul, get out just as it is starting to crash, which usually occurs when the media gets a hold of what is happening. Good Luck (after all isn't that what playing the market is truly all about?)!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I do not hold a position in Gold as a commodity. As of this writing, the closing price of Gold was $972.50 per troy ounce (London Fix).

and now the actual 80's reference:


let's tag this post with:
Dave Guerra, Gold, markets, Commodities Trading, ARM, rates, Spandau Ballet

Resolution Revisit

Yeah it's that time of the year again. OK, the third time out of twelve times. Today, here in Texas it is Super Tuesday and I do so hope you exercised your right as a citizen of the United States of America, that's all I am going to say about politics and the political process.

Now on with the show...Where do I stand on my resolutions? So far, I would have to say 50-50. I have been running and eating better still somehow managed to gain a few pounds (well 2) however, I am not discouraged.

As for the reading here is where I am at:
- January: Join The Conversation by Joseph Jaffe (which I started reading over the holidays in December)
- February: Be, Know, Do by Frances Hesselbein (Introduction), California School of Organizational Studies at Alliant International University Staff, Richard E. Cavanagh (Foreword by), Eric K. Shinseki (Introduction)
- March: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

I know that I said in February that Microtrends was on deck but when it came time buy the book, NPR had an interview with Michael Pollan and I was hooked, so Microtrends never made it into the shopping cart. Good thing for me, because two weeks ago 800-CEO-READ was offering something really cool. If I sent them $20, they would give the money to the ROOM TO READ organization, and 800-CEO-READ would send me three books from their vast holdings. Cool idea so they got my $20, well ROOM TO READ got my money. About two weeks later three cool books arrived at my door in the classic 8CR box. When I opened the box "with unbridled avarice" (to quote one of three favorite Christmas movies) what did my eyes see, right on top???? You got it...Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes along with The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, and Don't Gobble The Marshmallow...Ever!

So that pretty much sets me up, with reading, all they way to the end of June. None of this is taking into consideration any of my MBA reading requirements and I assure you they are quite hefty.

Enough about me, how are you and your resolutions doing?


A Nice Thank You Note from 800-CEO-READ


The books in my 8CR Mystery Box:


let's tag this post with:
Dave Guerra, MBA, Reading, Join The Conversation, Joseph Jaffe, Be, Know, Do, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan, 800-CEO-READ, Room to Read, Microtrends, The Energy Bus, Don't Gobble The Marshmallow, 8CR Mystery Box, New Years Resolution