Tag Archives: Investment

Great Tool for Business Decision Making in Uncertainty

In business decision making, we never have as much information or certainty as we would like.  The best business and investment minds know how to focus on the factors in a decision that are the most relevant and ignore extraneous factors.  It is a real… Continue reading

New Twist on Venture Capital with Better Risk-Adjusted Investment Returns

A higher return investment can have a broad distribution of potential outcomes, as conveyed by this graph from Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management (the graph is from his book The Most Important Things Illuminated). This graph is a more helpful way to understand risk… Continue reading

BCG Growth Share Matrix of Cash Cows, Dogs, and Stars

Older ideas, seen anew, can be helpful to business owners.  In that spirit, I have highlighted Economies of Scale and Michael Porter’s Five Forces previously.  Today, I highlight another older idea in the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Growth Share Matrix that was developed by the global consulting… Continue reading

Investment Wisdom Convergence from Clayton Christensen and Charlie Munger

When two great thinkers come to a similar idea from different starting points and careers, I pay attention.  For business and investment wisdom, Clayton Christensen of the Harvard Business School teaches his students a collection of “theories and frameworks” to help them understand and deal… Continue reading

Predict Stephen Burke as Warren Buffett Successor

I first predicted Warren Buffett’s successor last year, and I am reiterating it today.  I believe Stephen Burke, current Berkshire board member, will succeed Warren Buffett as the Berkshire Hathaway CEO as explained below.  Furthermore, here is another post that discusses how Berkshire is likely to… Continue reading

Like Warren Buffett, Best Investment Philosophy Balances Discipline with Flexibility

Warren Buffett is famous for his discipline in his early investing success.  Now, I think he is demonstrating his flexibility (some are critical of his recent flexibility) in investment philosophy.  Both are important skills for business owners and managers to master and to know when… Continue reading

Real Estate Institute Acquired by Greybull Stewardship

Greybull Stewardship, my long-term oriented partnership of business owners investing in exceptional small businesses, announces the acquisition of Real Estate Institute and its sister company, Bookmark Education.  Both companies are headquartered in Niles, IL, which neighbors Chicago. Since 1992, Real Estate Institute has been a… Continue reading

Unique Businesses Are A Force For Good

The best businesses are not just about making money.  It is necessary to make money to stay in business, but it is not sufficient for the business to be worth your time.  That is why the strongest businesses, in my opinion, are the ones that… Continue reading

Investment Strategy & Structure Is the #1 Thing Founders and CEO’s Should Watch In Raising Capital

To be better, one must first be different.  Thus, good strategy focuses on understanding differences and creating differences.  This also applies to investment firms — differences in structure often drives the strategy.  Any entrepreneur or business owner considering raising capital needs to understand the structure… Continue reading

Investment Returns of Venture Capital vs Greybull Stewardship

Investment returns in venture capital as an asset class have not been good for a long time.  To me, that result is somewhat predictable.  Great investment returns are not going to come from anything where you have to swing for the fences with every investment… Continue reading