Archive for the ‘Levels’ Category

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Apple Earnings Insanity

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

apple-5-day-performance.png
(source: nytimes.com)

“Oh my god. Ohhh my god. Apple. Apple!!!!!!!”

– Intern Spencer, screaming as he watched the price of everyone’s favorite mega-corporation skyrocket to almost $400 per share.

(Just for fun, compare that with a maximum price of $9.54 per share in 2001.)

The reason for the sudden spike? Apple released its quarterly earnings report* on Tuesday evening, showing a record $28.57 billion in revenue. That’s $28.57 billion. In three months.

In the handy graph above, you can see investors getting excited about the upcoming earnings announcement on Monday and Tuesday, and then pretty much exploding with enthusiasm on Tuesday night.

What else would you expect from a company that has enough cash to buy almost every other mobile phone maker in the world, and that has enough fans in China to support an entire industry of counterfeit Apple stores?

* In the U.S., all publicly traded companies are required to produce earnings reports which disclose their sales numbers and net profit over the prior three months.)

Get Smart: How to Think About Thinking with Chris Stewart

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

chris-stewart.jpg W. Christopher Stewart is a philosophy professor at Houghton College in Houghton, NY, where he teaches courses on aesthetics, the history of philosophy, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, philosophy of science, and business ethics. He is the author of, among other things, an essay on magic and technology forthcoming in The Hobbit and Philosophy,and earlier co-authored an essay on magic, science, and the ethics of technology for Harry Potter and Philosophy. He has served as a consultant for Pfizer, where he advised a team of marketing experts on the relationship between clinical research, consumer behavior, and Pascal’s wager.

TILE: What exactly is philosophy?
Chris: Philosophy explores fundamental assumptions about the world and what it means to be a human being. Alasdair MacIntyre (a philosopher from the University of Notre Dame) called it “the discipline in which you learn to think about what you’re doing in other disciplines.” I like that because it highlights the fact that philosophers are interested in everything, but at a very deep level. They’re interested in the underlying assumptions that inform other activities and disciplines, from science to business to sports to anything else you can imagine.

TILE: We can’t all be Aristotle. Philosophy, like finance, often scares people away. Is it even possible for the average person to philosophize like a pro?
Chris: Aristotle himself said that philosophy begins with wonder. We look around and see the way things are, and then begin to ask questions.

Philosophizing is a natural human response to experience. The evidence for that is the most common question on the lips of every small child: “Why?” Somewhere along the way, many of us lose our natural sense of wonder, and philosophizing starts to seem like something unfamiliar or strange.

Also, philosophizing isn’t just about expressing opinions, which is the easy part. It’s knowing why we believe what we believe, and being able to provide reasons to anyone who asks us for them.

That’s not easy, but anyone can do it. Just keep asking “Why?”

TILE: What’s one of your top takeaways from a favorite philosopher?
Chris: Plato said that, although mandatory physical exercise does no harm to the body, mandatory learning “never sticks to the mind.” I’ve thought about that quite a bit as a teacher, but I think it applies pretty well in any context. Any time you’re doing something simply because you think you have to, not because you want to, it’s probably not doing anyone much good, including yourself.

TILE: What’s the best advice you would give to your teenage self?
Chris: Be yourself. It sounds trite, but I really do think the impulse to conform to what everyone else is doing limits your potential. Socrates was big on “the examined life.” (Read Plato’s “Apology” to see Socrates in action.) So don’t just run with the pack. Constantly ask yourself “Why am I doing this? Where is it leading me?”

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. To read more, click on Ask the Experts in the TILE Library.

Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

Get Wellthy

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011


(photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography)

Trying to get wellthy? No, friends, that’s not a typo – according to consumer trend tracker trendwatching.com, a hearty lung capacity and rock hard abs are becoming as important a status symbol as, say, a sweet ride or a fancy new iThing.

Witness:

• People are increasingly ranking physical fitness and health as an important component of their happiness.

• Around the world, people are using more mobile healthcare devices and apps – most of which are purchased by consumers, not doctors.

• Tons of new fitness “toys” – Wii Fit, Sleep On It, the Fitbit – have been hitting the market lately.

Looks like you’ll have to literally keep up with the Joneses these days…

Investing with Socrates

Monday, July 18th, 2011

chris-stewart.jpg W. Christopher Stewart is a philosophy professor at Houghton College in Houghton, NY, where he teaches courses on aesthetics, the history of philosophy, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, philosophy of science, and business ethics. He is the author of, among other things, an essay on magic and technology forthcoming in The Hobbit and Philosophy, and earlier co-authored an essay on magic, science, and the ethics of technology for Harry Potter and Philosophy. He has served as a consultant for Pfizer, where he advised a team of marketing experts on the relationship between clinical research, consumer behavior, and Pascal’s wager.

TILE: What does philosophy have to do with money?
Chris: One very large and important branch of philosophy has to do with human happiness or well-being, and what money or wealth (among other things) contribute to human life. We all want what the ancient philosophers called “the good life,” but we’re often confused about where to find it. What are the key ingredients of the good life? Can a human being be truly happy without friends, music, beauty, meaningful work, or money?

Socrates famously challenged his fellow Athenians to examine their values and priorities, warning them against placing the pursuit of wealth or honor or power above virtue and the health of their “souls.” So philosophers have said quite a lot about what money properly contributes to the good life, and how it can sometimes get in the way.

TILE: One of the areas of philosophy that you’ve studied is business ethics. Tell us about it. Why is it important for young adults in particular to be able to identify good business practices or understand a company’s core mission?
Chris: As human beings, we don’t just do things, we evaluate the things we do. There’s more than one way to do this. We might ask, for example, what’s the best thing to do from a legal point of view. Is what I’m doing legal or not? Or we might ask what’s the best thing to do from a business point of view? How can I make the most money? Or we might ask what’s the best thing to do from an ethical point of view? How will my actions affect others (not just me)? Business ethics explores how all of these kinds of questions relate to one another, which is particularly important because what’s best from an ethical point of view isn’t always the same as what’s best from a business point of view. Business ethics goes beyond simply not breaking the law, and helps you make good decisions within the realm of what the law permits you to do.

Also, who we become as people is shaped by the environments in which we work. So when you’re deciding who to work with, or what to invest in, check out the way that people within a given organization treat one another, and how they treat the people they claim to be serving. Look for evidence in a company’s core mission statement for a clear understanding of how the product or service that company provides makes the world a better place, not just for its owners or employees, but for everyone. That’s where you’ll find the moral justification of any business, not in whatever philanthropic causes the business supports, which however worthy (think Ronald McDonald Houses) might have nothing at all to do with its core business.

It’s becoming more and more apparent that not-just-for-profit business, more than government or philanthropy, is the most important engine for solving problems in our world. By the same token, it can also cause tremendous harm. So businesses, and those who invest in them, must have a clear understanding of why they exist, one that goes well beyond making money for their owners.

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. To read more, click on Ask the Experts in the TILE Library.

Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

10 Things You Never Knew About Gold

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Brett Molé had just finished eating his daily $175 hamburger topped with 750mg of gold flakes when he had the idea to make this video. It’s fun!

Life By Numbers

Thursday, July 14th, 2011


(image credit: B Rosen)

Numbers can tell you an awful lot, even if you don’t usually think of yourself as a number-cruncher.

Here’s one way: You’ve heard of net worth. You may even know yours. But have you ever watched your net worth fluctuate over time? It’s a really easy and interesting (really!) way to see how you’re growing (or regressing) as a Possessor of Wealth.

For example, a net worth number that consistently increases is a good sign that you’re doing something right. But even a dip can be instructive. Did the recession wipe out your investment holdings? Maybe it’s time to reconsider your strategy so it doesn’t happen again. (Hint: Try diversification next time.) Did your numbers go down because you spent a lot of money on tuition this year? Watch to see if your net worth increases as a result of your education investment.

We found a cool site called NetworthIQ that helps you track your net worth over time AND snoop on a bunch of other people tracking their net worth. You can compare your progress with others by age, location, education, and job category.

Not that your net worth necessarily reflects your worth as a whole person, but knowing has to be… worth something. Worth.

Fund Scientific Research at 3AM

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

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(photo credit: Mark Ramsay)

Heard of Kickstarter? That new site where anyone with an idea and a plan to make it happen can raise money from the unwashed masses? Well until now it’s mostly been used to help bands record their breakout albums, help designers raise capital to manufacture life-improving products, and help slightly off do-gooders pay for various swing-installation projects.

But now scientists are getting in on the action. From the Kickstarter-funded Mexican quail research expedition to the new academics-only crowdfunding site Open Genius, the doors are open for promising researchers to avoid the pain of securing traditional government and foundation funding.

Which means that you have a unique opportunity to directly impact research you care about. It’s one thing to donate to a cancer research fund (which is a totally awesome thing to do, by the way), but it’s another thing entirely to choose the lab you want to support.

This is also a great opportunity to exercise your advocacy muscles. With just a little prodding and a link to a well-designed website, you can double, triple, or quadruple your donation by talking to friends or posting your pitch online.

Never underestimate the power of peer pressure and one-click donations.

Spotting a Dancer: Pamela Vail on Philanthropy & the Arts

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

pam-vail.jpg Pamela Vail is a performer, choreographer, improviser and teacher. She is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Franklin & Marshall College, and also performs with several professional dance companies and creates her own choreography. To sample some of her work, visit architectsdance.org or acanarytorsi.org.

TILE: It’s a big question, but what does money have to do with the arts?
Pam: Everything and nothing, actually. The reality is that artists need money to make and produce art, but the actual soul of art has nothing to do with money. Art is creative expression.

TILE: From your perspective, what kind of support are artists really looking for?
Pam: I think artists are looking for support on a number of levels: for people to simply come see their work; for general advocacy – that people actually care that they can and do make work; emotional support; and, of course, financial support.

TILE: Is being in the audience just as important as becoming a major financial patron?
Pam: Related to your earlier question, I think the answer to this question is a resounding yes. I might venture to say that it may be even more important to be an audience member.

TILE: Art doesn’t have to appear on the stage or be hung on museum walls. How do you see art and daily life intersecting in today’s world?
Pam: In some ways, I see art more and more in “everyday life.” There has been a great new trend of “flash mobs” with music and dance, which is a great example. I also notice more artists making “site-specific” work, bringing art out from theaters and into public life – exposing it to many who may not otherwise choose to go and see art. Art is also more accessible via the web (YouTube in particular), and there are a number of TV shows that center around music, dance, and art. While this is encouraging to me, I also see a decline in audiences for live art – perhaps because it is so easily accessible otherwise. This is troubling to me.

TILE: What’s the best advice you would give to your teenage self?
Pam: Stay open to things that may seem weird, odd or unusual. Go see lots of stuff. If something makes you nervous, try it. Know that the models for art making and performing out there are not the only options. You can create your own models for art making and make art wherever you are. Try not to assume anything about anything or anyone, including yourself! Stay curious. Know that you will change – in ways that you can never anticipate. Enjoy the process – that’s the meat of life – this can be a hard one in a product-driven culture. But it’s important. Every day is important.

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. To read more, click on Ask the Experts in the TILE Library.

Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

Teaching and Learning in the South Bronx

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

evan-piekara.jpg Evan Piekara is an alumnus of Teach For America, a national organization that works to ensure educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. During his 4 years as a corps member, he taught 6th and 7th grade in the South Bronx. He’s also worked as an Institute Staff Member, helping to train the 2008 and 2009 corps. As a result of his classroom experiences, he developed some interesting views on education in America and the importance of gaining financial understanding at a young age.

TILE: What inspired you to become involved with Teach for America?
Evan: I was inspired by its mission that all children deserve an excellent education, and the fact that TFA works tirelessly to ensure that your income level or where you grew up does not determine your future.One thing that has always impressed me about TFA is that it is constantly looking to improve and become more effective. It has both a short-term strategy of getting people involved in education who may not have entered in the first place with a long-term mission of them using these experiences whether as teachers, business leaders, lawyers, doctors, politicians, or advocates to continue to support the mission and improve education for all.

TILE: What qualities do you look for in teachers who become part of your organization?
Evan: TFA places a huge emphasis on leadership, teamwork, resilience, and achievement. These are all qualities that are utilized in the classroom and help you to work towards becoming a successful teacher who will move students forward.

TILE: What are some important things you have learned while working for Teach for America?
Evan: It’s helped me learn a great deal about myself, grow as an individual and as a professional, and it’s really helped me to become much more analytical, reflective, and use out-of-the-box thinking to find a solution to any number of problems or obstacles.

TILE: What kinds of core knowledge, skills and values do you hope to instill in students?
Evan: I want to instill in them a sense that they can succeed on every level and although things might not always be easy, through hard-work, determination, and using their education they can be successful in whatever they aspire to do. A lot of our discussions center around goal-setting, mutual respect, using strong communication skills, independence as well as working in a team, and being a leader.

TILE: Why might it be important to help students obtain financial literacy?
Evan: It is important because it can help them to avoid the pitfalls that many people struggle with, and also to open doors for them in the future. For example, they might realize that college is a viable option through managing scholarships and student loans that they can pay-off once they start their professional careers.

TILE: What advice would you offer to your teenage self (financial or otherwise)?
Evan: Education is so important and each day in class and outside is an opportunity to learn and grow.For me, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled those values in me, and who financially stretched money, made me work for money, and taught me the value of a dollar.

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. To read more, click on Ask the Experts in the TILE Library.

Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

What is Socially Responsible Investing?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

You may have heard about SRI, but odds are you haven’t heard the whole story. We explain it to you in about three minutes.

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