Be An Investor Not a Gambler

The gambling epidemic is upon us.  When I hear friends and family saying they bet 5 bucks that they don't have on a meaningless game using a Betting App I know trouble is brewing.  The latest commercial touting sign up and get $100 is just another way of trying to lure you in and spend money you don't have. Gone are the days of just enjoying the game.  There is too much money at stake with all the professional leagues to hold back the gambling tsunami.  The great Pete Rose was banned from baseball for betting on his own team and recently an NBA player was banned for betting on games.  Let the corruption begin. 

Gambling targets those that don't have the money to lose.  Most wealthy folks are not gambling they are investing.  And yes there is a big difference.  With gambling the odds are always in the Houses favor that's why there is now a casino on every block.  Investing is a long term endeavor where you buy assets with the idea that they will increase in value. The S&P 500 has averaged over 8% annual returns over a 30+ year period and you can start by putting that $5 parlay betting money to better use.  

I know everyone enjoys a little action and gambling provides that but save it for the Super Bowl or some other big game.  You work too hard for your money and you need to ensure your cash works just as hard for you.  Become an investor.  Study the markets, learn about real estate, become an entrepreneur, start a business, share your art, music, talent.  Life provides plenty of action without wasting your time and money on gambling.  

Beat the odds and stay away from the Suckers bet. Be an investor and buy assets. 

With Love,

Coach K

Jensen Huang Nvidia - Work Ethic

Jensen Huang the cofounder of Nvidia a semiconductor company that is at the heart of Artificial Intelligence was recently speaking to Stanford MBA students where he shared his personal story.  He told the students how he started at Denny's restaurant as a dishwasher and that he focused on being the best dishwasher at the restaurant.  He was then promoted to busboy and worked on being the best busboy he could be.  He took pride in his work and had higher aspirations.

He then went on to say how he cleaned toilets and there was some things you can't unsee. He went to Oregon State graduated at 16 and then went on to Stanford to earn his Masters degree. He was a top engineer and director at two semiconductor companies before going out on his own at age 30.  He was looking for start-up funds and the wealthiest person he knew was the CEO of the company. When he provided his business plan and made his pitch to the CEO, the CEO remarked that it was the worst pitch he ever heard. The CEO then picked up the phone and got Jensen the money he needed. 

The reason why?

Jensen was one of the best employees the CEO had and due to this outstanding work ethic earned the trust and faith of his coworkers.  He went on to build and lead Nvidia as the CEO from it's start in 1993 until present day 2024.  Nvidia has over 24,000 employees and is helping drive the new economy in the 21st century.  He is another great American success story and a wonderful example of humility and hard work. 

Work hard. Believe big. America is the land where dreams still come true. 

With Love,

Coach K

Gentleman Will

 I was at the driving range the other day getting ready to hit a bucket of balls.  I paid the 5 bucks and placed the basket at the bottom of the machine to collect the balls, and as the bucket fell over and balls scattered all over a voice behind me said that happens all the time. As I started collecting the balls I looked over and there he was helping me pick the balls up,  I said Thank You and noticed that the 30 balls I was supposed to receive amounted to only 19.  He said not to worry that he was getting a 100 ball bucket and would gladly share some of his rocks.

I introduced myself to this young man who was approximately the same age as our children.  He said my name is Will and I said it nice to meet you and we chatted about golf.  I went off to hit my balls and several minutes later he came over and to my surprise delivered a small bucket of balls. I thanked him and we talked again as said it's always nice to meet a fine young gentleman. 

As a father of three, it's always inspiring and encouraging to meet the next generation. Most golfers you meet are good people, we have to stick together since the game beats us all up at times.  The next day I was out playing and before my round was warming up on the range.  As fate would have it, I was going to the range to warm up and the golf ball machine again spitted golf balls all over but this time I had the opportunity to return the favor.  A fellow golfer who was waiting behind me helped me pick up the multitude of balls and as I was thanking him I invited him to fill up his bucket with the extra balls. 

There are no coincidences. 

Despite what we may hear on the news, the future is bright and in good hands.  We are all teachers and examples for the "youngsters" let us be shining beacons for them or even better yet we can learn a thing about kindness and generosity from them. 

Thank you Will! Godspeed.

With Love,

 Coach K

Financial Freedom

 One of the most important things you can do as an individual is to be an investor not a consumer. What does that mean? Simply we buy assets not things.  Assets hopefully go up in value while things typically go down in value. 

We all need the essentials in our daily lives food, water, and shelter, but the $5 coffees, the latest electronic gadget, and numerous other expenses eat away at your financial freedom.  Whether it's real estate, stocks, a business or any other type of investment that has the potential to increase in value or grow your income this is where you need to place a percentage of your income.  Whether it's 5% or 10% or even 1% begin to invest your money with a plan to grow your money over time. Because as we all know time is passing just like the river that continues to flow, and if you make the decision today to be an investor and not a consumer you have more power to create the future that you desire. 

You are empowered. 

Some simple changes today can give you the freedom you desire.  A word on investing.  Investing involves risk. You will lose money on some of your investments That's ok investing is a marathon not a sprint. Many investments like real estate that are purchased at the top of the market and seem expensive turn out to be bargains when viewed ten years later.  Real estate can be a hedge against inflation and also provide income.  The same is true for equity investments if you invest in the S&P 500 at the top of the market and it goes down a few months later don't become discouraged.  Simply buying a low cost S&P index fund that invests in the top 500 companies in the U.S. and automatically adds and drops companies so you always have the top companies in your portfolio. Long term investing smooths out the short term volatility. 

A word on company sponsored 40lK retirement plans.  When someone gives you free money take it! Many companies will match your investment up to 6% and you can do this with tax free money.  The nice thing about a Retirement plan is that it forces you to think longer term.  And when you change jobs you can take that money with you. 

The power of Compounding.  When you let your money grow over the long term you are able to take advantage of compounding that is letting any annual interest to grow year over year. Start today to make sure your money works as hard as you do.  By paying yourself first, saving 10% of your money, and investing in assets such as real estate and stock index funds you can turn acorns into oaks and wake up one day wealthy.

Remember your greatest wealth is your health. And wealth is excellent for your health. 

With Love,

Coach K

Good Health - Plug In

 Grounding

One of the easiest and most powerful things you can do for your overall health is to get outside in your bare feet and step on the grass.  The simple act of standing in barefoot in the grass for several minutes per day can reduce inflammation, encourage healing, relieve pain, and improve sleep.  

Plugging in to the earth's natural electromagnetic waves can stimulate electrons that help in the healing process.  For those of us that are unable to go barefoot in the grass with can simulate the electromagnetism by using interior grounding mats in our beds, on our feet, or on our hands.  The mats simply plug into the grounding prong of an electrical outlet which connects us with the ground that all home electrical outlets utilize. 

For those of us that are skeptical, what do you have to lose.  Try your own experiment and see if it helps with pain and healing. And the best part is that it's absolutely free and easy to do.

To Your Health,

Coach K

Enough

 

When the world knows God

Horses fertilize the fields

When the world ignores God

Horses are bred for war 

There is no greater calamity than desire

No greater curse than greed

Know that enough is enough

And you'll always have enough

Teach The Children Well

The Family

The educational environment has been extremely challenging the past few years as students and parents dealt with the pandemic, school closings, and remote learning. We all know how important good teachers and schools are to the development of our children. When you think about it our children spend as much time in school as they do with their families. And during these formative, impressionable young years, they can impact students lives in significant ways. 

And while good teachers and schools are essential to the development of our children, the education and development of our children is the primary responsibility of the parents. We are the first and foremost teachers of our children, it is our duty and obligation to raise loving, kind, self-sufficient, productive children that will will lead to fulfilling lives and be contributing members of society.  Yes, that's quite a responsibility!  And of all the challenges that parents have nothing is more sacred than raising your children well. 

One of the challenges is raising children today, is the emergence of single parent households. We know how hard it is to raise children with two parents, and I know firsthand the obstacles facing single mothers and single parents. The family unit has changed in a dramatic way over the past few decades.  In the 1980's, approximately 80% of children were born in a two parent family. Today, the number of two parent families is 60% and that figure is dramatically lower for certain ethnicity's. 

As we've shifted to a more materialistic and consumer based society, we've become more selfish and self absorbed. We see that the young generation is delaying marriage and deciding not to have children at all.  There is no social policy that will overcome broken families. We cannot rely on our schools or the government to raise our families. 

There is no greater responsibility or even moral imperative to raise our children and to quote the Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young song 

Teach them Well!

With Love,

Coach K