Slope of Hope Blog Posts

Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.

When Nothing Matters – Until It Does

By -

It would seem to anyone that’s been in business before the financial crisis of 2008 not only had the rules changed, but rather they changed so much even Alice would find our current looking-glass far more surreal.

It also seems that it wasn’t all that long ago where one thought that maybe, just maybe, to understand the craziness around you; you needed to ever so grudgingly accept the nonsensical mindset of “bad is now considered good.”

So, you adjusted your investing theses, your business plans, your whatever as to try to navigate these  uncharted waters. Waters that emanated via the Federal Reserve opening (if not destroying) the dam and flooding the financial markets with liquidity so deep even Montana thought it had a new water view. To then suddenly all you bought into (literally) all you’ve been told. All of it – falls like the house of cards you tried to will (wish) away as if it weren’t true. (more…)

Welcome To A “New” New Normal Earnings Season

By -

It’s not supposed to be like this. We’ve all been told earnings are great, corporate profits are great, analysts estimates have been rising. As a matter of fact, if one dared to question any of these metrics we were referred to as “idiots.” (And that is an actual quote.)

Today as we enter this earnings cycle we have a new phrase that I’m sure will enter the lexicon of the lay person in reference to stocks, but will send shivers down actual Wall Street’ers as they have to defend, argue, or give a smoke and mirrors story that will have a chance of being believed. That phrase will be “a trap door event.”

Wall Street loves to spout nice little catch phrases when suddenly what they thought (or told) investors should happen suddenly turns around and does something else. (more…)

Perception vs Reality – A Personal Example

By -

I was asked the other day in reference to a line I stated in one of my posts if I could extrapolate a little more on exactly what I meant about the “perception” aspect. Here was the line they were asking about. It was in a rant I posted about my utter frustration with surveys.

“Remember tools are useful, but in the wrong hands or deployed willy-nilly they can turn into weapons used against you that can ruin what sometimes is more dear than reality. i.e., A customer’s perception that you are as good, as you think you are. Or, that you actually do care as much as you say you do.”

To many it may seem self-explanatory however, the discussion it moved I found interesting as it progressed. When I gave the following example I could see light bulbs go on everywhere so I thought I’d post the example here.

(more…)

The Shot Heard Round The Valley World: WORRY

By -

The greatest issue facing Silicon Valley is the one thing many newly minted and aspiring entrepreneurs have taken for granted: the money.

Many believe this gravy train of a never-ending Venture Capital/Angel Investor class will not only always be there, but the ranks will swell becoming even larger with burgeoning pocketbooks filled with their own newly minted IPO greenbacks.

Problem is for a great many, they have never seen the real Jeckyll and Hyde personality of “investor funding.” (more…)

The 4C’s That Never Happened – And Those That Did

By -

We didn’t get what I first postulated yet, what we did might be even more illuminating.

In my earlier article the 4C’s I set up the premise that if a Yes vote took place in Scotland there were possible ramifications within the markets than what was being expressed, as well as reported, throughout the financial media.

Well it turns out the cause for any worry has now been voted and booted away so far down the road it would make a can envious. However, what did we really get?

In my opinion we might have been shown there is even far more need to be concerned, for once again, the powers that be have seemingly demonstrate they truly are – the one’s in control. (more…)