Are You Leaving the Pitcher in Too Long? ….. Warren Buffett: A lot of bad news….Mobility, Properly Understood…..Econ Recon: Haunted Housing?

“Life is like a ten-speed bicycle.  Most of us have gears that we never use.”

Charles M. Schulz

Creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip

Are You Leaving the Pitcher in Too Long?

Spring Training is well under way and along with it no lack of metaphors about baseball and business. Here’s one from Jeff Weiner, the CEO of LinkedIn, one of the most successful technology companies of the past decade.

When asked what has been the most valuable lesson he’s learned as a CEO, Weiner says  “leaving the pitcher in the game for too long”.  Take a minute to review this one page blog entry to learn if you have a tendency to leave your “pitchers” in too long… and four tips on what to do about it.

Warren Buffett: “A lot of bad news….”

Warren Buffet’s annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway is now available. Check out this quick summary of the Sage of Omaha’s annual message (which includes a link to the full version) plus his five fundamentals of investing…..and find out why Buffet warns that  “During the next decade, you will read a lot of news – bad news – about public pension plans.”

Mobility, Properly Understood

Inequality, the demise of the American Dream, Lack of Social Mobility…reality or myth? Take a minute for a two page article on some reality around the hype and why people moving up to a new social class may be less important than how they’re doing in the one they’re in.

Econ Recon: Housing Haunted?

For the past few months, the housing numbers have whipsawed back and forth leaving one dazed and confused about the direction of the industry. Not to worry, the two economists usually featured in this space have definite opinions about what’s happening to housing, why it’s happening and what it means for the economy. Brian  Wesbury says the harsh winter is distorting the trend and accounts for housing being an emotional ride that will return to normal.

Alan Beaulieu, Vistage Staff Economist and President of ITR Economics says that better weather won’t improve a negative year-over-year trend that, more importantly, suggests a softer economy in the second half of the year.