You Can't Fake Domain Experience and Wisdom... and Stocktoberfest in New York This Week

Happy Sunday evening…

I am back in New York this week getting ready for back to back major events. On Wednesday we have our annual Stocktoberfest and Thursday our Social Leverage LP and founder event.

We have a few tickets left for Stocktoberfest - you can get a ticket here. I will be on stage most of the day talking with great investors, traders and allocators. It is a most interesting moment in the markets as rates rise, wars continue, the midterms loom, deglobalization accelerates and degeneracy reigns. This is all set against an all-in AI mentality from the White House, Wall Street, Silicon Valley and the largest 20 companies in the world. At the same time, a staggering 20 percent of the S&P is made up of Apple and Nvidia. I have called the largest eight companies ‘planets’ because they are more than just their own countries and continents.

Last week I was cycling with buddies in Italy. Unfortunately, the trip was a disaster. I had food poisoning on the 12 hour flight over to Milan, spilled twice day one on/off the bike and than got a nasty flu/COVID that I am still recovering from today. A few weeks ago I said that being 61 means that once in a while you feel like you are mid 70’s and right now I feel like I am 80.

Since I am feeling like I am 80, I figured it would be a good time to share some wisdom…not from me of course, but from three legends.

The first is Ari Emanuel. I just finished Ari Emmanuel’s book ‘Roll The Calls - A Memoir’ . He is a lunatic…full stop. I think everyone whop knows of him or knows him knows that. I mean Larry David loves him and calls him a c**t. I loved the book, the first half more than the second half. I rarely read books and when I do they are memoirs of sports or foudners, the last two being Agassi’s book and Shoe Dog.

Ari has seen it all as an agent and entrepreneur the last 40 plus years. Reading Ari’s book is a reminder of why I won’t be a billionaire 🙂 .

A few favorite quotes…

‘I’m still not sure what I want to be in this world. But of all the things I don’t want to be, obsolete tops the list.’

'‘I’m a fighter, i’ll fight anyone anywhere. But the one thing I’ll never fight is the future.’

‘Success is a state of mind, a moment you savor, not a mansion you own.’

The part that rang closest to me as an investor that has made money in the internet era, was Ari’s explanation of why he knew the animated show ‘King of The Hill’ would work.

‘It does not matter if the show is any good at all. Fox is going to air it after the Simpson’s, which makes it a sure thing. Videos of colonoscopies gone wrong would be a hit in that timer slot.’

The internet has been one giant ‘Simpson’s’ of a tailwind for investors. The internet boom of the last 25 years has created so many false prophets that equate a bull market and ZIRP for genius and investing prowess.

Next in my wisdom loop is this fresh Fred Wilson interview. Fred has been a venture capitalist for 40 years. I was lucky to have him as an investor in Wallstrip and as an LP of Social Leverage. Fred has not been as public the last few years so anytime he shares investing wisdom is a must listen. You can listen to it here. Fred’s curiosity combined with his incredible instincts and understanding of technology are just so unique.

Finally today, my friend John Kosner has a new book out which I ordered titled ‘Inside The Big Business of Sports Media’. John spent 20 plus years at ESPN and than worked with David Stern investing in sports businesses. He has incredible stories about the business of sports and media. John wrote this book for the growing audience of young people looking to buiild a career in the sports industry.

Have a great week.