Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

Globalization is not a recent phenomenon; it began in the 1870s when international trade and investment expanded to sell mass-produced products worldwide, driven by technologies such as steam engines and electricity. The peak of globalization occurred in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The economy advances primarily through improvements in productivity. The technological advancements mentioned have significantly influenced this productivity growth. For example, a smartphone, which combines the functionality of a computer with that of a mobile device, exemplifies technological progress that has brought convenience to mankind. However, smartphone technology and network effects haven’t contributed to the expected boost in human productivity. Technology can be categorized into those that enhance productivity and those that do not. Although today’s technology development exceeds that of the past, it doesn’t automatically lead to greater productivity. To build wealth, incre...

Every benefit comes with costs and expenses. There can be no benefit without costs and expenses. Receiving a gift actually incurs costs and expenses. Whether we give our time or spend money to maintain a relationship with the giver, we are paying in some way. Even inheriting a parent’s legacy comes at a cost and expense. Since costs are incurred before gains, it’s more advantageous to learn how to manage spending effectively rather than just earning money to build wealth. Costing the cash is called INVESTMENT. Whether it is a wasteful investment (consumption) or an investment to accumulate value, this decision is ultimately up to you. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Wings can be a problem if we don’t fly. The queen ant has wings that worker ants don’t have. A queen’s wings are only used once in her life when she flies to mate. After mating, she lands and bites off her wings. In underground life, wings are just an annoyance. We keep many things even when we don’t need them. There are also times we hold onto useless things and thoughts, even knowing they serve no purpose. That’s not smart. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The difference between living and non-living things lies in their complexity. Living beings are more complex than non-living objects. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explains that mollusk cephalopods, such as octopuses and squids, changing their skin color in an instant is a deliberately performed life phenomenon. The intention may be for survival or warning predators. Being alive and having a life depend on this complexity. Humans are complex both physically and mentally because they are alive. To celebrate life is to embrace this complexity. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Many people in our society invest in bonds. Perhaps you, reading this article, have invested in bonds at least once and are still investing now. Bank deposits are a form of bonds, just not labeled as ‘bonds.’ When you deposit your money in a bank, the money isn’t considered bank money. Interest is paid because the money isn’t withdrawn immediately. When you withdraw your deposited money, the bank must return the principal plus interest. This is essentially a bond. However, the only reason this differs from bonds as an investment asset is that these bank deposits are not traded on the market. If bank deposits were traded publicly, the interest rate would be evaluated in comparison with other deposits, even if the principal remains unchanged. Valuation reflects opportunity cost. This is the transaction value of bonds. When goods or assets are traded in the market, their value is re-evaluated. The core of value is comparison, and the tool for valuation is opportunity cost. That’s why CEOs...

Founders often start a business without understanding their profit model. People are more likely to fail because they only think, “I have to work!” and don’t truly grasp how and why they can make money from it. They don’t understand the concept of capital, meaning the basic funds, nor do they understand the founder’s equity. They have heard the terms often but don’t really know their meaning or importance. They don’t recognize it, although they may have heard of it a lot. You start a business and partner with others without knowing whether your return is the reward for taking risks, giving up current interests, or sacrificing competitors. Understanding this is a fundamental part of entrepreneurship. Yet, in reality, they run their business without considering these issues simply because they need to work and can do so at the moment. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”