So what makes someone smart?

I’ve known a lot of very bright people but their limit of understanding centers around one particular domain. I’ve known others where you could have a conversation with them around literally any topic. I think the key difference is that everyone has some understanding around specific issues. The key is to not inundate the smart money you are approaching with all the dazzling BS the majority of entrepreneurs usually provide, but rather be very transparent and open about your value proposition and extremely mindful of their time.

Engagement is key. If you cannot find common ground around an issue they are facing then you might want to cut your losses. Yes personal connections are important; but this will only take you so far.

I’ve in fact found smarter people require more logic to build rapport earlier on in the sales cycle. It’s almost as if the smarter person requires common sense from you before opening their mind for the possibility of a deeper emotional connection; and the moment you’ve earned their respect while simultaneously respecting their intelligence is when the barrier comes down and you can emotionally connect.

A great pitcher will gauge the intellect, education, and interests of a buyer within the first 30 seconds of a phone call, email response, or face to face encounter. It’s tough, but every word, punctuation, and reference leaves a clue. From their email signature, LinkedIn feed, to their body language, every piece is important. As time goes on, it’s getting easier to identify their intelligence online because there are so many data points.

So what are some of the key general guidelines for your consideration in pitching to smart money?

1. Truly understand their needs by asking lots of good questions & uncovering a significant pain or a personal gain

2. Believe in what you are selling and stand behind their success than your own which will come as a result. Pitch in such a way that they come to the conclusion that they want to buy your product on their own. It’ll be much easier if it’s their idea, not yours.

3. Make sure they see the value. It’s in fact best if they already know the value – that’s why the best pitchers spend their time looking for people who can convince themselves of the value (as opposed to spending time trying to convince people of the value they may not see) – and most importantly, allow them to feel like they are in control of the conversation (so you have to be dominant in a non aggressive way).

4. Anecdotes are key. People love examples, especially in the form of short stories. Great pitchers always have a few of them to tickle the imagination, and to create a tangible situation that the customer can strive for.

Share your thoughts.

The post Do you have what it takes to pitch to smart money? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

Before you even dare to dip a toe into the tumultuous waters of investing, take a long, hard look in the mirror. Know who you are! Make no mistake, investing is war – a brutal clash of intellects, wills, and nerves. If you lack the mettle, the unyielding steel in your spine, prepare to retreat, beaten and bruised, tail between your legs, haunted by the specter of sleepless nights. Understand this: no investor is invincible; defeats are inevitable. When your investments plummet, don’t you dare point fingers or whimper in self-pity. The financial battlefield has no room for crybabies, those weak-willed, ineffective, whimsical shadows, deluding themselves with dreams of easy victories. Such folly! It takes more than just idle hope to seize triumph in this relentless arena. You need a trinity of might – balls, brains, and guts. Without this, you’re just another hapless casualty in waiting. So, if you don’t possess the resolve, the intellectual rigor, the sheer guts for this game, bow out now! Save what’s left of your sanity and your savings. But, for those few, those steely-eyed warriors armed with wisdom and unwavering commitment, ready to toil and strategize for every hard-earned victory – you, the true gladiators of finance, read on.

I have been profoundly privileged throughout my three-decade Wall Street odyssey to garner wisdom at the feet of finance’s foremost luminaries – titans of industry spanning the past half century. In hallowed wood-paneled rooms and glossy boardrooms, I absorbed the priceless fruits of their life’s work passed confidentially from one steward to another in the time-honored tradition of mentorship.

My esteemed confidants were the august architects of modern wealth creation – visionaries whose insights won fortunes that reshaped nations. Each princely counsel, each nugget of hard-earned sagacity, was a baton exchanged in a generations-long relay symbolizing the transfer of financial mastery from pioneers past to pioneers present. I remain humbled by providence appointing me the inheritor of such distinguished knowledge – a lineage of insight tracing back to finance’s foundational thinkers. Thus, what I share herein is no mere theory, but timeless wisdom distilled from titans who molded entire industries in their image and bequeathed their intellectual riches to ensure the prosperity of future generations. I continue this hallowed legacy not through simple relay, but by using their genius to forge unprecedented new outcomes – a destiny enabled solely through their peerless tutelage.

In my three decades on the relentless battleground of Wall Street, every ounce of financial wisdom I possess has been forged in the fires of experience and shaped by the hands of the greatest minds in the industry. These titans of finance, my mentors, didn’t just pass me the torch; they ignited within me an undying flame of knowledge and insight. Now, as I stand amidst the ever-shifting sands of the financial world, I bear this torch not merely as a beacon, but as a weapon to cut through the complexities and uncertainties of wealth accumulation. With every strategy I’ve mastered and every lesson I’ve learned etched deeply into my resolve, I am here — not just to guide, but to lead you into the realms of financial victory. Together, we shall navigate this labyrinth, armed with the acumen that has been the hallmark of my career. Trust in my guidance, and I will show you not just how to accumulate wealth, but to conquer it.

I consider myself not just fortunate, but profoundly blessed to have crossed paths with the titans of finance, the architects of modern wealth creation. These aren’t just individuals I knew; they were the forces that sculpted my very destiny. Their wisdom wasn’t merely shared – it was a catalyst that transformed my life, elevating it from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Each interaction was a masterclass in the art of wealth accumulation, each lesson a turning point steering me towards a destiny of remarkable success. They didn’t just shape my life for the better; they rewrote my future, imbuing me with a legacy of knowledge and success. Standing here today, I am a living testament to their genius, a vessel of their collective wisdom, poised to impart this hard-earned knowledge to those ready to embark on their own journey of financial mastery.

As the holiday season enfolds us in its festive embrace, I find myself inspired by a profound sense of gratitude and reflection. The lessons I have gleaned from the titans of finance, those paragons who have so indelibly shaped my journey, are not just personal treasures but pearls of wisdom that I feel compelled to share. In this season of giving, it is my earnest desire to extend these insights beyond the hallowed halls of Wall Street to my friends, followers, and all the common men and women who form the backbone of this great nation. To the patriots who love America, to the contrarians who challenge the status quo, and to every individual striving for financial empowerment — these lessons are for you. As we gather to celebrate and contemplate, let us also empower ourselves with knowledge that transcends time and circumstance. Herein are the lessons I’ve learned about investing, which I thought I’d share with you for the ages, hoping they illuminate your path as they have mine.

With a good perspective on history, we can have a better understanding of the past and present, and thus an unobstructed vision of the future.

1. It’s far too easy for investors to lose perspective. Whenever something big goes wrong, a lot of people panic and sell their investments. Looking at history, the markets recovered from the 2008 financial crisis, The biggest investing errors come not from factors that are informational or analytical, but stem from the labyrinth of the human psyche. Psychological mistakes are at the same time the biggest source of danger for an investor and the biggest source of opportunity when other people succumb to those mistakes. The astute investor, the one who maintains composure amidst the maelstrom of collective hysteria, is poised to not just succeed, but to surpass the norms of market returns. The absolute best buying opportunities come when asset holders are forced to sell.
2. Rule No. 1:  The ebb and flow, the perennial rise and fall, this is the rhythm to which the markets dance. – Rule No. 2:  Some of the greatest opportunities for gain and loss come when other people forget Rule No. 1. The pendulum invariably swings; what ascends must inevitably descend, and vice versa. And yet people extrapolate sometimes as if a phenomenon will go on indefinitely. If something cannot go on forever it will eventually stop.
3. No one knows what lies ahead in terms of the macro future. Few people if any know more than the consensus about what’s going to happen to the economy, interest rates and market aggregates. Thus, the investor’s time is better spent trying to gain a knowledge advantage regarding ‘the knowable’: industries, companies, and securities. The narrower and more focused your lens, the higher your probability of unearthing knowledge that eludes the grasp of the many. Focusing on the simplest possible system (an individual company) is the greatest opportunity for an investor since a company is understandable in a way which may reveal a mispriced bet. Smart investors don’t make macro bets.
4. One can make excellent investment decisions on the basis of present observations, with no need to make guesses about the future. If great investors like Marks, Buffett, Munger, Lynch etc. can’t make macro forecasts, do you think economists can? If you do believe they can, Where are the economists’ yachts? Anyone can be right once in a row especially when the range of possible outcomes is small. Thus, the prudent investor is advised to anchor their strategies in the solid ground of current, observable realities rather than the shifting sands of speculative future predictions.
5. In the theater of a declining market, two cardinal ingredients are indispensable for reaping profit. You have to have a view on intrinsic value, and you have to hold that view strongly enough to be able to hang in and buy even as price declines suggest that you’re wrong. Oh yes, there’s a third; you have to be right. Being a contrarian for its own sake is suicidal. Yet, to eschew contrarianism entirely is to resign oneself to mediocrity, forever trailing in the wake of market trends. True contrarianism — the kind that breeds exceptional investment outcomes — necessitates a willingness to endure the discomfort of standing apart from the herd. To transcend the ordinary, your insight must delve deeper, perceive the unseen, analyze with greater acumen — ideally, a harmonious blend of all three. It is in this space, often uncomfortable and solitary, where superior investment strategies are forged.
6. It is your job as contrarians to catch falling knives, hopefully with care and skill. That’s why the concept of intrinsic value is so important. If you hold a view of value that enables you to buy when everyone else is selling – and if your view turns out to be right – that’s the route to the greatest rewards earned with the least risk. By focusing on the mathematics associated with value investing you are in a better position to shut out psychological dysfunction. Consider value investing as a form of meditation — a practice of deep focus and clarity where the calculation of intrinsic value becomes your guiding mantra. Through this discipline, you cultivate not only financial acumen but a sanctuary of rational thought amidst the market’s capricious whims.
7. Permit me to impart a fundamental truth about the nature of our temporal world, especially in the context of investing: the future, as we often conceive it, is a mere illusion. What truly exists is a spectrum of possibilities, a myriad of paths yet untrodden. It is essential to recognize that a significant portion of these outcomes is at the mercy of chance. This is not to diminish the role of skill, but rather to place it within the proper context of the unpredictable future. Every investor of note operates with a keen understanding of ‘expected value’ — a concept devoid of exceptions in the realm of finance. The expected value of any venture is a formulaic dance of probabilities and outcomes: the potential gains of a correct decision, weighed against the odds of achieving it, juxtaposed with the possible costs of failure, tempered by the likelihood of such a misstep. This calculus is the bedrock upon which sagacious investment decisions are built, a cornerstone of the sophisticated investor’s strategy.
8. Leverage in its essence, is a multiplier of outcomes, but doesn’t add value. Leverage magnifies results whether good or bad. The adage ‘Volatility plus leverage equals dynamite’ is not merely a turn of phrase but a stark reminder of the explosive potential inherent in this combination. Thus, the sagacious investor always adheres to the principle of maintaining a Margin of Safety. This is not mere caution but a profound strategy to mitigate the amplified risks that leverage introduces. It serves as a bulwark against the unforeseen tempests of the market, ensuring that the ship of your investments does not founder on the rocks of volatility amplified by leverage.
9. You can’t predict. You can prepare. Some aspects of life have an unknown probability distribution and some potential future states are unknown. One can deal with this by being anti-fragile and having a margin of safety. Will doubling your money make you twice as happy? Would you really like to take the chance that you might need to return to go and start over?
10. In both economic forecasting and investment management, it’s worth noting that there’s usually someone who gets it exactly right… but it’s rarely the same person twice. The most successful investors get things ‘about right’ most of the time, and that’s much better than the rest. The poseur in the magazine or on the deck of a big yacht is often lucky rather than good. Don’t confuse luck with skill and work as if you need to be skillful rather than lucky. In fields where luck plays a big part, like investing, outcomes are of limited relevance in assessing performance.
11. The great investors are the people who have made a lot of investments over an extended period of time and made a lot of money, and their results show that it wasn’t a fluke — that they did it consistently. Such enduring success is far less the child of chance and more the progeny of skill. Persistent success is compelling evidence of skill rather than luck generating a given set of results. It is a clear demonstration that their achievements are not the whimsical gifts of fortune, but the fruits of astute strategy, profound insight, and unwavering dedication. In the realm of investment, where luck can momentarily elevate the mediocre, it is persistent success that truly separates the masters from the apprentices, serving as irrefutable evidence of a honed and refined expertise.
12. Let us reflect upon a nugget of wisdom imparted to me by Michael Milken, a truth resonating with profound simplicity: the path of investing is far from easy. Those who tread this path under the illusion of its simplicity are gravely mistaken. The world of finance is a complex tapestry, replete with myriad layers and nuances that demand not just thought but thought of the highest order. It requires a relentless dedication to the craft, an unwavering commitment to delve into its depths. For those who find themselves either unprepared to shoulder this burden or misaligned in emotional temperament, there exists a more prudent path: the avenue of low-fee index funds. Herein lies an important lesson — there is a certain wisdom in recognizing one’s limitations. The capital that once was termed ‘dumb money’ can, through this acknowledgment, transform itself into a smarter entity, one that aligns with its capabilities and understands its boundaries.

A profound understanding of history offers us the invaluable lens through which we can interpret the present and envision the future. As we navigate the tumultuous seas of investment, it is all too common for many to lose sight of this long view. History has shown us repeatedly, from the recovery following the 2008 financial crisis to the rebound after the dotcom crash and even the resurrection from the Great Depression, that markets have a resilient tendency to recover. This cyclical pattern of ebb and flow in the markets is a testament to the enduring strength of our economic system.

It is crucial to recognize that in the world of investment, the merit of one’s decisions is not solely judged by the correctness of their initial premise, but rather by the tangible outcomes they yield. It is not simply about being right, but about the magnitude of success when right, and the mitigation of loss when wrong. An obsession with being right can often cloud the greater goal of substantial gains and prudent loss management.

In this complex and ever evolving financial landscape, the role of the Financial Policy Council (FPC) becomes ever more pivotal. The FPC stands as a bastion of knowledge and guidance, empowering individuals to create wealth through informed and strategic decision-making. In an era where the specter of Marxist ideologies looms large, threatening the very fabric of our nation, the FPC champions the cause of liberty as espoused by America’s founding fathers. It steadfastly upholds the principles of free enterprise and individual economic freedom, serving as a bulwark against ideologies that seek to undermine the American dream.

As members of this great nation, our duty extends beyond mere financial success. We are the custodians of a legacy – a legacy of liberty, hard won by our forebears. The FPC not only guides us in wealth creation but reminds us of our responsibility to defend the freedoms that underpin our way of life. It is here that we find the intersection of economic prosperity and civic duty, a confluence that defines the essence of American resilience and spirit.

In conclusion, as we forge ahead, let us do so not just with the aim of financial gain, but with a commitment to preserving the ideals that define us. Let the lessons of history guide our investments, the wisdom of the FPC inform our strategies, and the spirit of liberty shape our journey. Together, we stand not only as investors seeking prosperity, but as patriots safeguarding a way of life. Now, armed with knowledge, guided by principle, and inspired by our heritage, let us go forth and make our mark – not just in the markets, but in the annals of our nation’s history.

Go forth, make a killing, but remember – the wealth we create is but a means to a greater end: the preservation and flourishing of the American dream.

The post Fortunes Forged in the Fires of Finance Navigating Wall Street’s Tumultuous Waters appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

Look at it this way…. It is a fact that the “Magnificent Seven” stocks — Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla — account today for almost all of the gains in the stock market this year.

None of them are Japanese, German, or Chinese. All seven are American companies. They are globally dominant. They are the very symbols of America’s tech dominance in the first quarter of the 21st century.

They are single-handedly keeping 401k plans and retirement funds out of the red.

These are the General Motors, Standard Oil, JP Morgan, and U.S. Steel of the 21st century.

Yet Democrats, Republicans, and the White House have their carving knives out for them. Apparently, making a profit, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and adding trillions of dollars of consumer welfare are now illegal in America.

Many Democrats want to break up big tech – because they are TOO dominant. In my view, it’s a lot better to be too dominant than inferior.

Then there are conservatives who want to destroy the Magnificent Seven because they don’t like their leftist politics. Neither do I, but I like their products.

Congress is intent on killing the Google — the goose — that lays the golden eggs. Apparently, they’d rather have us all be poorer and buy our cell phones and search engines and robots from China.

Mark my words…

Once the politicians have driven the Magnificent Seven to their knees, there will be a hullabaloo about how America is losing its tech dominance.

These same knuckleheads in Washington will start passing out billion-dollar taxpayer subsidies to the very companies they are now set out to destroy.

Go figure …. Share your thoughts

The post Capitalism Under Siege? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

So what does it take to develop a shark-like mentality? Well, there are quite a few things that I’ve learned over the years that have helped me tremendously in my journey.

The first being, life isn’t fair. Stop going through life with the expectation that things should be given to you. This is socialist bullshit that has been instilled in your brain. It is not true. Living life like this will leave you highly disappointed. The truth is, you don’t get what you deserve in life, you get what you negotiate. The sooner you grasp on to this ideology, the quicker you will reach success. Stop expecting and start working smartly. It is that simple.

Secondly, no risk, no reward. Playing it safe will get you nowhere. If you want to see REAL wealth, you’re going to have to take some chances. The key here is to take calculated risks. Strategize and weigh out your options. Understand that in order to make gain, you’re going to have to give up something in return. It goes back to our first principle. No one is going to just hand you wealth, it is honestly a give and take field. But always make sure that you do your research and make educated decisions when deciding whether or not a risk is worth it.

That brings me to our third lesson, that learning never stops. One thing is for certain, knowledge is power. So always be willing to learn. The ones who are least successful are the idiots who think they know it all. Always find the lessons in your experience, whether it is a win or a loss, there is always something to be learned. There are plenty of resources from you to learn from. Use them.

And lastly, I want you to recognize that life is in your hands. Either way it goes, whether you are extremely successful or a pathetic loser, know that this was the result of your decisions. I’m so tired of people whining about what’s outside of their control. The truth is you are 100% in control of your life. Things don’t just happen to you in life. Accept responsibility for the outcome of your life…have accountability.

Being the great white shark of the sea is not about being big and scary. It’s about tapping into your full potential and recognizing that you have the power to run things. The great white doesn’t sit around waiting for the world to feed him. He goes and hunts. This is the mentality you need to have.

Now that you know the basics, go and execute.

The post What does it take? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

Let’s set the record straight folks. The critical success in ensuring a constant company and business growth is in learning to recognize disruptive trends in the industry and market and to acknowledge your past and present status involved.

Getting the money is somewhat straightforward – if you have a great idea, get caught in a current trend, and can present an effective plan, you will find an investor somewhere. The key point that varies here is the value you will be receiving.

I have seen hundreds of companies gather vast rounds of investments, whether crowdfunded or from venture capitalists that crash and burn without making any impact on the market. Many of them didn’t leave their startup phase, not to mention crossing the profitability margin.

The problem is that businesses chase after investments to improve or develop their business. And when making a pitch deck, they tend to focus on the wrong end- the investor end.

The biggest mistake with pitching for investment is to focus on investors rather than your customer value and potential business growth. In booming markets where startups and company mergers are inevitable, your investor’s decision will be based on whether your IPO value is projected to be high or if a safe exit strategy is in place. By focusing on this, you are pitching for the worst possible outcome.

Businesses starting out don’t handle enough data to process it into legitimate growth projections and therefore rely on third-party resources. To ensure a substantial investment to grow your business, you need to present your business value and profitability before pitching. You need to show you can earn money to make money.

Even though there are disruptive technologies that are shaking the core of every industry, it will take time for them to mature. Startups and business today who plan to profit from these technologies are targeting smaller user bases, and their growth is somewhat limited. They won’t become profitable for at least five years even if they score a considerable investment from one or more rookie VCs.

Business today that provide solutions for well-known problems for which the market is already in place and the answers are known, have a much higher competition. The only thing that differentiates them from the game is the experience they provide and the value they bring to their customers.
It is precisely what you need to measure, optimize and present in your pitch deck to investors. These metrics project and offer a long-term value that you can bring to both your customers and investors. And they bring you a step closer to closing an investment deal that is sustainable and focused on consistent growth rather than blitz scaling.

Now you know….

The post You Want Money to Grow Your Business? Show Me First You Can Earn Some appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

By “deal killers” I really mean the generic statements for you to avoid when submitting your “Elevator Pitch”

I hope this short list will better assist you fine tune your “Value Proposition” when approaching us for funding.

The following list is not exhaustive, but outlines a few scenarios in which we’d kill a deal in an instant

1. There is no competition.

Perhaps no other company sells a product substantially similar to yours, but this does not imply a lack of competition. Any substitute product, process or service that satisfies the same need as your business is a competitive solution. Stating that no competition exists reveals either a lack of research or imagination on your part. We interpret the lack of competition as evidence that the market is undesirable or having need of consumer education. Such a statement is an instant deal killer for us.

2. Company founders don’t have “skin in the game” and can’t inject capital but have invested $X worth of their time in the company.

We like to see that the founders of an entrepreneurial company seeking funding believe in their business enough to make investment and personal sacrifice to sustain its survival, but do not confuse the two. While foregone salary represents an economic cost of the venture to an entrepreneur, it is not an investment into the business. Investment translates to “cash” spent for costs related to starting and developing the business not sweat equity. If you have spent a significant amount to do this, please make sure to include the figure somewhere in the financial section of your business plan. If not, you are asking for trouble.

3. Our projections are very conservative, and we will break even or be profitable 1,2,3 years from today:

If you haven’t already generated profits and haven’t attracted enough clients to show us you’re actually running a business v/s just tinkering with ideas, you are most probably not fit for us. Track record for us is indeed key and we’d go on a limb and back an entrepreneur who made it big time and lost it all than funding someone who never generated profits and is still conceptualizing his/her thoughts. Ideas are a dime a dozen. All about execution.

4. Absence of information regarding how exactly you plan to execute

We like to know HOW you plan to execute. Business is WAR and if you don’t have a clear-cut execution plan ahead, we are going nowhere. Most entrepreneurs have no clue as to how they are going to execute or can’t flesh it out properly. A total deal killer

The list goes on and on. But if you can’t pass the above “acid test” there is a very little chance if any you’ll get funded. Good luck

Share your thoughts

The post Want to know what are our Private Equity Deal Killers? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

So, what is really happening out there?

Today, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and is taking major unexpected losses. One may not like Ukraine’s Zelensky, but Putin is the aggressor. And Russia became isolated from the US and its allies, though India, China and other nations continue to buy oil and trade with Russia.

So also, being somewhat isolated – not as much as it should be – Iran decided to come to Russia’s aid by selling drones to Russia – thus making much needed money, while equipping Russia’s faltering war effort.

Going a step further, Iran has even agreed to move some of its drone production to Russia. Russia needs those drones, and the military technology and production that Iran can provide. So, moving production to Russia seems to be a win-win for both of them.

Now, with the move of Iranian production to Russia, Iran has insulated its manufacturing facilities from direct Israeli attacks – though there is always the option of Stuxnet variety malware attacks.

Russia has also agreed to return enriched uranium to Iran and is overtly assisting an intended destroyer of the Jewish state.

To that end – the destruction of Israel – the Iranians have also armed Hezbollah to the teeth in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has today an estimated 100,000 short-range rockets capable of striking northern Israel, several thousand missiles that can reach Tel Aviv and central Israel and hundreds more that can strike the entire country.

Given that Iran subscribes to a martyrist view of Jihad, a major loss of life would not deter Iran from a war in order to achieve its aim of destroying Israel. The Jews however want to live and given Israel’s diminutive size – where 1 nuclear weapon could wipe out a large part of the country – Israel has no options but to preemptively attack Iran, with or without American approval.

When that attack comes, it may require Israel to use nuclear bunker busters to demolish Iran’s well sunken and fortified manufacturing sites. The genie would be out of the bottle. Russia may then decide to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, citing Israel’s use in Iran as a precedent.

All hell would break loose.

The equation will boil down to this: Either a million Lebanese and Arab civilians die in a few days, or a million Jews. Syria and Lebanon will be destroyed, possibly also the Russian naval base at Tartus.

World War III may be only days away. Only a spark is needed.

None of this would have happened, if the re-election of Trump had not been. The Trump administration had Iran on the verge of economic collapse.

Brace yourselves.

The post How incompetent can the West’s Foreign Policy be? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

While I pressed the accelerator on exposure and risk, others sought safety in rapidly depreciating cash, or worse, shorted risk assets while they hid from benign germs.

Now, as we enter the great macro dreamscape, I realize that Covid was simply a warm-up for what seems almost inevitable. Rarely has the world’s only superpower undergone a self-immolation of its multi-faceted role in the global order. We are headed towards global anarchy but also incredible opportunities which I will share in an upcoming blog.

Gone are our desires to be the global hegemon, support the world’s reserve currency, or even be seen as a respected adult. As we’re increasingly banished to the kid’s table of global discourse, the macro landscape is spiraling at an ever-faster pace. Our bond market is drifting off, doomed by our precarious fiscal balances. Our place in the world is questioned after Afghan goat herders and then Russian convicts faced off against our military machine with great success.

Meanwhile, our institutions, long hailed globally, descend into corruption, nepotism and incompetence. America isn’t dead, but it needs to be totally reinvented. However, that’s all in the future; as macro investors, I only deal in the present. Nothing is carved in stone, but the outcomes, while path-dependent, are increasingly becoming unavoidable. The rules are no longer the rules.

The Globalists have tried to resurrect their eminence following the Peak Globalist cluster-fuckery that was Covid. Yet, in the process, they’ve shattered their own image, while not realizing it. That revelation is still oncoming. Now freed from a need to uphold their aura of magnanimity, they’ll unleash their most insidious and aggressive attacks on the natural order.

This will be their final undoing, accompanied first by great suffering for those who are not part of their clique. There is no retreat for the Davos Crowd, they will only push forward, their evil will metastasize.

In fact, Globalism has already passed us by. Soon, it all comes crumbling down. There’s nothing to replace it. Rather, there’s a fight amongst those who’d gladly inherit the world—yet none are particularly ready to bear that mantle.

At the same time, I see opportunity everywhere. Everything we’ve held sacred in finance is turning upside down. Open your mind to the possibilities. You are on this phantasmal voyage; even if you try and disembark—the choice isn’t yours. It’s simply part of the cycle. Instead, embrace it. Prepare for it. Love it.

It’s about to get real wild…

I’ve waited my whole life for this. I’ve studied. I’ve prepared. I’m ready. Bring it on!

The post How wild is it about to get? appeared first on Blackhawk Partners.

On August 25th, a new law known as the “Digital Services Act” went into effect in the European Union. Under this new law, European bureaucrats will be able to order big tech companies to censor any content that is considered to be “illegal”, “disinformation” or “hate speech”. That includes content that is posted by users outside of the European Union, because someone that lives in the European Union might see it.

In the past, there have been times when governments have requested that big tech companies take down certain material, but now this new law will give government officials the power to force big tech companies to take down any content that they do not like. Any big tech companies that choose not to comply will be hit with extremely harsh penalties.

Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

In addition to “illegal content” and “hate speech”, the Digital Services Act also applies to “hoaxes” and any material that is considered to be “disinformation”.

These new content rules are so vague that they could apply to just about anything…..And that is precisely what they want.

From this point forward, if you post something that they do not like, they will have the power to have it taken down. Even if you don’t live in the European Union, they can have your content taken down, because someone in the European Union might see it.

So who will be doing the censoring?

Well, it is being reported that “hundreds of unelected EU bureaucrats will decide what constitutes disinformation and instruct Big Tech firms to censor it”…

Under this Orwellian regime, a team of hundreds of unelected EU bureaucrats will decide what constitutes disinformation and instruct Big Tech firms to censor it. The firms themselves, faced with reputational risk and financial penalties, will have little choice other than to comply.

Needless to say, the Internet is never going to be the same after this.

The online platforms affected are Alibaba AliExpress, Amazon Store, Apple AppStore,� Booking.com, Facebook, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, X (listed as Twitter), Wikipedia, YouTube, the European clothing retailer Zalando, Bing and Google Search.

A firm that does not comply with the law could face a complete ban in Europe or fines running up to 6% of its global revenue. Last month, X/Twitter said it was on track to generate $3bn (£2.4bn) in revenue. A fine of 6% would be the equivalent of £144m.

For many years, the Internet was one of the last bastions for free speech.
But now everything has changed. Clearly this is going to make it much more difficult to share the truth with a world that desperately needs it.

These are such dark times, and they are getting darker with each passing day.

Go figure.

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That is the essence of the Biden vs. Google case that went to trial before a federal court this week. I know many of my readers don’t like Google’s politics and some of its search algorithms – and neither do I. But putting that aside, the villain in this case is the Justice Department – not Google.

I have noted many times the reason that the United States emerged as the massive winner in the “tech wars” of the last three decades is that Congress made a rare wise decision by passing a law in the mid-1990s (thank you Chris Cox), which essentially declared this new and revolutionary communications device called “the internet” tax-free, regulation-free, and lawsuit free.

This laissez-faire strategy sparked a wild west gold rush of creativity and entrepreneurial explosion – unimpeded by government – that created tens of trillions of dollars of wealth and sprouted trillion-dollar companies from Google to Apple to Amazon to Facebook. They are all predominantly owned by more than 100 million American shareholders. If you are wondering who America won this tech race big time. We blew away the Europeans, the Japanese, the Chinese – all who got left picking up the crumbs.

Google was the first monster search engine – a great American success story. It now dominates 79% of the U.S. search market and an even higher share internationally. Why? Because it’s a monopoly. Hardly. There are scores of search engines from Bing to Apple’s Safari to Mozilla. Why does Google dominate? The same reason the Boston Celtics won 11 titles with Bill Russell. They have a superior product. Period. It processes a mindboggling 100,000 words per SECOND, and some 10 billion searches a DAY.

As I have said dozens of times on these pages, monopolies are supposedly harmful because they use their market power to raise prices and hurt consumers. Hello!!! A Google search is FREE. It’s the greatest consumer bargain in world history. Google is rated one of the most trusted brands in America.

Are the prices of Google services to consumers going up? No. Even in the era of Bidenflation, the technology/smartphone sector is lowering prices.

As usual, the government lawyers and regulators are three moves behind the industry on the high-tech chess board. In the months ahead, there is going to be a flood of new competition in tech and it isn’t coming from nuisance government lawsuits, but from the creative gales of destruction in the AI orbit (which could be bigger than the internet).

In the case of Biden vs. Google, I am rooting for Google all the way.

Share your thoughts.

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