by J.F. (Jim) Straw, author of Mustard Seeds, Shovels, & Mountains Believe it or don’t, I just flunked another test for “entrepreneurial” traits! From my test score, it appears I am probably better adapted to washing dishes than running a business. Then again, according to the governing laws of aerodynamics, bumble bees can’t fly either. Let me […]
A few days ago, a number of readers had lunch with me in midtown New York at an exclusive club restaurant. The chairs were plush, the service was excellent, and the food was delicious. After dessert, a few of the readers asked me about grants — those wonderful money “donations” you can get to do […]
If a taxpayer disagrees with an IRS decision, they can ask the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to review their case. This office is separate from the rest of the IRS. Appeals officers review cases that taxpayers submitted, meet with the taxpayer informally, and consider the taxpayer’s position and the IRS’s position in a fair […]
Let’s talk about money — borrowed money or Other People’s Money (OPM). It’s a subject that always interests people because money is the fuel that drives the engine of business everywhere in this world. Without money business would stall. Often, I’ve mentioned that the loan supply is like the weather: changeable. Recently, money tightened up […]
In 1983, Warren Buffett sat down to pen his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. Tucked away at the back of the letter was an ad. Specifically, it was a “business wanted” ad. In it, the Oracle of Omaha outlined the type of businesses he and his partner Charlie Munger were seeking to acquire. The ad […]
