Business Education, Career Management

Introducing HighQscore: A New Metric to Measure Potential

I have been saying Having a good IQ helps but discipline, planning, and consistent hard work drive results for a long time. So I created a new metric – “HighQscore.”

What is HighQscore?

HighQscore is a new index designed to redefine how we measure potential. Unlike traditional intelligence metrics such as IQ, which only focus on raw cognitive ability, HighQscore captures the key factors that lead to real-world achievement:

  • Planning: Creating a clear, actionable plan for your future.
  • Hard Work: Consistent effort toward your goals, regardless of obstacles.
  • Discipline: Sticking to your plan even when the going gets tough.

Why HighQscore Matters

Success in life isn’t determined by intelligence alone. In a world that values productivity and results, the ability to stick to a well-thought-out plan and work hard is what sets high achievers apart.

HighQscore is for those who believe:

  • Discipline beats intelligence.
  • Consistency trumps talent.
  • A plan in motion outperforms potential.

This new index shifts the focus away from raw intellect and academic degrees and toward the actionable qualities that lead to real-world progress: determination, good habits, hard-work, discipline, and resilience.

HighQscore is more than just a number—it represents a mindset. Using traditional intelligence metrics to measure people’s potential has too many limitations and hence HighQscore embraces a measure that truly reflects paths to success. It is an index for achievers, the curious, and the doers who understand that life rewards those who plan, work hard, and persevere. In the future, HighQscore will be a more accurate measure of people’s potential and likelihood of success than IQ.

We don’t have to be smarter than others, just be more disciplined! – Warren Buffett

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO

Asking for a raise? Here’s how you may do it!

Asking for a raise is more than a conversation—it’s a process that requires preparation, confidence, and persistence. By following these steps, you’ll not only make a strong case for a salary increase but also position yourself as a proactive and valuable team member. Remember, even if the answer is no today, these strategies will keep you on track for success in the future.

So, start collecting salary data, identify where you are in the spectrum, and discuss with your mentor or a fiend—your next raise could be just a conversation away!

Step -1

Before you ask for a raise, it’s essential to know your worth in the job market. Research the average salary for your role, experience, and location using tools like Glassdoor, Payscale, or industry-specific reports. This data not only provides you with a realistic target but also strengthens your argument by grounding it in factual market trends.

  • Pro Tip: Adjust your expectation based on your qualifications, skills, and the cost of living in your region.

Step-2

Numbers speak louder than words. To justify your request, compile a list of your accomplishments, focusing on measurable outcomes. Did you boost revenue, save costs, improve efficiency, or lead a successful project? Highlight the direct impact you’ve had on the company’s success.

  • Example: Instead of saying, “I’ve done a great job managing projects,” say, “I managed three key projects this year that collectively saved the company $50,000 and improved client satisfaction by 20%.”

Step-3

Once your research and achievements are ready, plan how you’ll present your case. Structure your points to emphasize:

  • Your contributions.
  • How they align with the company’s goals.
  • Why your performance merits a raise.

Additionally, research your company’s financial health and timing. Avoid asking during budget cuts or downturns.

  • Pro Tip: Schedule a meeting in advance and let your manager know you want to discuss your growth and contributions.

Step-4

Confidence is key, and practicing your delivery helps you stay calm and composed. Rehearse what you’ll say with a friend, mentor, or even in front of a mirror. Anticipate possible objections and prepare responses.

  • Example Script:
    “Over the past year, I’ve achieved [specific accomplishments]. Given my contributions and current market trends, I’d like to discuss adjusting my salary to [$specific amount].”

Step-5

When asking for a raise, be assertive yet respectful. Avoid tentative phrases like “I think” or “maybe.” Instead, use confident language that conveys your value.

  • Weak: “I was hoping we could discuss a small raise if possible.”
  • Strong: “I’d like to discuss aligning my compensation with the value I bring to the team.”

Assertiveness demonstrates self-awareness and professionalism, increasing your chances of being taken seriously.

Step-6

Not all raise requests are approved immediately. Be prepared with alternative asks that still benefit you. These could include:

  • Additional vacation days.
  • Flexible work arrangements.
  • Professional development opportunities.

If your manager says no, ask for feedback on how to work toward a raise in the future and agree on a timeline to revisit the conversation.

Step-7

If a raise isn’t possible now, set the stage for future success. Collaborate with your manager to outline clear goals and metrics that will justify a raise down the line. Regularly update them on your progress to keep your contributions visible.

  • Pro Tip: Send a follow-up email after your discussion summarizing the feedback and agreed-upon steps.
by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO

Be like SQ31!

Recently, a friend and his wife visited us from Coimbatore, a vibrant South Indian city celebrated for its post-summer drizzles, people with polite demeanor, renowned colleges, and thriving entrepreneurial culture. His wife, an accomplished obstetrician, is highly sought after for her exceptional skill and compassionate care for expecting mothers.

Curious about their travel plans, I casually asked her, “How are you heading back to India?”

“We’re flying Singapore Airlines,” she replied, “to avoid multiple transits.”

“Oh…SQ31?” I asked.

“Yes. You remember the flight number?” she said, pleasantly surprised.

“Yes, it lands at 6:30 PM in Singapore, just in time for me to meet friends for dinner,” I said with a smile, “SQ31 is my first choice too to visit Coimbatore.”

As the conversation shifted toward her profession, I couldn’t resist asking, “How many babies have you delivered so far?”

“About 10,000,” she replied, matter-of-factly.

“10,000? That’s incredible! How did you reach such a number?”

“I’ve been practicing for 25 years,” she said with a modest smile.

“And how many hysterectomies have you performed?” I asked.

“Not too many—around 6,000,” she answered calmly.

I was floored. “6,000 isn’t too many? No wonder so many mothers choose you!”

She simply smiled, her humility shining through.

“Will you ever retire?” I asked, curious about her future plans.

“As long as I’m productive, I won’t,” she replied, embodying the spirit of a consummate professional.

At that moment, her career path struck me as remarkably similar to SQ31’s steady flight path. Who would have thought I’d take a career lesson from a nonstop flight from SFO to SIN?

SQ31 spends about an hour climbing to its cruising altitude, maintains that level over the Pacific for 16 hours, and then descends into Singapore. Her career mirrored this pattern, steadily climbing during her training and sustaining a high, impactful level of productivity – consistent, disciplined, and reliable.

This flight path offers an invaluable lesson. If we work relentlessly during the early years to reach our Peak Productivity (PP), and sustain that level through discipline and effort over decades, long-term success becomes attainable.

But how do we emulate SQ31? First, you must deeply desire it—it must become a priority. Discipline and focus are essential. Successful people reach PP by committing fully to their goals. And just like SQ31 doesn’t simply coast at cruising altitude, burning fuel to stay steady, we too must continually learn and update our skills to maintain our peak.

Be like SQ31—consistent, enduring, and built for the long haul.

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO, Entrepreneurship, Private Equity

Did Chegg get egged by AI?

“Video killed the radio star,” sang the Buggles in 1979. Fast forward to 2024, the British group formed in 1977 is still performing. Here’s a request for their next hit: how about “ChatGPT Killed Chegg”? After all, bassist Tom Horn foresaw this future, once predicting, “We had this idea that at some future point there’d be a record label that didn’t really have any artists—just a computer in the basement.” His prediction, it seems, was eerily accurate.

Chegg, once a dominant force in EdTech, revolutionized learning by offering affordable textbook rentals and subscription-based academic tools. Valued at over $12 billion during its peak, the company thrived during the pandemic, serving millions of students as remote learning surged. Yet, within just a few years, Chegg’s value plummeted by over 99%. The cause? The rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

Disruption by AI

The emergence of tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT fundamentally changed how students sought academic help. Unlike Chegg’s subscription services, AI platforms offered instant, free solutions. By 2023, Chegg acknowledged losing subscribers, and by 2024, over half a million users had abandoned the platform. Although Chegg launched CheggMate, an AI-powered tool, it failed to compete with the widespread popularity of free alternatives.

Financial Struggles

Chegg’s financial performance deteriorated rapidly. In the third quarter of 2024, it reported a $212.6 million net loss and laid off 21% of its workforce. The company’s heavy reliance on a subscription-based model and slow adaptation to AI technologies left it vulnerable in a market transformed by innovation.

Lessons Learned

Chegg’s fall is a cautionary tale for businesses in tech-driven industries. It underscores the importance of anticipating disruption, diversifying revenue streams, and embracing innovation. Companies must stay agile and adapt quickly to new technologies or risk irrelevance.

The Path Forward

For Chegg to recover, it must focus on unique offerings, strategic partnerships, and rebuilding trust. Its future depends on its ability to innovate and redefine its role in education.

The story of Chegg is a stark reminder: in the age of rapid technological change, staying ahead isn’t optional—it’s essential.

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, Personal Finance, Vision

Introducing Butterfly Limit

I mentioned the Butterfly Limit in class in passing. I created this to explain a status. Here are the details.

I created this a few years back and I have written a chapter in my book on Butterfly Limit (BL).

BL is a status that affords you the freedom of your own hours and domain of work and thus, control over your time. It’s the hallmark of autonomy and flexibility we all long for. What are the essentials for BL? To achieve BL you need a blend of domain expertise, accountability, discipline, goal-setting, resilience, proactive relationship-building, and above all, self-discipline. See how you measure in the following criteria!

1. Self-Discipline: Manage your time and stay productive independently.
2. Goal Setting: Define clear professional goals and areas of focus.
3. Resilience: Be open to changes.
4. Expertise: Build strong knowledge in your domain.
5. Relationship-Building: Build trust and support for your autonomy.

Personal finance (PF) plays an essential role in achieving BL as financial stability is key to attaining the freedom and autonomy this status offers. Here’s how: PF allows you to build a strong financial foundation, reducing dependency on rigid job structures. Savings, investments, and an emergency fund give you the flexibility to prioritize fulfilling work over fixed hours or traditional roles. With sound PF, you’re better equipped to handle income fluctuations that might come with flexible or self-directed roles. A well-managed budget and diversified investments provide a buffer, allowing you to embrace autonomy confidently. The goal of PF is to achieve a steady flow of passive income. Check out my views on it!

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, Entrepreneurship, Personal Finance

Passive Income for an Active Life

The value of passive income has been recognized for years, but its importance was brought into sharp focus when a friend in his 50s confided in me. He admitted that neglecting to learn personal finance and build passive income streams is now holding him back from pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams. Despite decades of experience, he’s stuck. Why? He’s “paycheck dependent” and can’t afford to take risks.

Passive income isn’t just about money; it’s about time—the most valuable resource you have. Time, not money, is the real luxury. Ideally, one should start learning personal finance in their early teens. Data shows that the wealthy are more likely to invest in stocks, a key source of passive income. In 2020, 53% of the ultra-rich—the top 1% by wealth in the U.S.—owned stocks, compared to only 0.6% of those in the bottom 50%. Additionally, between 2006 and 2021, stock market indices in major economies such as the U.S., India, Brazil, China, and Japan appreciated by approximately 225%, 700%, 330%, 200%, and 160%, respectively. If we consider 2022 and 2023, the appreciation would be even greater.

The earlier you start investing and building passive income, the more control you’ll have over your time and your future. As I reflected on my friend’s situation, I realized: “The best time to learn personal finance was 35 years ago. The second best time is now.”

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO, Entrepreneurship

Why do some CEOs hesitate to be entrepreneurial?

In a recent session in my CEO-2035 class, a student asked this question. Here’s how I answered it:

CEOs of established firms often hesitate to be entrepreneurial for several reasons:

  1. Risk Aversion: Established firms typically have significant resources, reputations, and shareholder expectations to consider. Entrepreneurial activities often involve high levels of uncertainty and risk, which could jeopardize the firm’s stability and profitability.
  2. Focus on Short-Term Performance: Publicly traded companies are often under pressure to deliver consistent, short-term results to satisfy shareholders and analysts. Entrepreneurial ventures can take time to generate returns, potentially affecting quarterly earnings and stock prices.
  3. Organizational Inertia: Large, established firms often have deeply ingrained processes, cultures, and structures that can be resistant to change. This inertia makes it difficult to pivot or take on new, innovative ventures that require flexibility and adaptability.
  4. Resource Allocation: Established firms often prioritize the allocation of resources to proven, profitable areas of their business. Investing in new, untested ideas may be seen as diverting resources away from these core areas, potentially diluting focus and performance.
  5. Complex Decision-Making Processes: In large organizations, decision-making tends to involve multiple layers of management and bureaucracy. This can slow down the ability to act quickly on new opportunities, which is often necessary in entrepreneurial ventures.
  6. Fear of Cannibalization: For companies with established product lines or services, there may be a fear that new, entrepreneurial products could cannibalize existing offerings, leading to internal competition and reduced profitability.
  7. Regulatory and Compliance Concerns: Established firms are often heavily regulated, and entrepreneurial ventures may involve navigating complex legal and regulatory environments. The potential for regulatory challenges can deter CEOs from pursuing innovative, but potentially risky, opportunities.
  8. Leadership Style and Experience: Many CEOs of established firms have built their careers on managing large organizations rather than on entrepreneurship. Their leadership style may be more suited to optimizing existing operations rather than fostering new, disruptive ideas.

These factors contribute to a more cautious approach, making CEOs of established firms less likely to engage in entrepreneurial activities compared to those leading smaller, more agile companies.

by admin
Business Education, CEO, Personal Finance

How is this a positive for Tesla stock?

CNBC reported “Revenue declined from $23.33 billion a year earlier and from $25.17 billion in the fourth quarter. Net income dropped 55% to $1.13 billion, or 34 cents a share, from $2.51 billion, or 73 cents a share, a year ago.

The drop in sales was even steeper than the company’s last decline in 2020, which was due to disrupted production during the Covid-19 pandemic. Tesla’s automotive revenue declined 13% year over year to $17.38 billion in the first three months of 2024.

Capital expenditures rose to $2.77 billion, up 34% from a year earlier.

Free cash flow turned negative in the quarter, with the company reporting a deficit of $2.53 billion. A year ago, Tesla reported free cash flow of $441 million, a number that reached $2.06 billion in the fourth quarter.”

Despite such numbers, Tesla shares jumped 11% after Musk reported that he is planning to manufacture affordable models in 2025. Does this mean that the market is looking at the future rather than the past? Click the URL below to read the article in CNBC. Ram Subramaniam

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/23/tesla-tsla-earnings-q1-2024-.html

by admin
Career Management, CEO

Envisioning the role of a CEO in 2035…

Envisioning the role of a CEO in 2035 requires understanding the trajectory of current trends in technology, societal expectations, global economics, and environmental concerns. The landscape of leadership is transforming, suggesting that CEOs will need to navigate a world vastly different from today’s. Here’s how the job of a CEO might look in 2035:

Mastery of Technology and Innovation

By 2035, technology will be even more deeply woven into the fabric of business. CEOs will need to be adept at leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, and quantum computing. Understanding how these technologies can be applied to enhance business operations, product offerings, and customer experiences will be crucial. The successful CEO will be one who can anticipate technological disruptions and position their company to benefit from them rather than be sidelined.

Champion of Sustainability and Social Responsibility

The increasing urgency of climate change and social inequality will make sustainability and social responsibility core components of every company’s strategy. CEOs will be expected to lead their companies in a way that not only generates profit but also contributes positively to the planet and society. This could involve initiatives to reduce carbon footprints, ethical supply chain management, and efforts to address social issues through business practices. Transparent reporting on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria will likely be the norm, and CEOs will be at the forefront of these initiatives.

Architect of Agile and Resilient Organizations

The pace of change will only accelerate, making agility and resilience key attributes of successful organizations. CEOs in 2035 will need to foster a culture of innovation, where experimentation is encouraged and failure is seen as a stepping stone to success. Building teams that can quickly adapt to changing circumstances, pivot strategies when needed, and remain resilient in the face of challenges will be a critical responsibility of future CEOs.

Builder of Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces

Diversity and inclusion will be even more critical in 2035, as companies recognize the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and understanding global markets. CEOs will need to go beyond superficial measures to create genuinely inclusive cultures where everyone feels valued and empowered. This includes ensuring diversity at all levels of the organization, from the boardroom to entry-level positions, and actively working to eliminate bias and discrimination.

Visionary Leader and Ethical Steward

The CEO of 2035 will need to be a visionary, capable of looking beyond short-term gains to see the bigger picture of how their company fits into a rapidly changing world. Ethical leadership will be paramount, as stakeholders increasingly hold companies to high standards of integrity and transparency. CEOs will need to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, making decisions that balance the interests of various stakeholders while adhering to core values.

Conclusion

In summary, the CEO of 2035 will be much more than a business leader. They will be technology-savvy innovators, champions of sustainability and social responsibility, architects of agile and resilient organizations, builders of diverse and inclusive workplaces, and visionary leaders who operate with the highest ethical standards. The CEOs who can rise to these challenges will be well-positioned to lead their companies into a prosperous and sustainable future. Ram Subramaniam.

by admin
Machine Learning, Python

Consuming Chatgpt API in Python

Here’s the Python code I used in the class. I’m storing my key in the environment variable ‘OPENAI_API_KEY.’ Ram Subramaniam.

from openai import OpenAI
import os
openai.api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")
print ("\n")

client = OpenAI(api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"))
mess = "beyond 120, any increment in IQ does not necessarily imply higher creativity"
prompt = "restate the following statement: " + mess
print ("Original Message : "+mess)
for x in range (0, 5):
 chat_completion = client.chat.completions.create(messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}, ],model="gpt-3.5-turbo")
 print("Revised Message : " +chat_completion.choices[0].message.content)
by admin
Business Education, Personal Finance

I shouldn’t have taken your suggestion!

I got an angry email from a friend today. “I shouldn’t have invested in S&P 500 per your suggestion!” read the subject line. His problem was that more than 90% of appreciation in S&P 500 came from just 5 stocks – AAPL, GOOGL, AMZN, NVDA, and MSFT. “I should have invested in these 5 rather than in SPY which is made of 500 stocks,” he concluded. Here’s my counter argument.

This is a situation indicative of several possible market conditions.

  1. Market Concentration: This suggests that the market is highly concentrated, where a few large-cap stocks, probably technology or other high-growth sectors, are driving the performance. This could create a situation of increased risk, as the market’s health is heavily dependent on the performance of a handful of stocks.
  2. Market Imbalance: Such a situation may imply an imbalance in the market, reflecting that other areas of the market might be undervalued or underperforming.
  3. Investor Sentiment: It might show a trend in investor sentiment, favoring these five companies, possibly due to perceived growth potential, strong fundamentals, or other favorable conditions.
  4. Economic Conditions: It may reflect broader economic conditions. For instance, during a period of rapid technological advancement, tech stocks may disproportionately drive market performance.

While such a concentration can lead to significant short-term gains, it may also increase the market’s vulnerability to shocks, as a downturn in these few stocks could have outsized effects on the market as a whole. Diversification, or spreading investments across a variety of stocks and sectors, is often recommended to mitigate this type of risk. It’s important for investors to understand the implications of this concentration.

He is still not convinced! What do you think?

by admin
Business Education, Options Trading, Personal Finance

Investing for the Long Term!

As I was reading an article on Personal Finance, the following question came to mind: how much would a 10000 Rupees monthly investment in NIFTY since the year 2000 would be worth in December 2020? NIFTY is an index of Indian Equities and I was surprised by the ROI! Read on.

To estimate the value of a 10,000 INR monthly investment in the NIFTY 50 since the year 2000 until December 2020, we can use historical data for the NIFTY 50 index and a method called dollar-cost averaging. Keep in mind that this calculation is an approximation and does not take into account taxes, fees, or dividends received, which would affect your overall returns.

Using historical data for the NIFTY 50 index and the monthly closing prices, you can follow these steps:

  1. Divide the 10,000 INR monthly investment by the closing price for that month to find the number of units (or a proxy of shares) purchased each month.
  2. Keep a running total of the number of units accumulated over the investment period.
  3. Multiply the total number of units by the closing price of the NIFTY 50 index in December 2020.

For example, using historical data from Yahoo Finance, the closing price of the NIFTY 50 in January 2000 was approximately 1,475, and in December 2020, it was approximately 13,981.75.

By investing 10,000 INR every month from January 2000 to December 2020, you would have invested a total of 2,520,000 INR over the 252 months. After calculating the number of units purchased each month and summing them up, you would have accumulated around 153.34 units (or a proxy of shares) of the NIFTY 50 index.

Multiplying the total number of units (153.34) by the closing price in December 2020 (13,981.75) gives you an approximate value of INR 2,144,250.69.

Please note that this is a rough estimate, and individual results may vary depending on factors like exact investment dates, fees, and reinvestment of dividends. Additionally, this calculation assumes that the monthly investments were made at the end of the month, which might not match your actual investment schedule.

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO

Details of the ‘CEO-2035’ course

Course Title: Leadership for the Future: Grooming Business Students into Future CEOs

Course Description: This course is designed for business students who aspire to become future CEOs. The course focuses on developing leadership skills, strategic thinking, and a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of business management required to acquire the CEO role and excel in it. Students will learn through a combination of lectures, case studies, discussions, group projects, and guest lectures from experienced CEOs and industry experts.

Course Objectives:

  1. Develop Leadership Skills: Students will learn essential leadership skills, including effective communication, decision-making, negotiation, and conflict resolution, to effectively lead teams and organizations.
  2. Foster Strategic Thinking: Students will learn how to think critically and strategically, analyze complex business situations, and make informed decisions to drive the long-term success of the organization.
  3. Understand Business Functions: Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of various business functions, including finance, marketing, operations, human resources, and corporate strategy, to develop a holistic approach to business management.
  4. Learn Corporate Governance: Students will learn about the principles of corporate governance, ethical decision-making, and responsible leadership, emphasizing the importance of ethical and socially responsible practices in the modern business landscape.
  5. Develop Global Perspective: Students will gain an understanding of the global business environment, including international markets, geopolitical risks, cultural differences, and emerging trends, to prepare them for leading in a globalized world.
  6. Enhance Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Students will develop effective communication and interpersonal skills, including public speaking, presentation, networking, and relationship-building, critical for success as a CEO.
  7. Learn from Industry Experts: Students will have the opportunity to learn from experienced CEOs and industry experts through guest lectures, case studies, and real-world examples, providing practical insights into the challenges and opportunities of leading organizations.
  8. Capstone Project: Students will apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course to develop a strategic business plan, which will serve as a capstone project, allowing them to integrate and demonstrate their learning in a practical business context.

Course Outline:

  1. Introduction to CEO Role
  2. Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making
  3. Business Functions and Holistic Management
  4. Corporate Governance and Ethics
  5. Global Business and Emerging Trends
  6. Communication and Interpersonal Skills for CEOs
  7. Leading High-Performing Teams
  8. Change Management and Innovation
  9. CEO as a Visionary and Transformational Leader
  10. Guest Lectures and Case Studies from CEOs
  11. Capstone Project: Developing a Strategic Business Plan

Assessment Methods:

  1. Class participation in discussions and group activities
  2. Case study analysis and presentations
  3. Individual and group projects
  4. Written assignments
  5. Guest lecture reflections
  6. Capstone project presentation and report

By the end of this course, students will have developed the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to excel in the role of a CEO, and be prepared to take on leadership positions in the business world with confidence and competence.

by admin
Business Education, Options Trading, Personal Finance

Trades for March 2023

Here are my trades for Mar. Sold a few naked puts and all of them expired. Got to keep the premium.

Sold the following puts on SPXL.

Mar 17th, $59

Mar 24th, $55

Sold the following puts on AMZN.

Mar 10th, $88

Mar 24th, $90

Mar 31st, $90

Sold the following puts on OXY

Mar 24th, $52

Sold the following on TQQQ

Mar 31st, $24

All of them expired. I kept the premium!

by admin
Business Education, Options Trading, Personal Finance

My trades for Jan 2023. I forgot…almost!

I have been getting a bit sloppy! Actually, I got a bit busy with classes. Here are my trades for Jan 2023. I have decided to trade a bit rather than investing for a couple of months. None of these naked puts got exercised. Hence, I got to keep the premium.

I sold the following puts on SPXL.

Jan 13th, $58.50

Jan 20th, $60

Jan 27th, $63

Jan 27th, $68

All of them expired.

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, Personal Finance

Inflation Education and Education Inflation!

Looks like many things have gotten more expensive since Y2K. Hospital services topped the list with more than 200% inflation! I’m not surprised but I take little solace in knowing that better medicines and quality treatment options may have contributed to higher costs. Can you guess which sector was a close second in high inflation? Education! To be more precise, tuition and text book costs. I wanted to start cursing when I saw that the prices in education sector in 2023 were 175% of those in 2020. Did the quality of education improve? Did the quality of professors improve? No and No! Then, what explains this unreasonable price increase? College degrees have become status symbols. Universities have figured that the society is obsessed with fancy degrees. I hate to say this, but Peter Thiel may have a point! As long as we don’t examine the ROI of college education before we enroll, universities have no incentive to care! With costs getting higher and higher, no wonder it’s called higher education! click on the image below to read the full report from WEF.


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by admin
Business Education, Options Trading, Personal Finance

Back in Action!

In May this year, fearing that Putin may go crazy with weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, I decided to stay away from investing. I was right, but for wrong reasons. I would file it under ‘got lucky’ column. So on October 27th, when Facebook (called META nowadays!) fell by more than 25% and lost about 80 Billion$ in market cap, I thought I would sell some puts. I sold Oct 28th $95 puts. Thankfully, META stayed above $95 and I got to keep the premium. But by Nov 3rd, it fell to $88. I’m watching it carefully even as it reaches $113 on Nov 11th. I’ll make a decision about buying some this week. Facebook fell from $350 to $88! AMZN fell to $85 from $188 and GOOGL to $83 from $151.

by admin
Business Education, Personal Finance

My Trades for May 2022

The indices I watch SPY, QQQ, and FAS are at interesting levels – they are approaching pre-Covid levels but not there yet.  Does this mean these indices won’t go down further? No. They may. Also, interest rates are coming down a bit. So I have decided to carefully and sold the following puts.

Sold 20 TQQQ June 17, $21 Puts – $0.71

Sold 20 FAS June 17, $60 Puts – $0.72

Why $21 strike price for TQQQ? That was the price it was selling in Dec 2019! I’m willing to buy TQQQ at $21.

Why $60 strike price for FAS? That’s was the price it was selling in Oct 2017! I’m willing to buy FAS at $60!

I’m willing to buy TQQQ at $21 and  FAS at $60! Remember my discussion on time travel? But why June 17th? Travelling to mother India on 16th! Let’s see how these trades pan out. Good luck!

by admin
Business Education, Career Management

Short-term thinking leading to short-term loyalties?

“Employers view frequent job-hopping negatively,” said our invited speaker in my class today. She suggested that students avoid short-term thinking in career planning. As she was explaining, I realized that short-term thinking is ubiquitous. Could the ‘same day delivery’ service be making us ‘take one day at a time’ people? Later, I asked a friend who prefers to trade than invest long-term, his views on this topic, he made an interesting statement:

When CEOs manage by quarterly earnings, technologies/business models change rapidly, Netflix stock loses 30% and Twitter gains 25% in one day, and cryptocurrencies challenge the currencies issued by governments, you want me to think long-term! Are you breathing Oxygen or snuffing paint?

His response was valid. My friend thrives on volatility, especially as a trader, in daily and hourly volatility. However, does frequent job-hopping by employees send a signal to future employers? Employers are more likely to perceive job-hopping negatively, and understandably so.  I recommend that those changing jobs often learn to articulate the reason for switching jobs often. For instance,  moving from one job to another in pursuit of learning opportunities and not merely for a few extra bucks is understandable. But employees must be able to document what they learned and how it will help future employers.

About my friend’s question about breathing Oxygen or not, nowadays in many cities in California, it does feel like I’m sniffing paint when I’m outdoors. That’s on a good day!

by admin
Business Education, Career Management

Mr. Ashutosh Garg on improving the quality of business education

Mr. Ashutosh Garg addesses how the quality of business education may be improved by inviting practitioners to the classrooms. A global corporate executive, serial founder, and a CEO advisor, he discusses his experience as a visiting faculty to schools around the world in a recent interview. I invited him to address my audience at a Faculty Development Program.

by admin
Business Education, Fintech, Personal Finance

My Feb 2022 Trades

I stayed away from the market in Dec and Jan. Here are my trades for Feb. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in Ukraine. So going to stay in cash and away from investing till end of June.

Sold 5 puts – FAS strike price 110 for Feb 4th – $450 – Expired.

Sold 3 puts – FAS strike price 120 for Feb 11th – $390 – Expired.

Sold 5 calls – FAS strike price 130 for Feb 18th – $2000 – Expired.

Sold 5 puts – FAS strike price 85 for Feb 18th – $950 – Expired.

Sold 5 puts – TQQQ strike price 35 for Feb 18th – $700 – Expired.

Sold 20 puts – SPXL strike price 70 for Feb 18th – $1400 – Expired.

by admin
Business Education, Google APIs, R programming, Vision

The slides, R code, and the images I used in the IOT class

Please install R and R-Studio before you try Google Vision APIs.

Calling Googlevision APIs using R Language

Click here for the slides I used in the class

Click here for Key IOT Networks comparison

The Nginx demo video

Here is the code I used in R to demonstrate Google Vision APIs. Remember to install R, R studio, and other libraries first.

========================================
# library(rjson) # to get credentials for Google Cloud Console
library(“rjson”)

creds = fromJSON(file=’C:/Downloads/credentials.json’) # Retrieve Credentials file from cloud console
options(“googleAuthR.client_id” = creds$installed$client_id)
options(“googleAuthR.client_secret” = creds$installed$client_secret)
options(“googleAuthR.scopes.selected” = c(“https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-platform”))

googleAuthR::gar_auth_service(json_file=”C:/Downloads/credentials.json”)

imagePath <- “C:/Downloads/Taj.jpg”
gcv_get_image_annotations(
imagePaths = imagePath,
# feature = “FACE_DETECTION”,
feature = “LANDMARK_DETECTION”,
maxNumResults = 7
)

imagePath <- “C:/Downloads/CarsAndDog.jpg”

gcv_get_image_annotations(
imagePaths = imagePath,
# feature = “LABEL_DETECTION”,
maxNumResults = 10
)

================================

by admin
Business Education, Fintech, Personal Finance

My Trades for December 2021

Back to selling naked puts! But traded on FAS for fun. Here are my trades for Dec.

Transactions

Bought 200 FAS at $124.00 and sold at $126.60.

Sold 10, Jan 22, TQQQ 60 puts for $1.70 & Bought it back at $0.03. Any idea why?

Sold 10, Jan 22, RIVN 70 puts for $3.30 (too attractive to pass)

Sold 10, Jan 22, RIVN 55 puts for $1.45 (too attractive to pass)

Sold 10, Jan 22, PTON 35 puts for $1.40 (just experimenting)

by admin
Business Education, Options Trading

My trades for November 2021

First, I closed all my October trades on Nov 4th and booked my profits though the options were expiring in Jan. Why? I don’t trade on margin. I don’t want to go long either. So, back to selling naked puts! Here are my trades for Nov.

Transactions

Sold 10, Jan 22, SPXL 70 puts for $0.90

Sold 10, Jan 22, RIVN 70 puts for $3.30

Sold 10, Jan 22, RIVN 55 puts for $1.45

Sold 10, Jan 22, PTON 35 puts for $1.40

 

by admin
Business Education, Fintech, Options Trading

My trades for October 2021

Per popular request, I’ll be posting my monthly trades hereafter. Though the request was for weekly posts, I’ll start with monthly for now. I traded only naked puts last month and here they are. Guess how much capital I need if all the puts are exercised? Guess how much profit I would make if none is exercised?

Transactions

Sold 10, Jan 22, FAS 65 puts for $2.22

Sold 10, Jan 22, TQQQ 60 puts for $1.70

Sold 5, Jan 22 TQQQ 65 puts for $2.05

Sold 5, Jan 22 TQQQ 70 puts for $1.65

Sold 5, Jan 22 TQQQ 70 puts for $1.34

Any idea why Jan 22 TQQQ 70 puts were sold at different prices?

by admin
Business Education, Career Management, CEO

Remermber my warning about SPAC? What are SPAC’s responsibilities in IPO?

Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola, a EV manufacturer lied “nearly about all aspects of the business” acording to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan. Did the SPAC that took Nikola public drop the ball and cause this debacle? Would the traditional vetting process have eliminated this quagmire? Prosecutors say, “To make it appear the truck prototype was driving, it was towed to the top of a hill and then rolled down to the bottom.” Click the images below and read on….


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by admin