September 6, 2010
Over the last decade of investing I’ve literally visited hundreds of companies. You never really know what you’re going to see, but there is a standard pattern to these visits. Usually it starts with some pleasantries followed by a pile of marketing materials being tossed at you. You go through the pitch book followed by a few questions. The CEO often has his CFO Read More
Categories: Travels
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September 1, 2010
When I was younger, if I wanted to go someplace, my mother would complain that it was in Outer Mongolia. In reality, it was a 30 minute drive, but the point still survived—it was far away. Well mom, if you’re reading this, I am ACTUALLY in Outer Mongolia. You were right—it’s a long way from Long Island—25 hours by plane to Beijing and another Read More
Categories: Travels
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August 22, 2010
I’m writing from the Trans-Siberian Railroad somewhere in southern Mongolia. I left Beijing a day ago and still have more than half a day on the train before arriving in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. I could have saved 30-something hours by flying, but I’m here to learn more about Asia. You cannot see anything from the air. I’ve actually seen a lot in the past Read More
Categories: Travels
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August 19, 2010
I’m staring out my hotel window at yet another beautiful sunny day in Beijing—or at least I think it’s sunny. Actually, I cannot see the sun through the all the pollution. I can barely even see the street below from the 27th floor of my hotel room. Visibility is only a few hundred feet, and most people swear that this is a good air quality Read More
Categories: Travels
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August 13, 2010
I am always amazed at how value investors tend to fixate on backwards looking metrics and conclude that a business is undervalued. Investing in a business is all about the future. When I invest, I always want the wind at my back. I know that I sometimes make mistakes and I want to be sure that the macro backdrop will bail me out of Read More
Categories: General
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