This is Issue #011 of the Talk Money Weekly. To get your mind moving on the topic of money every week, I’ll curate and share trending conversations around money, business, current events, and pop culture from Twitter, my favorite podcasts, and other platforms.
Have you checked out our latest episode? BLACK IN BUSINESS. You can expect this level of production and storytelling for Season 3. Coming this fall.
📈Markets & Business:
Roughly $2 Trillion Was Printed in 2020
I know I keep bringing this point up, but it's something to be very aware of. Over 20% of circulating dollars were printed in 2020, post-pandemic. That's A LOT. It's unclear if we'll have hyperinflation, which is something we've seen in places like Venezuela. That's very unlikely to happen in the US, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be thinking about hedging your bets. A small % of your portfolio should have some inflation hedge...just in case. If the electricity does go off, I'm not sure gold is going to matter, but that generator you bought that you never thought you'd need...will be pretty useful.
No One Believed in Peloton, but They Never Gave Up
Before Peloton became a $20B company used by many around the world, no one wanted to invest in them. John Foley is the ultimate entrepreneur story, filled with ups and downs. Imagine pitching 1000's of investors and hearing "no" over and over again. I get discouraged if one person doesn't answer my email! Building something like Peloton takes incredible conviction, grit, and persistence. I use the Peloton app weekly now and love it. If you want to be inspired, read this thread. It's a great story.
Investing Disbeliefs
I love this thread. There are so many myths to investing. There are these "rules" that have been ingrained in us and we don't question them. Lots of gems in this thread. What would I disagree with? Lots of diversification is a good thing and investment advisors are always right. Too much diversification can eat into your returns. Lots of financial advisors work within high constraints of their company or bank, which limits their knowledge/access. What do you disagree with?
The Economics of Vending Machines
My go-to vending machine snack in college was a Dr. Pepper and a Honeybun. I know, you're jealous of my selection. Now, it's water and Cheez-Its. I'm wiser now. One vending machine might only make a few hundred dollars a month. But just like anything, as you scale and income compounds, it can be a great passive business. The vending machine business brings in $7B a year. This is a fun and educational read.
🎥 Entertainment:
Tik Tok Creator Elevates Ocean Spray & Fleetwood Mac
Tik Tok creator Nathan Apodaca posted a video of him skating down the road, sipping on Ocean Spray cranberry juice, vibing to Fleetwood Mac's Dreams. It now has over 25M views and inspired multiple recreations including one from Mick Fleetwood himself! Dreams is now back on the charts, bringing in that streaming revenue for the band. Ocean Spray received a free ad campaign bringing in MILLIONS of views. And Nathan? Well Nathan, received a new truck from Ocean Spray and $10,000 from his fans. It's incredible how powerful virality is. "Play the way you feel it, but listen carefully."
Jon Bon Jovi Uses His Money for Good
I was expecting to hear all sorts of cool touring stories in this interview with Bon Jovi frontman, Jon Bon Jovi. Instead, I learned about his amazing philanthropic efforts. His foundation has funded 700 units of affordable housing and recently served 100,000 meals. No government money. You don't always need just the government to take care of those with less. It can be a team effort. Tune in at around 35min to hear more details. Did you know that he received a record deal at 21, and still remains with the same label?!
That's all for this week! I hope you enjoyed the ELEVENTH issue of Talk Money Weekly. If you haven't already subscribed to my podcast, Talk Money, do so here. Make sure you listen to our latest episode "Black in Business". Stay tuned for our trailer for Season 3 which is going to be pretty amazing. More on that soon.
Want to chat? Tweet me at @meshlakhani.
