Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

We often overlook the financial concept of “opportunity costs” because there is no immediate cash expenditure involved. Typically, we invest more time and effort in purchasing cheaper products. In contrast, wealthy individuals do not have to exert as much effort as those with fewer financial resources. When we factor in opportunity costs, we often find ourselves spending a similar amount of money on the same items, regardless of wealth status. For instance, if Bill Gates picks up a dollar that someone has dropped, he actually detracts from his financial standing due to the opportunity costs associated with the value of his labor. In this regard, he might save more money by choosing to rest instead of working. Ultimately, opportunity costs are the hidden expenses that can keep us in financial distress in the real world. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Ignorance of rest at proper times is not a healthy passion. Compulsory awareness of rest reflects genuine humility and wisdom, especially when we cannot take time off, even during our free time. Taking a rest without self-control or believing that a break will worsen the problem is also a serious issue, akin to a severe disease. Appropriate rest serves as a diagnostic criterion for determining whether our daily routines are healthy. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Receiving an investment signifies that you are receiving a prepayment for future costs and expenses. To generate revenue, you must cover these costs upfront. If you lack the funds necessary to manage current expenses while aiming to raise revenue, you might need to borrow money or attract investments. However, as a recipient of these funds, you cannot use them freely; this money does not belong to you. Legally, your options for utilizing this money are limited: you can either receive it as a salary from your expense account, as a dividend from profits after deductions as a shareholder, or pursue official management incentives. This underscores that the invested funds are not your own. When funds are invested, it implies that profits will be derived from someone else’s money, which you will share with the investor. Although investment alleviates the immediate pressure of expenses, it simultaneously heightens your obligation to generate profits promptly. Being fully funded does not equat...

The concept of “going concern” in accounting emphasizes that a business must persist into the future to retain its value. This principle signifies that present value already incorporates expectations of future value; thus, a business facing uncertainty about its future will inevitably diminish in present value. It highlights the interconnectedness of present and future values, suggesting that they cannot be regarded in isolation. All stocks traded on the stock market are priced based on their anticipated future value. In essence, we trade on a future that has yet to materialize. Consequently, determining how far into the future to evaluate is a critical factor in making investment decisions. Since individuals have varying skills and perspectives on forecasting the future, selecting an investment strategy must align with one’s attitude toward time. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Paradoxically, one of the reasons for Rome’s demise was that it kept winning wars. Victories expanded the empire’s territory, and the risks increased proportionally. Men, primarily middle-class men, volunteered as soldiers; the larger the territory, the longer the wars lasted, and the longer it took for them to return home. The women who remained at home were forced to borrow labor and became indebted to the nobility. Eventually, the women were sold into slavery, and by the time the men returned, their families had disintegrated. People don’t betray because they’re evil, but because it increases their risk. If the territory you’re in grows, you might reconsider your loyalties to the organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”