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Showing posts with the label alternative costs

Just my thoughts #0829

Adequacy : Moderate and appropriate nature. In the early days of the Roman Empire , Emperor Tiberius hosted a grand feast and invited an inventor. The inventor presented a glass as a gift, and the emperor inquired about its features. When the inventor claimed that the glass was unbreakable , the emperor dropped it on the floor. Only one side was dented, and the emperor touched that spot, restoring it to its original condition. Astonished, the emperor asked the inventor, “Have you ever taught anyone how to make this glass?” The inventor replied, “I did not tell anyone.” Then the emperor ordered his execution because if the recipe for the glass were known, the value of the emperor’s gold and silver treasures would plummet. No matter how excellent something is, it can be the worst depending on the situation and context. That’s why adequacy is essential. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0070

In business, capital means business funds. A successful entrepreneur often says, "I started my business without any capital". It's partly true, but it's a lie. The entrepreneur just said that capital means only cash. However, all kinds of businesses need to be fundamentally business funds in any even not cash. The entrepreneur didn't count the founder's labor cost. No inputs, no outcomes. The uncounted labor costs are called "alternative costs" or "opportunity costs". This comes from comparative advantage. If the entrepreneur doesn't accept the uncounted labor cost as a debt, the entrepreneur is equivalent to losing the profit due to opportunity costs. Please always remember this. There is no free lunch in this world. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”