How risky is too risky?

"NO RISK NO GAIN"

This was one of the first sentences that faced me when I started my finance course at the Kogod School of Business in the American University, Washington DC.

I do not try to be optimistic or pessimistic, instead, I go after learning how to become a realist. Take both extremes (best and worst) of any situation and strive for the best case. Keep in mind, you have to know where your current position is on that scale.

To demonstrate my point, here is a live example of an extreme optimism : Remember the mortgage crises?

How do you think it all started?

I can answer that question: it all stated with the optimistic person. This person was so optimistic that he/she gave a lot of money to a lot of people with "bad credit" as loans. Bad credit means : this person has a history of not paying a loan on time or not paying at all. In this case, the loaner (optimistic person), took a big risk by lending to people with "bad credit".

Another example is one that exists every day. A gambler. Specifically, addicts. Those people have an addiction to risk. They will not stop until they lose their shirt!

The following part is a famous dialogue between a failing student and a teacher:

Teacher: Why are you failing school?

Student: I tried but did not succeed!

Teacher: Try again.

Student: I'm afraid to fail again.

Teacher: Try harder!

Finally, the student succeeded and achieved goals !

I'm not suggesting that you take risks and gamble is Las Vegas. From my experience, taking risks wisely taught me a lot of lessons that I would have not learned otherwise.

Marketers acknowledge risk takers. In fact, consumers are divided into 5 groups based on their appetite for risk. The group with the most appetite for risk are labeled as innovators. In general, I fall in that group but it all depends on the product or service that I'm interested in.
How thirsty are you for risk?

My characteristics would be: I like taking risks. I do not wait for the reviews about a product and I would like to be among the first to own that particular product.

Again, depending on the product, I could be an innovator or not. For example, I have confidence in Apple products and I trust the brand. Therefore, I would be an innovator.

Please play the following video and let me know your opinion. I look forward to reading your comment.




Thank you for taking the risk to view my post

Yooousif

first picture: http://www.penelopeironstone.com

second picture: http://wilderdom.com

Video is from YouTube

UGC , Certified by Anyone?

2004 marked my first visit to United Stated to pursue my college degree. During my first month, I was introduced to Wikipedia.

I was not aware of the fact that anyone can post/adjust information on Wikipedia, so I took all the information on this website for granted. Later on I was notified by my Professor in Georgetown University not to use Wikipedia as a source to cite from.

The reason was because Wikipedia (in my Professor's opinion), is NOT an entirely credible source. In fact, I took a course that was dedicated to "sources". From this course, I learned different techniques to define a credible source.

As for Wikipedia, I learned that there is a committee that is responsible of the credibility of the information posted website. Still, it is NOT OK. I know, it is checked but : by whom?

My intention is to seek credible information from the internet. Please please and please feel free to comment on my blog, I will appreciate your feedback .

Thank you

Wikipedia on YouTube

Image was downloaded from www.smh.com.au

US vs Machines

I'm sure that you have watched at least 1 of 3 Terminator movies starred by California's governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger.Part 4 is still in the making by Warner Bros.



What about Will Smith's movie I, Robot ?




If you haven't watched any of those movies: get a life looooserrrr!


I'm kidding...

Basically, the plot of theses movies is : one day the "rise of the machines" will take over the world and beat the humans...


Anyways, back to the point: Machines taking over the world?
My answer is : WHATTTTTT?

and

Hahhhhhha , no way .

I'm surprised that some people believe that this could be possible. By people I mean
GENIUSES
according to an article published on March 25, 2007 by NY times, a direct quote : "We probably have at least another 25 years before computers are more powerful than human brains, according to the most optimistic artificial intelligence experts".

Let me comment on this quote

• That expectation is NOT optimistic
• 25 years? I think more like another 5 generations at least for machines to become a step closer to the human mind

Going back to Machines vs Humanity, I think that the idea of it is overrated!!!

Really, just think about it for a second. NO, really just think about it!

Us humans MADE MADE MADE the machines. As humans, we cannot produce a product that is superficial than us. Why? because that's God's job, not ours.

besides, machines do not and can not and certainly will not have a sense of humorrrrrrrr
Can a machine make up a joke? NOPE

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your interactions.





The movie poster is from yahoomovies.com
The second image is from bmontana.net

Matrix for every1?!

I remember when Neo had the choice between the Red/Blue pill... I also remember my first class in Itec-335 when I was asked if I would go to outer space...

The first thing that went through my mind was: WOW that would be so coool BUT wait!!
Will I be able to come back if I were in those shoes?

Virtual worlds are like limitless extensions of our imaginations and other people's imaginations as well. Imagine? what is real? define real? can you?

Imagine you can be anything you want and look and sound like what ever you like, how would you feel?

I know how I would: in one word : I would feel : FAKE !

This is my take on the idea even though I have NOT tried a virtual world like Second Life. I'm not being modest but I like to be my self because I'm happy with what I got and because I need to make the best of it.

Going back to Second Life from a business prospective, absolutely promising. In my opinion, this is innovation. Brands and branding and more brand recognition.... I think that this is the main point !! more business ---> more $$$$$$$

Another benifit....what do you think?

My Business Graduation Message

"Location, Location AND Location" these are the very first 3 rules that any real estate student learns in business schools.

Well, my punch line sounds more like: "Network, Network, netWORK, ...... and NETWORK". This basically is what I need to master as a skill that will never reach its full potential.

To back it up --> According to Cross and Prusak from the Harvard Business Review, research showed that people with stronger personal networks are more successful and satisfied than those with weaker networks.

Each and every person has a network of friends and people that they know. Every one is connected in one way or another. For example, you have a friend who you like to hangout with. You may also have another friend who you contact only when you need some personal advice. Maybe you have one friend who who you like to hangout with and listen to their advice at the same time. And so on ...

You see my point? Now imagine that you have many more friends or people you know whom you communicate with ---> you get a NETWORK

Now imagine that the more relationships you have and the stronger they are, the larger and stronger your network will be.