In Case You Missed it: June Recap
All of the articles/episodes from June & everything else in between
The In-Between Podcast Episodes
Click the buttons below to listen to each episode you missed on Apple Podcasts today!
Ep. 5 You Can Always Make Your Resume Better
7 in-depth tips & tricks to transform your resume
Ep. 6 I Challenge Everyone to Start Budgeting Their Money. Here is How to Begin!
Budgeting is a key element to achieve financial growth
Ep. 7 Want to Stand Out in Your Interview? Ask Great Questions.
Asking great questions during an interview shows the company more than you realize
Ep. 8 LinkedIn 101: Everything You Should Be Doing to Grow Your Personal Brand
The first of many LinkedIn podcasts
The In-Between Newsletter Articles
Check out or reread any articles you missed below!
Cryptocurrency, History, Technology, and Bitcoin
These words are the biggest buzz words in the financial world right now, let’s learn what they are all about
Origin and History
Cryptocurrency, or “crypto” for short, came to exist in the great days after the recession of 2008, Bitcoin being the first ever blockchain-based cryptocurrency launched in 2009. Odd timing, right? I actually could not have picked a better time for Bitcoin to be launched; the financial markets being in a shamble. Nobody trusted the dollar, and nobody knew about Bitcoin...yet.
It took a rather long time for Bitcoin to gain the attention and momentum it has today. However, it grew similar to any other asset would, slowly and at a very consistent rate. By 2017, we saw many other cryptocurrencies were starting to be made, expanding on the concept of a decentralized block chain form of money.
By late 2017 the price of Bitcoin hit all-time highs of around $20,000 per one Bitcoin. This didn’t last long, the price quickly tanked as the volatility was too great and speculation was at an all-time high. Ever since that rise and fall, Bitcoin has slowly risen back up to 20k and even pushed as high as 60k this year. A gradual rise is better for any asset.
Let us take a deeper look into why that all happened, where we are today, and what the future could look like for the crypto market as a whole.
The Technology of Crypto
The engineering behind cryptocurrencies is honestly a work of genius. You would be hard pressed to find someone that does not see the potential of cryptocurrency. However, there are still critics. There were also critics for cars, credit cards, cell phones, microwaves, all the things we now need and love. Keep that in mind before jumping to any rash decisions about cryptocurrency.
Here is the simplest way I can explain what cryptocurrency actually is:
It is a digital currency that is based on a decentralized network using blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is a ledgering system that keeps track of any and all transactions made on the blockchain using crypto. This means there is no central authority such as a bank or government manipulating the changes of this currency.
Sounds good, right? Well, that definition alone has sparked controversy, volatility, and overall opinions about a different future for money.
A good thing to remember is a lot of the alternative coins out there, or “alt coins” for short, may have similar aspects of Bitcoin’s model, but none are as true as Bitcoin. The creator (or creators – we don’t even know) of Bitcoin haven’t even gone public, which adds to the decentralized narrative.
Now, new technology has benefits and negatives, so let’s talk about both. I think it is relevant for me to say that I do have money invested in Bitcoin, but that will not change the fact that there are definitely red flags, as there are in most things in this world. Identifying and acknowledging what those are will help you as an investor and member of society to make your own opinions on crypto and Bitcoin.
Positives and Advantages
The Market Never Closes
Have you always wondered why the stock market is only open for a few hours every weekday? That is because it is regulated by the government. Bitcoin, and now the rest of the crypto space, you do not have to worry about that as the markets are always open. Giving you, the investor or consumer of bitcoin, constant access to your money. This is a big deal but can be overlooked since we have lived with limited access to our investments for so long up to this point.
You Can Print More Dollars, But You Can’t Print More Bitcoin
Right now, the government is printing millions of dollars and flooding the market with this influx of cash. What does that mean? To put it bluntly, the $20 in your in pocket is losing value each and every day. We are all aware of inflation, but do not always realize it is affecting us and our money. Bitcoin, however, solves that problem. There can only be 21 million Bitcoin to ever exist based on the code behind the currency. This creates a limited supply and scarcity value, all of which is important for a currency to have so that its value cannot be controlled by an external force (*cough* the government *cough*).
Bitcoin is Becoming Easier to Use
Why did it shoot up to 20k in 2017? That was all speculation. Why is it shooting up now? Well, that is because it is becoming more widely adopted.
It is going mainstream and big money is buying it up now. Companies listed on the S & P 500 are making purchases of Bitcoin as a store of value. Other companies are adopting the ability to pay for products with Bitcoin. This is the key difference between what Bitcoin was in 2017 and what it is today.
The use of Bitcoin in everyday life is exactly what this currency needs to keep gaining traction. The word Bitcoin isn’t so foreign to everyone nowadays.
No More Third Party
Everything we do goes through a centralized third party. Bitcoin is set up in a way that is focused on peer-to-peer exchanges, giving you security over your own money. This also gives you discretion when it comes to your data and money. Discretion is hard to come by nowadays since the big tech companies sell data for a profit. Bitcoin helps give you some of that power back.
These are just a few of the main reasons why Bitcoin has unlimited potential. This list is not as extensive as it could be because if it were, we would be here all day. This article is a starting point for everyone to use and to then continue their research on their own for more information.
With that being said, we should discuss the negatives of Bitcoin. Just as a friendly reminder, the current system of currency we use has a ton of negatives as well. I will leave that conversation for another day, or another newsletter.
Negatives/Disadvantages
Volatility
This first disadvantage is pretty obvious. The volatility of Bitcoin and all the cryptos is tough to watch and be apart of. That is only the case if you are not backed by data. People use Bitcoin as a “get rich quick” tool when it should not be that way. It is commonly forgotten, though, that all new ventures tend to be treated that way. Scams plague all industries, so it is not surprising that it has latched on to a very new currency like Bitcoin and its overall growth and impact.
As time goes on, however, Bitcoin’s volatility will decrease, so keep that in mind if you are currently invested.
Still Becoming Mainstream
Currencies do not appear out of thin air and get adopted overnight. They take time and willing participants. That is what we are seeing with Bitcoin. The biggest argument against it is people don’t know how to use it in their everyday life. That is a valid concern, but you can see how businesses have started adopting it as a store of value already. That is how every currency has to start. Store of value leads to adoption in everyday things. You can go out and find people that will accept your bitcoin as a transaction on any kind of purchase. For crying out loud, Elon Musk has said he will allow people to buy Teslas with Bitcoin.
There was not one day where all of the sudden, every single corporate office in the world just had Mac monitors for every single employee. The mainstream use of computers started with a handful of visionary people who helped grow the momentum to a full-scale adoption. This process can take years, even decades. So, everyone, slow your roll on the whole, “you can’t even use it!” argument.
Alternative Coins (AKA. Alt coins)
Similar to how Apple will always have competition for the best computer to exist, so does Bitcoin. Competition, I would argue, is a good thing. This is what a free market is all about and gives the best likelihood of finding out the best process for any given industry.
The alt coins that have been popping up by the dozens every month, however, do not have the same features of a Bitcoin. They are actually drifting back to the centralized narrative. This is why, in my incredibly educated opinion, I think if any crypto will work, it will be Bitcoin because it is not controlled by any specific company.
However, we have seen what Doge Coin can do to disrupt the market, so alt coins have definitely cemented themselves as a negative to the overall picture for the crypto space.
Potential Regulations
Bitcoin cannot be shut down by the government. Those are not the regulation concerns I am talking about. I am talking about how governments could stunt the implementation process of Bitcoin, causing the adoption process to take longer or even banning the use of cryptos. We do not see this in the US so far, but countries like China and Russia are drifting in that direction. This will always affect Bitcoin, but also can show how powerful this new currency can really be. If the government is afraid of it, that is saying something - loudly.
This is Only the Beginning
Cryptocurrency is still so new. The fundamentals of this technology are very interesting and fun to learn about. I am not saying this is the end-all be-all of currency. I am saying we should always be exploring every option. In my opinion, Bitcoin is one of the most interesting options. It challenges what we have become so accustomed to, and that is always healthy for an economy.
This article was not meant to be a technical analysis of Bitcoin, but instead just an overview, to get the conversation going, and to motivate everyone to learn more. If you have opinions about Bitcoin, please share it in the comments!
I hope everyone enjoyed this article, especially if you are new to the cryptocurrency marketplace!
Extra Resources
Below are links to numerous resources you can use to learn more about Bitcoin! There is a ton out there so don’t be shy to explore, learn, and form your thoughts and opinions about the future of our world’s currency.
Explanation of the importance of Blockchain technology video
The Original Bitcoin Whitepaper
Explained: Cryptocurrency Netflix Episode
Best Traits to Develop for Any Job
There are a handful of traits every company wants, do you have them or need to develop them?
The In-Between Instagram Page
First things first, go check out the brand new In-Between Newsletter Instagram page to help support the newsletter further:
Click here: The In-Between Newsletter Instagram Page
Follow, Like, Comment, and Share the page with your friends! Let’s get to 250 followers!
Where to Begin
To start off this article, I want everyone to take out a piece of paper and write down ten adjectives that best describe your personality.
Ready? Go! Seriously, don’t keep reading until you have ten traits written down.
Now that you have that list, rank them in order of what you think is the most important to have in today’s job market.
Keep that list with you as we go through this article. Now, I have to say, I am sure there are some great personality traits out there that might not make my list. That is not to say that “a perfectionist” and “works too hard” aren’t great fluff traits, but the list below is what employers are truly looking for in a prospective employee. This article is here to expand your thoughts on the traits that might not have made this first list you made, and how you can develop them for your career.
This list ebbs and flows with the everchanging working environments of the modern world. Your grandparents probably had different character traits from what is expected in today’s world. So, just keep that in mind when talking to any “boomers” 😉.
Top 10 Traits
1. Adaptability
This is number one because I believe it is the most important in today’s world. Adaptable people succeed in today’s climate. That goes without saying. You would be hard pressed to find a successful person who was not also adaptable. Just think about this past year; people have been faced with the most unprecedented situations in recent history, adaptability is a must-have.
Being adaptable, however, can be tricky as we all have our own ways of reacting to obstacles. We as humans have also slumped into too much comfort when it comes to challenges that face us, making adaptability very hard.
To truly develop adaptability, I think the best thing you can focus on is putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and resisting the urge to fall back into comfort. Push through in your job, life, or hobbies to train those adaptability muscles. Don’t let things that become hurdles stop you –solve the puzzle of getting around it.
When you are in an interview nowadays, I can almost guarantee you that they will ask you a question about how you have been adaptable, resilient, or a problem solver in your life and in previous jobs. You should want to have a good answer to this question. Nay, you need to have a good answer.
2. Levelheaded/Controlled
There is a lot of white noise that can distract us from our goals, our jobs, or even the tv show we are watching. I think this is a very important trait to put on the list because there are so many clear examples of people that are in control of themselves and their emotions, finding success.
Think of any great athlete. The true champions are the ones who can be in the middle of a stadium with hundreds of thousands of fans screaming and cheering, but they are focused. They are able to block out all of the noise and distractions and emotions that are not necessary for them to reach their goal.
That is what companies are looking for in their employees. If things change daily at the company you want to work for, they are looking for your ability to come in and remain Zen during those changes.
The way to develop this trait is by continuing to do the things you normally do but focus on your reactions to things. Take every challenge and sit for a second before deciding what to do. This will help you work it out in your head like a math problem. This is a very situational trait but one that is key to any company you are looking to join.
3. Ambitious
Having ambition will get you places, and companies love that. People that wake up every day ambitious and ready to take on the day, succeed. How can you develop ambition? Well, it all starts with figuring out what you are ambitious about. In other words, try to find your passion. Build yourself a diagram that helps you determine what gets you out of bed every day, what things you look up to, and what you like to spend your free time doing. Once you have those ideas, head in the direction your ambition takes you.
Employers love seeing people come into interviews with a lot of ambition. It is infectious and you can see it on someone’s face and in their voice. So, be that person! Ambition is not something you can just have; you have to want to achieve that goal more than anything.
You will see in a lot of interviews that questions about ambition will come up and recruiters can tell who have true ambitions and who are just giving the boiler plate answer. Know whole-heartedly what you are ambitious about, so you aren’t caught giving the same response they just heard from another candidate.
And no, this does not necessarily have to do with the company you are interviewing with. A great example of genuine ambition is this newsletter. This is a total passion project of mine, but when I shared about it during interviews, recruiters loved it! They could sense this was something authentic and real, not just a basic answer about how ambitious I am. I had something tangible to show for my ambition. And before you say, “Wow, way to toot your own horn,” you should know that yes, my girlfriend and editor wrote that whole paragraph. Thanks honey.
4. Desire to Learn
Most of my subscribers are early in their careers, making this an essential trait for you to have. Yes, you! Even if you have had a few jobs and are looking for a change, this can still relate to you.
Companies are not just looking to fill a role where someone is going to be doing the same ten tasks over and over. Instead, they are looking to hire for that role to eventually have you learn enough to be promoted and continue to help bring new ideas to the table.
When talking to multiple recruiters I found that the job descriptions are just starting points, not the whole picture. That is why when you are searching for jobs right now you probably will notice how generic the descriptions really are. That is because companies want people that want to learn more and go beyond their regular daily job.
You might be reading this thinking you thought you were done with school and learning. If that is your mindset, change it. Change it fast. We as humans should never want to stop learning. Sure, you might not be taking random electives like Geology 101 or History of Jazz 103 – topics that I will be so bold as to assume we do not care a lot about – but learning more about human relations, communication, professional development, etc. These are areas that we are never truly done learning and exploring. We should want to be evolving with the world and growing with the new generations.
How to develop this trait right now, you ask? My biggest piece of advice is to pick up a book or research a topic you have always wanted to learn about and start learning today. Fuel those desires that all of us have that we might not always remember are there.
5. Emotional Intelligence
Alert! We have here the most overlooked and underappreciated trait!
But seriously, this is a big one.
This trait is focused heavily on how emotionally intelligent you are with others. What is emotional intelligence, you might ask. This is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle personal relationships empathetically. Read that again if you have to. Basically, it is the ability to understand not only your emotions but the emotions of others. I cannot italicize this enough; this is so important.
Why is this important? The person who is able to read the room and accurately interpret how everyone else is feeling can help produce the best outcomes for projects, meetings, tasks, and interactions.
Just think about it. We all know that person who is really good at reading the room and able to then switch up their presentation or project to fit the needs of the emotions in the room at that moment. People like this find wider success because they don’t push a singular way of work at everyone. This is a crucial trait to develop if you are looking to work with other people. Which is a trick question, because absolutely any job you could possibly have will be working with other people.
Practice this with your friends, families, and significant others. I find that being the listener can help you diagnose how people are feeling way faster than being the lead talker. Do not overlook this trait like many people often do.
6. Reliable
Think about the people you would call in an emergency, or the people at work you would go to if you needed something important done correctly. Those are the people that you would classify as reliable, and that is the person you should strive to be in other people’s lives.
Like I have said about other traits, there will be an interview question based on the theme of reliability. Be prepared to answer a genuine statement about your strong reliability and specific instances in previous work relationships where you have proven to be reliable.
Some ways I would suggest practicing reliability is by taking on more tasks than you would normally take on to help build those muscles. This will help create a sense of urgency on getting things done, which in turn will help develop your reliability muscles as you will want to push through and deliver. Another great way to develop reliability is to practice your organizational skills. Fine tune your process of how you keep track of everything. Pen and paper? App on your phone? Inside of a gum wrapper? Whatever it is, make sure you have a clear process that is easy for you to stay organized because this will lead to the continuous accomplishment of tasks, and in turn, your reliability.
7. Innovative / Out of the box thinking
Call me crazy, but I would imagine you would be hard pressed to find a company not looking for people to bring fresh ideas to the table. No matter the role, bringing creative ideas and strategies to the table will benefit your success and the company’s success.
Isn’t the whole point of a company hiring new people to improve the company and better the operations as a whole? The answer is yes. Think about a scenario where you are listening to a presentation or conversation and your head is exploding with great ideas on the matter, but you are too hesitant to step in and share your thoughts. I am sure that scenario has been a reality for you at least one time before, because it certainly has for me. Next time, push yourself to be bold and share your thoughts. As the great Michael Scott once said, “’You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ -Wayne Gretzky.” You are there for a reason, share your ideas!
Be the person that stands up and presents your ideas at every chance you get. Remember in school when the teacher would say, “No question is a bad question”? Same rules apply in the adult world.
The only way to slowly develop this trait is to consciously be bold and be proud of yourself. Even if your out-of-the-box ideas get rejected at first, it is okay. Nobody comes up with a perfect idea the first time around.
8. Kindness
Business is changing, no matter what field you are in. Kindness is winning. You might be thinking, “duh,” but I am being serious about the economic shift of the office dynamic in this day in age. The stern, hardnosed businessman is no more. Companies are looking for great people, and great people are kind.
If you have a hard exterior shell, consider loosening up and smiling more. You will make more connections, more friends, and have more opportunities in today’s world from showing those pearly whites. I still believe there should be a level of professionalism and seriousness when it comes to specific aspects of business; but, generally speaking, genuinely kind people are making it further.
In interviews or networking events, if you can show your true self, you will be way more likely to move forward with a company. It is highly desired to have employees who are unapologetically themselves, very confident in their whole self (not just themselves as a worker bee in an office) and who are kind and welcoming to all people. Basically, nobody wants to work with an a**hole.
Unfortunately, there might not be a lot of concrete ways that I can suggest for people to work on being kind. It really comes down to you and your everyday decisions and choices that should reflect and radiate kindness.
9. Listener
If you have not picked up on the reoccurring theme yet, companies love people who speak up and share. With great speaking, however, comes great listening.
There are two parts to listening. Part one is being able to have an engaging conversation in which you are predominantly listening and not towering over or interrupting. The second part is all about taking information from a conversation and actually retaining it. Only when you have both parts can you really become a great listener.
In business, and really in life, no one appreciates a conversation where you cannot get a word in edgewise. A conversation is like a seesaw. On a seesaw, you cannot both be at the top at the same time, it is just not how it works. Same goes for a conversation, if one of you is talking, the other person cannot be talking. You must wait your turn and eventually you will get to be at the top again. If you feel like you are a person who simply has to be talking, make a conscious effort and practice being the person that talks less in a conversation. When you speak, make sure you have addressed the other person’s talking points before you dive right into your life. You will be surprised how much this will benefit your career. I promise.
The second part is actually retaining what you just listened to and acting on it – when necessary. We all know those people who look like a zombie when they are listening to you. As soon as the conversation is over you might have asked them to do something, and they never ended up doing it. They forget this super important aspect of listening. To show you are a great listener is being able to complete the follow up task at hand.
Both of these parts take practice and there is no secret formula. It is all about being fully engaged in the moment when talking to people, especially at your job.
10. Team Player
Yeah, I put this one in here. I know, predictable. I am putting this in here because, similarly to kindness, I have seen a big shift in the way companies operate over the past decade. So, hear me out.
Individualists, I am talking to you with this statement. Time to come out your shell, because business is done in teams almost 100% of the time now. When you are job searching, you might think you are looking at singular jobs, but you are most likely looking at a position that will be added to a team that is already formed in the organization.
What I am saying is if you were the kid in high school who opted to do the project alone rather than with a partner or group…get ready to join that group for your next project!
To develop this trait, try things out in your personal life that have a team/group structure. This will help you get used to working in teams and what will be required of you in your career.
A team player is also someone who works hard for an overall goal, not individual accolades. This is so important in business. You will find way more success when you prop others up instead of having tunnel vision on just yourself.
All in All
This journey is going to be fun, hard, and take a lot of work. But if you use all of these different approaches, you will surely find more success. These also are not the only approaches out there, so read around, talk to your friends, and start connecting!
I have written previous articles on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, and interviews. I will leave links below for you to check them out so you can read more on the subject of career. There are a lot of moving parts, so you want to make sure you have your bases covered. Happy job searching!
Resume: You Can Always Make Your Resume Better
Cover Letter: Cover Letters are the Secret Weapon You Need to Master
LinkedIn: LinkedIn 101: Everything You Should Be Doing on LinkedIn to Grow Your Personal Brand
Interviews: Everything You Need to Know to Crush Your Next Interview
Start Developing
I hope this list was beneficial to everyone who reads it. I wanted to give everyone a list that was in depth and not your usual buzz words you see out there. Mixing this list with a fresh perspective of your own will take you far in your career. Check out the graphic below for a summary of everything talked about today!
So, do not waist another second, start developing these traits right away for maximum success.
Cheers!
What Returns Can I Expect When I Begin Investing?
You will find many ideas out there, but history gives us the correct answer
Someone Always Offers More
We have all seen an advertisement claiming you can make 1% returns every single day of investing. Or maybe your friend has told you that they have seen an annual return of 25% - 50% in their investment portfolios.
Unfortunately, those two scenarios are both impossible and/or are not over a long enough time frame to have much merit. Yes, there are people that get very lucky in the markets and can see returns like that, but over more time they will see far less returns or even annual losses as it is not sustainable to keep such growth.
Just think about it, that person making 1% every day would be a billionaire in a very short amount of time. You don’t know many billionaires, though, do you?
I am writing this introduction to not only warn you about potential scams out there, but to also ease any stress you have if your investment portfolios are not pulling the same rate as your “friends’” portfolios are. Investing is not a quick and easy process. Be prepared to let that money sit in the market for years before seeing the growth you want. You must have patience, young grasshopper.
Let us dive into what is reasonable to expect – and why – when it comes to average yearly returns!
Average Stock Market Return
The true answer to our original question of, ‘what returns can I expect to see?’ is about 8% - 12% annually. Let me give you an example so everyone can see that number in dollar terms:
$1,000 Investment à 8% = $1,080 after a year
$1,000 Investment à 12% = $1,120 after a year
The graph below shows the breakdown of all the different yearly returns for the Dow Jones throughout its entire history. This is how 8% - 12% came to be the industry standard in terms of investment returns.
What to Do with This Information
As you might see on this chart, there are many years having single and sometimes double digits losses. Before you tell me, this makes you skeptical and wary of the market and its never-ending ups and downs and unknowns, I hear you. This is the biggest hesitation people have when it comes to investing, especially since we have had some years of large falls.
Never fear, I am here to remind everyone that investing is and should be a long-term game, not short-term. I am talking decades long if you are using investing as a way to combat inflation in your savings account. Which, by the way, is not a bad idea.
I also have some statistics for you to help calm your nerves about playing the long game. If you hold your money in the market for multiple decades, your likelihood of having a positive return on your money is in the 90% and up range. This means when you start investing, always think long-term and do not let low months or even years deter you from investing in your future!
What to Avoid
This section is plain and simple. Like I said at the beginning, you will have friends who will brag about huge returns or having a system that is better than just a passive investing approach. Be wary of those people since they probably have not been investing for enough time and/or are using some “scammy” program.
Not even this article is financial advice, you should never take financial advice from any one of your random friends. I am trying to help explain the market and the way it works, but not tell you what to do with it or your money.
There are so many great resources out there that will help teach you how to invest properly for your goals. Go check them out for some real advice and I hope you have a great investing journey!
Short and Sweet
This article is short and sweet as I wanted it to just give you the facts on the percentages you should realistically expect when investing. I could have probably just written this out in a Tweet, but I wanted to give a little more context, and that super cool graph. I will link below all of my other financial articles for you to check out to learn more. Remember, stay calm and try to resist the FOMO when you see others making huge returns so quickly. You have no idea the way that came to be, and now you have information and context to view those scenarios with a more critical eye. Like I said before, patience, young grasshopper.
Cheers!
Other Financial Articles
How to Start Investing - From the Very Beginning: Here
How to Apply Diversification to Your Investing Portfolio: Here
Time to Breakdown Different Stock Types: Here
Cryptocurrency, History, Technology and Bitcoin: Here
Credit: What You Need to Know: Here