Buzz Builder

The Secret to Successful Wall Street Investing - Run from the Herd & Laugh A Lot

What a year it has been for the economy! Barring an extraordinary recovery today, it looks like major US stock indexes will close nearly 40% lower than they were on 1/1/08 - the biggest yearly decline since the 1930s.

If you're like me, you might be wondering what to do with your dwindling 401(k) or other funds tied up in the stock market. While it's tempting to pull out of the stock market entirely based on all the bad news you're hearing from the media and your friends, Bill Bernstein, neurologist and famous economic theorist, would likely suggest that you don't fall victim to the herd mentality of stock naysers. In fact, in this brilliant interview on NPR's Planet Money podcast series, he eloquently articulates why the best time to invest is oftentimes when things look the most grim and word of mouth suggests that you should pull your money out of the stock market.

May 2009 bring your success in your all your business and personal endeavors! And, regardless of how down you may feel, remember to laugh a lot in the coming year since it will likely help you live longer and happier.

Back from Vacation & Buzz Lessons from Restaurants in Argentina

Well, excuse the long hiatus since my last blog post. My wife and I returned recently from a fantastic 3-1/2 week trip to Argentina and Antarctica. To recharge, I decided to take a break from posting but I'm now I'm back and ready to buzz...

During our vacation, we ate at more than 40 different restaurants and only two meals stand out.In fact, they were such great experiences that I've recommended both restaurants to other travelers.

Bar Uriarte, a restaurant in the Palermo District of Buenos Aires, surprised us. It's a very trendy looking place that's popular with Argentina's fashionable set. We thought it would be much more flash than substance but we were pleasantly surprised. Seated in a comfortable back patio area with very romantic candlelight, we were finally able to relax from all the city's sensory overload. Our server was incredibly friendly and chatted with us about the unseasonably hot weather as well as her favorite items on the menu. With her guidance, we ordered wine and entrees which impressed us with originality and quality. Clearly, the people in the open kitchen, who passersbys on thes street can watch, love what they do since the food is amazing.

We had two other memorable meals in Argentina at El Cucharon in El Calafate which is a city near the Andes in the Patagonia region. El Cucharon, located on 9 de julio Street, has only been open for a couple of months so it still doesn't have a website. But, don't let that stop you from visiting. We discovered the restaurant when we were returning to our hotel and paused to look at the menu. The owner came out from behind the bar he was stocking and invited us in to take a look around. He told us about his longtime dream to have his own restaurant and how he loved the the business. How could we not go back after getting this personal invitation? He greeted us like old friends when we came back that evening. The pasta and steaks were so delicious that we returned for a second meal making it the only restaurant we ate at more than once on our trip.

Two restaurants in Argentina reminded me about some basics of buzz marketing. Providing exceptional personal service and delivering a quality product are two of the best ways to ensure longterm buzz and success.