November 30, 2025, Issue 14

Thankful and Grateful

We sat down for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday evening surrounded by family. As I age, I find it difficult to express how much it means to look around the table and see 4 adult children, all on their paths to greatness. (A fifth was with us two weeks earlier, and is on her path as well). All five kids, aged 22-27 are way ahead of myself at a comparable age. They are smart, articulate, and successful. And they think about their futures and the moves required to get themselves to those futures. I thought about the method I used to get where I wanted to go. I’m so glad that these kids never heard of the fly-by-the seat-of-your-pants method. While Mrs. Dadsadvice and I are not ones to pat ourselves on the back too often, she and I have clearly done a few things right along the way. So when people ask me what I am thankful for the list is long, but starts with the 5 kids and the people they have become. I am grateful for my parents, and all they have done for me. They’re healthy and lively at 88 and 84 and it would be hard to ask for more. I know that they love me, and I am thankful for their love as well. I am grateful for my parents in-law. They made me feel like a family member immediately upon my first introduction and to this day I feel their closeness and love. They too are in good health, which is everything. I think about my sister and brother-in-law. Both brilliant, he retired, she getting a PhD. I couldn’t be more proud. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are brilliant as well. I felt their warmth from minute one as well. I am grateful to have them in my life.
All of our nieces and our nephew have grown into wonderful adults. They range in age from 17-30. They are doing extremely well and are caring and genuine people. I am happy to be a small part of their lives.
Most of all, I could never express enough gratitude, joy, love, and affection for my Mrs. She continues to be the best thing that ever happened to me. The stars aligned the day our paths crossed, and for that I give deep thanks.
I hope that all of our readers in the USA have had a great weekend with family and friends, and enjoyed fine food and drink, and the pleasure of one another’s company.

The Week Ahead

The week ahead for stocks will be as interesting as always. We had a negative November, but a decent finish to the month. December usually brings on a Santa Claus rally. We remain unsure if 2025 will continue the trend. Some valuations remain elevated, and there are a number of prominent stock watchers calling this a bubble. Hello there Michael Burry! On the other hand, this recently completed earnings season showed very positive growth, and many encouraging forward-looking projections for the 4th quarter and beyond. Will the stock market continue to climb the wall of worry? Stay tuned….

The Art of Listening

Someone once asked me what I thought the most important quality was in order to be a success as a salesman. I say that being able to know when to shut up and listen is the single most important attribute not just for salespeople, but for life in general. So often I see people that are thinking about what they will say next, losing interest, or simply not paying attention at all. I urge everyone to be engaged in their conversations. Look people in the eye, and pay attention. Not just to words, but facial expressions, eyes, and other visual clues that can help you get to know the person opposite you better. This applies to family, friends, and business relations. You will do a better job selling if you know what the customer is looking for….listen and they will tell you.

Thought of the Day

No one will ever ask more from you than to do your best. Putting in full effort will let you succeed, feel a sense of accomplishment, and complete your tasks properly. Sometimes we feel tired, or unmotivated. The key is to find the thing that will bring you back to full speed. What do you think about for motivation? What drives you? What lets you perform at 100%.
Please let us know in the comments.

I’m thankful for you all!