The Rick Schwartz Domain Name and Traffic Blog: RicksBlog.com – Home of The Domain King®

Afternoon Folks!!

The presidency happens every 4 years so no big deal. What is a big deal is when the “Tonight Show” changes hosts and restless and horny America reacts. This will be only the forth time in my entire lifetime that will happen. Jack Paar back in the 1950's started it and did the gig for 6 years. Johnny Carson transformed the show and was the pulse of America for 30 years. Jay Leno for 17 years and now we are about to get Conan O'brien.

I really don't know how this will work out. My gut says not too well. Let's start with Conan O'brien. He went on the air in the mid 80's. I have watched his show many times by default. I laughed 3x. I can count them. I don't think he will do as well in that slot. I don't think sober America will laugh at his jokes. He had a much better chance for the that in the middle of the night when they were falling on the floor.

Now as for Jay Leno, he is/was #1. Not sure why you would want to screw that up, but leave it to the geniuses at Corporate America to figure out. Will folks make a date with Jay or will they watch an actual program at 10PM? See the motivation for NBC is it is a lot cheaper to do a Jay Leno show than an episode of Law and Order for example or some other creative drama etc. So this becomes a cost cutting move. If it works out they have 2 winners. If they both die, they have 2 losers. So this is a very big gamble for NBC and I doubt it will work out. NBC will basically give up their #1 ranking for the 11:30 slot because O'Brien is just not funny and people will go somewhere else. I think Jay Leno will do well at the beginning, however I don't think it will last. I think his audience will dwindle and NBC will have an embarrassing problem on their hands.

What does this have to do with domains? It has to do with honing skills of how the masses will react. Understanding the masses is key. A long time ago I was taught a simple saying. “If you sell to the masses you will eat with the classes. If you sell to the classes you will eat with the masses.” The biggest job we have as domainers is predicting human nature. This is the way you practice. The way you practice is the way you play. This one is difficult to predict. Changing habits is not an easy thing to do. I always enjoy when someone tries.

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

The search for competency in a world of mediocrity is what many of us deal with daily. I expect way too much from folks in everyday life. Way too much. I actually expect them to do their jobs. I expect them to be competent. But in case after case I am finding out that those in power no matter where on the food chain they are located are mediocre and in many cases they hold hostage everyone else to their mediocre standards.

When I grew up and you murdered somebody you were not likely to get out of prison until you were either old or dead. Now you get a plea bargain and in countless cases my past car payments lasted 2X longer than their incarceration.

I saw a guy repeatedly assault another with a shovel for over a minute. Hitting him over and over. He got 10 days! This is just one example of the decay and mediocrity that we are suffering from.

What does that have to do with domains? Everything. It has to do with life and business and domains and they are all intertwined and sometimes even on the verge of getting tangled up. It takes energy and a plan to keep them as separate as you can.

I always try to come at a conversation in either of two ways. Either be extreme and confrontational to spark discussion or come to the points of agreement in the middle that we all have in common. Point is when you only focus on extremes you lose the opportunity to work on the things of common agreement.

Banks are on the verge of nationalization in the USA. That is a BIG deal. That is something that will have huge ramifications. Maybe it can’t be avoided, but don’t think for a split second that this is a good thing. This is not a good thing.

So that brings me to my greatest disappointment. While I write my blog for domainers, the people I really want to reach are on Main St. and Corporate America. In that regard, I have failed. The greatest value here is for them. Maybe someday they will discover this blog, dust it off and take a read. But as the years pass, I see less of a chance. So this is my greatest disappointment and my biggest failure.

I have not given up, but the chances of a “Buzz”, of a break through, of even a serious discussion on how a business on Main St. can change their own destiny’s is still as big a dream as it was over a decade ago. It really is not their lack of interest in domains that disappoints me. It is their utter disregard for understanding the different qualities of traffic and asking the right questions to get the proper traffic that can convert to sales. This is the one point of commonality to all business. Traffic and sales. Traffic that produces sales. Sales that make the world go round.

A lot of time has passed. In some cases too much time. Habits are formed and once that happens it is hard to break. I do most of my online purchases from Amazon. It is a HABIT. It is also a convenience. Plus over the years I have learned that not only do they have everything I ever looked for, but their prices are right in line. So I can go there, search for what I want, put it in my cart, pay for it and I can do that in the same time in took to compose and write this sentence.

Point is the greatest sales machine ever invented has largely passed most businesses without a single ka-ching in the register. They did not harness the power when they could, when they should. So now they face a much harder and much steeper mountain to climb. They face failure and extinction.

Now, there is also a new phenomenon happening as these businesses try to stay in business. The last few weeks I have noticed MANY meeting of business people when I go to Panera for lunch sometimes. I keep hearing the word “Hosting.” As folks scramble to stay in business and keep their livelihoods in place, they KNOW there is only one place to look to….the Internet. So we are going to see another round of Internet growth. Does not mean Internet success. But we are going to see growth as everyone realizes that is the only frontier left to exploit. The only place they can look to save them.

They say it is always darkest before the big break. Well it is pretty damn dark. I wake up each day waiting for my biggest failure to turn into my biggest success. Some days I feel confident that it is right around the corner. Then there are days like today that I have to look back for 14 years and just shake my head in disbelief, then lower it and wonder if I will ever see the day? When do folks see the obvious? When do companies realize the lessons of Hotels.com, Loans.com, Toys.com and soon Candy.com and apply it to their business?

Susan Boyle has always been a great singer.....it just took the world 45 years to see it. In life, in business, with any of our new ventures, at the end of the day we are looking for that Susan Boyle moment.

The Internet is the greatest equalizer ever known. Any person, any business any idea can rise from obscurity to the next big thing is SECONDS. The competition gets greater every single day. The next news, the next gimmick, the next hoax, the next overnight sensation.

We are entering an era of 'Go for Broke.' No kidding. Many companies in a broad sector of the market are going for the long ball. If they succeed, they survive. If they falter, they are doomed. That is where we are soon to be at.

Do you see contradictions in my posts? Well there are many. That is the reality of the current conditions. The wind is blowing from multiple directions and each is very intense. Each has peril and each has opportunity. In 2008 I wrote what 2009 would look like. Few really believed it. Well here it is. On one hand I am having a record breaking year. On the other, I watch fire after fire and embers flying and no matter how well your home is doing , when the neighborhood is on fire, their problem is your problem.

We have WITNESSED a collapse. We have WITNESSED a meltdown. The conditions in place right now and the seeds that have been planted we will next face an implosion. The only way to survive that is plant the seeds now. Doom and Gloom? No, reality. Let's see what a hot summer brings in cities with 20% unemployment. In Detroit they riot when the Tigers win the World Series. What do you think it may look like when it is hot and you are hungry? Do you have a plan 'B' in place? How about a 'Plan C'

Having lived through the turbulance of the 60's, the gas lines of the 1970's, the 21% interest rates, the crash of 1987, the dotcom bubble burst of 2001 and saw what we are going through for a couple years before it actually manifested itself, I am convinced we are going to make all those events look small in comparison to what we face right now. When wrong is right and right is wrong then something needs to give. It is never wrong to do right and it is never right to do wrong. Where exactly did we lose that?

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

Morning folks!!
Is the industry getting weaker? In a word.....YES. The industry is getting profoundly weaker. After 14
years of progress and growth the domain industry has climaxed.....at
least for now.
I don't think anyone would argue that many of the leading sponsors in the
domain industry are weaker than they were a year or so ago when the
industry peaked. So it is time to step back and see where we are. The first thing is never to over react. The second thing is to make a
judgement whether this is a permanent situation or a temporary one. I
can tell you it is permanent to those that don't survive and close up
shop. Others that are weak will sell out to other companies.
It comes down to just a few things. Overhead, income, cash on hand.
Your overhead can destroy even the biggest. Lack of income could
collapse almost any company as we have seen the past months. Cash on
hand is the best way to smooth the path. It is also the best way to
take advantage of the great opportunity out there.
Confidence in the banks and stocks is much better. There was NONE just
a few months back and the confidence we have accumulated can easily be
shaken as things are still fragile. 61% of people have made permanent changes. Look at things differently and when things get better, their habits will have changed. Advertising won't likely heat up
until the fall. There will be some pop as we get into the summer. But
this will be short lived and the summer is likely going to be weak.
That brings us to the fall. The fall brings us to our first report
card. Folks expect things to be better. However when reality sets in,
they will likely get worse. The unemployment rate during last Christmas
season went from 6%-7.5%. It is now over 8.5% and likely to be closing
in on 10% this fall. Michigan is already over 12% with Detroit at 22%. California already
over 11%. Last time I looked, everyone was holding on for dear life out
there on Main St.
Newspapers are going out of business left and right. Some because of
conditions, some because they lost touch with their original mission.
This country is pretty evenly split 50/50 as far as party affiliation.
No business can afford to alienate 50% of the audience like some
newspapers and expect to survive. That has to have some effect on all
businesses in the areas the paper serves. The #1 advertising
outlet.....GONE! One of their biggest marketing strategies.....GONE!
Sure, many believe that will mean an increase in online spending. I am
not so sure. I am of the mind that if you own a restaurant and it is
good, you are going to do better being among other restaurants.
Personally, I am determined to invest in 2 or 3 great domains this
year. I would rather have 2-3 gems than all the crap in the world. This
really is not the time to invest in any thing other than prime. PRIME!
There seems to be a certain amount of desperation out there. Folks
being forced to sell some domains to be able to afford to hold on to
others. That's a TERRIBLE place to be and it is all too common.
We all look at domain values in different ways. But if I would have to
be honest, less than 100 folks on this planet really understand what
constitutes a great domain. Less than 100 folks if I were to give them
my money and ask me to do the best they could with it. I see million
dollar domains selling for $1k, $5k, $10k.....I see domains that have
little hope of even doubling or being in demand selling for much more.
I am not into handicapping the auctions and pimping domain names. But I
can say there are some real gems going to the auction in a few days. I
will predict that Moniker will easily break $1 Million and I expect
much much more. Rick Latona also may break the $1 milion dollar mark.
That will be the first time in history that 2 different live domain
auctions both broke the 7 figure mark at one event. That will
demonstrate that there are still dollars out there when you put GREAT
domains up for auction and have prices low enough where a competitive
auction actually happens. You will see some GREAT bidding action as we
compete for these gems. Real back and forth bidding on real domain
names. THAT is what makes an auction.
So if you want to get to the top and do well at the top, you have to
have the balls to get in at the bottom. The balls to do what most
others won't when most others won't. THAT my friends is how fortunes
are made. The domain industry is not about domains, it is about making
fortunes. My job is not to point out each opportunity. My job is to
point out when the conditions are right for opportunity and putting
together an atmosphere of opportunity. Others put on tradeshows, we put
on life changing events. Some don't think that is worth the added
expense. That is their decision. But when you compare, make sure you
give weight to what is important.
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz.

Morning Folks!!

Do you know how to provoke thought? Can you provoke discussion? Can you make a domino fall without touching it? Can you make the middle domino fall without touching any of the others and making them fall? Oh, you probably never thought about that. When you do, you stretch your mind. You enlarge the boundaries. You may see things as others deal with it.

About 20 years ago a phenomenon started to unfold. Less people worked for other people as they began to work for themselves and profits in some sectors began to fall. That is something that has continued for all this time. The race to the bottom has had its costs. The race to unprofitability. Many question why I focus so much on sales. Well, if you have read some of my posts over the years you will have heard me time and time again state that nothing in this world happens until a sale is made. Not a factory opens, not a worker goes to work. Not a truck makes a pickup. Not a truck makes a delivery. No money has changed hands and so no sales = a standstill. Sounds kinda like the auto industry huh?

So to me there are two types of traffic. Traffic that can convert to a sale and traffic that can’t convert to a sale. One is EXTREMELY valuable and you could say the other is worthless. It’s worthless when one expects to buy that traffic to make sales and ends up with nothing but a bill Last time I looked, most businesses buy traffic to make sales. Why> Read above again.

Now worthless traffic does not have to be worthless if it is marketed and labeled correctly. If you sell gum, you may want to buy million and zillions of worthless traffic at a fraction of the cost of the traffic that is targeted because the price is so low that any business you get at all makes it profitable. Meanwhile the guy paying for the premium traffic is not having his equation work for him. How many times do you think a buyer of traffic needs to be stung and lose money before he does not buy again? So whether you want to deal with something like that is up to you. But at least be sensitive to the reality of what is happening and the direct effects you may experience without ever being near that “Domino.”

To me it is a clear difference and is a quite stunning difference. Like drinking a nice cold glass of sparkling clear water and feeling great and refreshed and wanting a second glass and drinking some sewer water and spitting it all up. How many times you think they are gonna buy that crap? Each time that happens it taints another group, another business,another industry, another opportunity. Wrong direction. Wrong outcome. JMO.

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

I have not been buying domains for quite some time. But I have been
arming myself with a cash arsenal ready to do battle. Waiting for NOW.
Waiting for things as I saw them unfold. I predicted last year it would
be April when this really began to unfold. Well it is April and as you
can plainly see from the list below there will be some intense bidding
because there are great domains in there with low reserves. THAT is
what makes an auction and the results will speak for themselves. While
I still see a number of weak domains on the list, I also see some major
winners. The art is going through a list like that and coming up with
the ones that can be worth millions and bought for thousands. The ones
that when standing alone state a business. I always hear the EXCUSE
that what I did could not be repeated. First off you need to understand
it IS an excuse. We wake up everyday facing new challenges. Some folks
rise to the challenge and some folks complain about the challenge. What
folks don't grasp is nothing happens overnight. It takes YEARS of
fighting those daily challenges. EVERY day you have to move ONE STEP forward.
The #1 problem is those that complain are always the ones trying to
skip steps or accomplish too much, too fast. They fall on their faces and frustration and anger becomes the bi-product. Nobody has to be a victim of their own emotions. Folks need to master not only emotions, but faith in themselves.

I was writing the greeting page for folks coming to T.R.A.F.F.I.C. in less than 2 weeks. As I got to the end I realized that the New York Show will mark our 5th year. I am stunned. In some ways it seems like just yesterday. In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago. It may have been a lifetime. We all watched the evolution of an industry develop before our very eyes.

It’s been quite a ride for an entire industry. It has given birth to multiple shows, Multiple live auctions, Multiple deals, Multiple mergers and the birth of many great friendships and business relationships.

As I have been saying for a while, times like these will force really good domains to come to market. One look at the list below released by Moniker and the reserves will prove my point. Those looking to do better in domains in the years ahead need to start getting rid of their crap and liabilities and replace them with quality domains. I see domains EVERY DAY that can be bought for $1,000 and have huge upside potentials. But if you don’t understand the elements that constitute a great domain from a worthless domain, it is just pot luck. Don't buy another domain until you figure it out. Worthless lasts for a long time and you need to renew worthless. The bottom line, THIS period will be your very LAST opportunity to buy really good quality domains. Once this period passes, it is off to the races as values today will double many times in the next decade. Oh, I forgot, most don't look 10 years ahead. They have strategies for the next 10 minutes. The next 10 hours. Some get all the way to the next 10 days. But if you walk and all you do is look at your feet, you will surely hit walls all day every day. Folks want to know how to have success, but when you lay out a road map as I have done on this blog for the past 2 years, they will do everything but read it and take the info for free.

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

111.org $1 - $5,000
15yearmortgagerates.com No Reserve
24.org $25,001 - $50,000
700.com $10,001 - $25,000
accreditation.com $5,001 - $10,000
ad.com $250,001 - $500,000
affiliateadvertising.com $1 - $5,000
aircraftengines.com $5,001 - $10,000
allterrainvehicles.com $5,001 - $10,000
allusion.com $1 - $5,000
announced.com No Reserve
antihistamine.com $5,001 - $10,000
athletic.com $25,001 - $50,000
authorization.com $10,001 - $25,000
automating.com $5,001 - $10,000
backgammonsets.com $1 - $5,000
backhoe.com $25,001 - $50,000
baptistchurches.com $1 - $5,000
barbequegrill.com $5,001 - $10,000
bargain.travel $1 - $5,000
bicentennial.com $1 - $5,000
bionic.com $5,001 - $10,000
blackpanthers.com $10,001 - $25,000
boatrepairs.com $5,001 - $10,000
bottledwater.com $25,001 - $50,000
breeding.com $25,001 - $50,000
bribes.com $1 - $5,000
buffoon.com $1 - $5,000
buildingpermits.com $5,001 - $10,000
businessbankruptcy.com $1 - $5,000
californiacommercialrealestate.com $1 - $5,000
campingsupplies.com $10,001 - $25,000
cancun.org $5,001 - $10,000
caribbeanvacations.com $100,001 - $250,000
carpetstores.com $5,001 - $10,000
chargingstations.com $10,001 - $25,000
cheerleaders.org $1 - $5,000
collegecourse.com $10,001 - $25,000
comedyclub.com $50,001 - $100,000
commitment.org $1 - $5,000
corporatejets.com $50,001 - $100,000
cosmetician.com $5,001 - $10,000
creditchecks.net $1 - $5,000
cureforcancer.com $1 - $5,000
datingwomen.com $5,001 - $10,000
debtcollection.org $1 - $5,000
debug.com $10,001 - $25,000
dietandexercise.com $1 - $5,000
dietician.com $25,001 - $50,000
diets.net $10,001 - $25,000
discountairfares.org $1 - $5,000
discretion.com $10,001 - $25,000
domainauction.com $100,001 - $250,000
downriggers.com $1 - $5,000
earnmoney.com $1 - $5,000
europeanvacations.com $100,001 - $250,000
ewills.com $5,001 - $10,000
executiveassistant.com $5,001 - $10,000
exhibiting.com $1 - $5,000
explored.com $10,001 - $25,000
fatalattraction.com $1 - $5,000
federalairmarshals.com $1 - $5,000
ferriswheel.com $1 - $5,000
filebankruptcy.com $50,001 - $100,000
filet.com $10,001 - $25,000
financing.net $50,001 - $100,000
findjobs.com $100,001 - $250,000
fixture.com $25,001 - $50,000
flatpaneltvs.com $5,001 - $10,000
flightinstructors.com $10,001 - $25,000
floridaattorney.com $5,001 - $10,000
foreclosurerefinance.com $1 - $5,000
freightlines.com $1 - $5,000
garagekits.com $1 - $5,000
gardencenter.com $10,001 - $25,000
gardenofeden.com $10,001 - $25,000
ghoststories.com $25,001 - $50,000
glasspanels.com $1 - $5,000
glutenfreerecipes.com $5,001 - $10,000
golfcaddy.com $1 - $5,000
governmenthousing.com $10,001 - $25,000
graders.com $5,001 - $10,000
greatfalls.com $10,001 - $25,000
hairwax.com $5,001 - $10,000
headshot.com $5,001 - $10,000
highspeed.net $1 - $5,000
homemortgage.net $5,001 - $10,000
hotproducts.com No Reserve
illegalimmigrants.com $10,001 - $25,000
imageconsultants.com $5,001 - $10,000
indianaforeclosures.com $1 - $5,000
influential.com $10,001 - $25,000
intelligentdesign.com $1 - $5,000
invasion.com $10,001 - $25,000
john.mobi $1 - $5,000
jonesboro.com $10,001 - $25,000
junk.net No Reserve
kidnap.com $10,001 - $25,000
kingcrab.com $5,001 - $10,000
laptopcomputers.info No Reserve
lineart.com $10,001 - $25,000
lists.net $1 - $5,000
liveauctions.com $25,001 - $50,000
loancalculator.com $250,001 - $500,000
lz.ca $1 - $5,000
maintaining.com $1 - $5,000
marketingfirm.com $50,001 - $100,000
marriages.com $25,001 - $50,000
mbajobs.com $50,001 - $100,000
mediarooms.com $10,001 - $25,000
migraine.com $100,001 - $250,000
millionaire.org $5,001 - $10,000
modernhouses.com $1 - $5,000
mouthguards.com $1 - $5,000
moviemaking.com $10,001 - $25,000
movingservice.com $1 - $5,000
mr.org $5,001 - $10,000
noevil.com $1 - $5,000
nonprofits.com $10,001 - $25,000
officesupplystores.com $1 - $5,000
onlinetelevision.com $10,001 - $25,000
organicchicken.com $5,001 - $10,000
organictea.com $10,001 - $25,000
oxygentanks.com $10,001 - $25,000
packages.net $1 - $5,000
photodeveloping.com $1 - $5,000
physicalexamination.com $5,001 - $10,000
pinballwizard.com $1 - $5,000
pitches.com $5,001 - $10,000
plans.com $100,001 - $250,000
popupblockers.com $1 - $5,000
pornos.net $25,001 - $50,000
primers.com $5,001 - $10,000
punks.com $1 - $5,000
Realty.com $1MM - $5MM
Redistribution.com $1 - $5,000
Reelect.com $1 - $5,000
Refund.me $1 - $5,000
Reimbursement.com $1 - $5,000
Rejected.com $5,001 - $10,000
Relatives.com $25,001 - $50,000
Rentcenter.com $10,001 - $25,000
Repaired.com $10,001 - $25,000
Researchcenter.com $10,001 - $25,000
Respected.com $1 - $5,000
Retrain.com $5,001 - $10,000
Roomairconditioners.com $10,001 - $25,000
sacked.com $5,001 - $10,000
salinas.com $50,001 - $100,000
samuraiswords.com $25,001 - $50,000
sanbernardino.com $25,001 - $50,000
santaclara.com $100,001 - $250,000
season.com $25,001 - $50,000
sham.com $10,001 - $25,000
shutter.com $10,001 - $25,000
siamesecats.com $1 - $5,000
silos.com $10,001 - $25,000
slots.asia $10,001 - $25,000
sports.info $5,001 - $10,000
stallions.com $10,001 - $25,000
statenislandrentals.com $1 - $5,000
steakknives.com $10,001 - $25,000
stimulant.com $5,001 - $10,000
sued.com $1 - $5,000
sushirestaurants.com $10,001 - $25,000
taxinformation.com $5,001 - $10,000
telemarketers.com $25,001 - $50,000
terrorist.com $10,001 - $25,000
toasterovens.com $25,001 - $50,000
trafficaccidents.com $10,001 - $25,000
transferring.com $1 - $5,000
travelconditions.com $5,001 - $10,000
usedhummers.com $10,001 - $25,000
viajes.com $1MM - $5MM
vixen.com $10,001 - $25,000
wager.co.uk $1 - $5,000
weddingcards.com $10,001 - $25,000
WeddingGift.com & WeddingGifts.com $250,001 - $500,000
workoutclothing.com $1 - $5,000
ycg.com $1 - $5,000

Morning Folks!!

Let's start Part 2 where Part 1 left off. 'One new solution by any of these companies has the power to disrupt the entire sector. It could put companies out of business virtually overnight. The market is fragile and no sponsor could afford a mass movement of traffic and survive.'

Why is this important? Because it is very likely to happen. Now I will give a word of advice to those working on these solutions. 10% or 20% increase won't cut it. It's like a stock broker picking a stock for a 5% annual return after you just watched your portfolio drop fro $1 Million to to $100,000. You would have to live 100 or 200 years to break even. So they fall short. They need to focus on companies that go up 1000%. So if a domain was making you $100 and it is now making you $20, a 20% increase is just not the target. 100%, 200%, 500%. That solution IS coming.

So what happens the DAY that solution comes? We already know PPC companies have been slammed because just as I predicted last year, domainers would begin to develop and move their PRIME domains away from PPC. So you have companies fighting over a shrinking pie. Some of these companies are in financial trouble as I write this. A body blow like this would be a knockout punch.

Last years I asked who would be the first to do a Bear Stearns? I think that answer is slowly coming to reality. The folks I know are not sitting idly by and watching their earnings melt. They are reaching out and doing many different projects. We are all looking for that new light. When that happens, and it will, you will witness the total disruption of the industry and a new crop of solutions will come to dominate. In the meantime domainers are busy building and each site built is traffic ppc will likely never see again.

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

Over the years I emailed Hershey's customer service 3 times. 3 times and not so much as a response. Even when I had an idea and was just looking to buy custom candy in bulk, no answer. They have a place to email them. I took my time to explain why I was contacting them without ever mentioning Candy.com. Just trying to make contact. Not even a form reply. Nada!!

So we will see how history views this shortfall. Only time will tell.

So if Hershey's did not buy it, who did? Well it is not up to me to reveal that. The buyer will do it when they are ready. But it was not Nestles nor any other company you have ever heard of. Yet.

Since the National show in the Candy Industry is next month, the wait to know won't be too long. It will illustrate another failure of Madison Ave. and Corporate America. Not because they did not acquire the domain name, but because their shortsightedness will allow a challenger to come in and disrupt things. It's like a country getting invaded and the army hired to not let that happen has no clue just how bad things may get. Nor do they understand that they will be responsible should things go south.

So whether it is Hotels.com, Toys.com or Candy.com, it is 15 years later and they STILL have not come to understand what this all means. Is anyone awake out there?? And then folks want to know why unemployment is about to eclipse 10%?? Why GM is already bankrupt?? Why the banks are in trouble?? Are all the founders of these companies that would recognize the opportunity dead and buried?? An unfortunate yes is the answer. Those in control now know how to have meetings but they don't know it's all about sales. Nothing else. Sales, sales, sales. Profitable sales. And lastly, Timely decisions. Since nobody can make a decision it is virtually impossible for it to be timely. Let's have a meeting!! Let's have a meeting and let's postpone the decision to the next meeting. These decisions were once made in a snap. But that guy is now in a grave and there ain't no more snapping going on.

And THAT is why my friends that WE will make out like bandits in this recession. Nothing happens until a sale is made and now in the new way of business nothing happens until a decision is made. The big guns are paralyzed and that gives us a tremendous advantage.

Have a GREAT Day!

Rick Schwartz

Morning folks!!