Almost Daily Thoughts
september 11 – The costco way
Costco doesn’t look flashy.
No sleek storefronts, no endless product variety, no luxury sheen.
Just concrete floors, bulk items, and a membership card.
But beneath that simplicity is one of the strongest business models in modern retail.
They don’t chase trends.
They don’t drown in marketing noise.
They focus on a narrow principle: give people real value, and they’ll keep coming back.
The genius is in the alignment.
Shoppers save money.
Employees are treated better than most in retail.
Shareholders benefit from loyalty that compounds year after year.
Everyone wins — quietly, steadily, predictably.
Costco proves that strength isn’t always about expanding fast or dazzling the market.
It’s about discipline.
Doing less, but doing it better.
And having the patience to let trust, loyalty, and scale grow slowly — until they become an advantage no competitor can easily match.
september 2 – simple. hard.
Starting a business is simple.
You need an idea, a way to deliver it, and someone willing to pay for it.
On paper, it looks almost effortless.
But in practice, simplicity hides the struggle.
The idea is easy — finding the right one isn’t.
The delivery is obvious — building it consistently isn’t.
And customers? They’re everywhere in theory,
but hard to earn in reality.
That’s the paradox of building:
the steps are clear, yet the path feels endless.
The work is obvious, yet it demands more than you expect.
Still, that’s what makes it worth doing.
If it were only simple, everyone would do it.
If it were only hard, no one would try.
It lives in between — simple enough to start,
hard enough to matter.
August 25 – Starting small
Saving doesn’t need to start big.
Even the smallest amounts, repeated often, begin to grow.
At first, it feels like nothing changes.
The numbers move too slowly to notice.
But over years, the quiet routine turns into something real.
What once felt insignificant becomes freedom, security, possibility.
The challenge is staying the course when progress is invisible.
Because the results only reveal themselves later.
August 19 – It doesn’t have to be a rabbit
At times, it feels like winning in markets or business requires pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Some dazzling trick,
a stroke of genius no one saw coming.
But the truth is quieter.
Often, it’s not the rabbit that wins,
but the one who simply does the work more thoroughly,
with greater care,
with deeper commitment than the next person.
No illusions.
No theatrics.
Just the discipline to outbuild, outthink, and outlast.
It doesn’t have to be magic.
It just has to be better.
August 15 – The Ace in the Sleeve
Every so often, you think you’ve found it —
the ace up your sleeve.
An insight no one else has seen.
A mispriced gem.
The rare moment when the market is wrong, and you are right.
It feels electric.
You imagine the turn no one expects, the quiet grin you’ll wear when the numbers prove you correct.
You convince yourself that this is the exception to the rule.
But more often than not, it isn’t.
The ace in the sleeve turns out to be nothing more than another card from the same deck everyone else is holding.
The market, for all its noise and overreaction, has a way of being right more often than we’d like to admit.
It’s not that opportunities don’t exist — they do.
But they are rarely obvious.
And when they feel too easy, too certain, they usually are.
The lesson?
Hold on to your curiosity, but temper it with humility.
Assume the market knows something you don’t.
And when you truly believe you’ve found the ace —
ask yourself if it’s the real thing,
or just the same illusion you’ve fallen for before.
Because in this game, the cards are always on the table.
It’s just that most of us don’t see them for what they are.
August 9 – The skill of waiting
There’s a particular kind of pain that comes from wanting to build, to move, to create — and yet feeling like nothing is moving forward.
Ideas stack up in your mind like unbuilt blueprints,
your energy restless,
your patience thin.
It’s easy to confuse this stillness with failure.
To believe that if progress isn’t visible, it isn’t happening.
But that’s not how the long game works.
The real skill — and it is a skill — is knowing when to act, and when to hold.
Not out of fear.
Not out of laziness.
But because the right move made at the wrong time is just another mistake.
Waiting isn’t absence.
It’s preparation.
It’s laying the groundwork, gathering resources, sharpening judgment.
It’s working in the dark while everyone else looks for the light switch.
And then, one day — the moment comes.
The door opens.
The opportunity is real.
And you’re ready, not because you rushed, but because you endured.
Patience alone changes nothing.
But patience, combined with relentless work and active search for the right opening — that’s what turns waiting into winning.
In the end, the quiet season is not wasted time.
It’s the proof that when the right chance arrives,
you’ll be the one ready to take it.
July 31 – Poor Charlie’s Almanack
I’m not finished yet, but already I know this book will stay with me.
Poor Charlie’s Almanack isn’t just about investing — it’s about how to think. Slowly, rationally, and with the kind of self-discipline that feels almost out of place in today’s world.
What’s struck me the most so far is how little urgency there is in Charlie Munger’s worldview. No hacks. No shortcuts. Just layered thinking, mental models, and the humility to admit how little we really know — and how dangerous it is to pretend otherwise.
It’s a book that rewards re-reading.
Not because it’s hard to grasp,
but because it pushes you to confront how often your own thinking is fragile, reactive, narrow.
I’ve started to notice where my own ideas get lazy.
Where emotion leads and reason trails.
Where I react, instead of reflect.
And maybe that’s the greatest value of it so far:
It doesn’t tell you what to think.
It shows you how to step back,
ask better questions,
and be okay with waiting for better answers.
I’m not done with the book.
But already, I think it’s started to sharpen something in me.
Quietly.
Like most good things do.
July 29 – Build Without Trying
Not every brand is designed. Some are simply lived. Long before there’s a logo, a launch, or a tagline — there are choices. How you work. How you treat people. What you say no to when no one’s watching. What you keep doing, even when no one claps. That’s when a real brand begins. Not when it goes public, but when it goes personal. The strongest brands aren’t always the loudest. They’re the ones that make sense without needing explanation. The ones that feel like someone built them with conviction — and didn’t let the world dilute it. You don’t need a brand book to build trust. You just need to live like someone’s paying attention — even when they aren’t. Because in the end, your brand is not what you show. It’s what you repeat. And what you refuse to compromise on. That’s the Kapitalisk way.
July 20 – The Invisible Hours
Success is visible. The work behind it rarely is. We see the launch, not the false starts.
We see the win, not the years of repetition. But what truly builds something lasting
are the quiet hours no one talks about. The ones spent refining, questioning, rebuilding
without applause, without certainty. And that’s the difference. If we build only to be seen,
we’ll likely never finish. But if we build from purpose — from the urge to create, shape, and make — we might end up with something real. Not to impress,
but because it was worth making. That’s the Kapitalisk way.
July 13 – Growth isn’t always forward
Growth is often framed as progress. But not all growth is forward. In business, the chase for more — more stores, more markets, more margin — can become a kind of detachment. The further you scale, the easier it is to forget the people you started with. The ones who gave you trust before strategy. Loyalty before loyalty programs. Tokmanni built its name on simplicity. No flash. Just function. A place where everyday people found what they needed, and knew exactly what to expect. That clarity was value in itself. But somewhere along the way, competition changed. So did strategy. And with it, came decisions aimed more at investors than at customers. New formats. New concepts. New layers. But growth without grounding doesn’t scale connection — it dilutes it. The irony? In chasing relevance, you risk becoming replaceable. There’s a kind of power in staying small enough to remember. Not in size — but in spirit. In keeping the business close to the people it was meant to serve. Because the most trusted brands aren’t built by chasing more — but by holding onto what made them matter in the first place.
July 7 – People first
Alvar Aalto didn’t just design buildings. He designed experiences. Spaces meant to be lived in — not just admired. While many architects chased fame or the next commission, he returned, again and again, to the same questions: How will this feel? How will this serve? How will this last? You can see it in the curves of a chair, the softness of natural light falling across a library table, the quiet dignity of a hospital ward built to heal not only the body, but the spirit. Aalto believed architecture was for people first. Profit second. He trusted that if you create something honest, functional, and beautiful, the rest would follow in time. It’s a reminder that true legacy doesn’t come from chasing the market — it comes from the patience to build with empathy and the courage to hold a vision even when the world demands something easier.
July 3 – Scream the loudest
In today’s market, it’s not always the best that wins — it’s the loudest. The boldest headline, the wildest stunt, the one that interrupts your scroll the hardest. Attention is currency now. And the game rewards those who grab it, no matter how shallow the method. But how long can that last? Marketing used to be about trust. Now it’s about volume. Who can shout the loudest, move the fastest, disappear the quickest. Launch, hype, exit, repeat. But legacy isn’t built on virality. It’s built on resonance — not noise. On meaning — not reach. And that’s harder to fake. Maybe the real game isn’t about how quickly you rise. But how quietly you last.
June 30 – Built in silence
Rick Rubin built his legacy by removing everything that didn’t matter. No flashy image. No loud branding. Often not even shoes in the studio. He wasn’t there to control the music — just to clear space for it. He didn’t direct. He listened. And in a world that glorifies noise, he leaned into silence. It’s strange how someone so quiet could have shaped so much sound. Johnny Cash. Jay-Z. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Adele. Different genres. Same result: something raw, real, and timeless. Rubin didn’t chase trends. He stripped things down until only truth remained. And somehow, that minimalism became a signature louder than any beat. Because sometimes the most powerful mark is made by knowing when not to speak.
June 25 – Real brands
Some brands don’t follow culture. They shape it slowly. They’re not loud. They’re not everywhere. But they’re always there. Patagonia never sold hype — they sold values. Muji never needed logos — just quality and calm. Rolex didn’t need reinvention — just precision, decade after decade. None of them chased the moment. They built something time couldn’t touch. Because they weren’t focused on what’s next — they were focused on what matters. That’s the paradox: In a world obsessed with the new, the rarest thing is something that lasts. Not built for launch. Built for legacy.
June 23 – Trends worth following?
Trends move fast. By the time you react, they’re already fading. It’s tempting to chase them — to build what’s hot, post what’s viral, sell what’s trending. But things built on trends rarely last. Even giants can drift. Nike, once the definition of long-term brand vision, has felt the pressure of chasing the moment. Hype drops, micro-trends, algorithm-chasing. It worked — until it didn’t. Now, the question is: do they return to the long game that built them in the first place? Because the brands that last aren’t built on noise. They’re built on clarity, consistency, and patience. Not every wave is worth riding. Let the wave pass. Build the shore.
June 19 – Just focus
In-N-Out Burger has been around since 1948. And yet, it never tried to be more than it needed to be. No wraps. No seasonal hype drops. No marketing gimmicks. Just burgers, fries, and shakes — year after year. But that simplicity is the strategy. While others chase trends, In-N-Out focused. They poured effort into process, quality, and experience. That’s why the line is still long, decades later. It’s the same with building anything: you don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to conquer every market. Just find the one thing you can do exceptionally well — so well that it can’t be ignored. The biggest advantage often isn’t a new idea. It’s an old idea, done with patience, clarity, and care.
June 16 – Legacy building
Hermès didn’t become a luxury icon by chasing attention. It became one by refusing to. No flash sales. No celebrity endorsements. No expansion at the cost of craft. Just leather, silence, and time. A single Birkin bag can take over 20 hours to make — by one artisan, from start to finish. No machines. No shortcuts. Every stitch, every edge burnished by hand. Not for speed. But for meaning. While others scaled fast, Hermès stayed slow. While others marketed louder, Hermès spoke less. And in that restraint, it built something untouchable. Not just a product, but an aura. It’s proof that legacy isn’t built by shouting. It’s built by choosing the long road — and walking it with perfect, deliberate steps.
June 14 – Early math
Money matters. But if it's the first thing on your mind, it’ll often be the first thing that kills the idea. Some of the strongest things we know — brands, movements, companies, cultures — didn’t start with a spreadsheet. They started with an obsession. Someone wanted to build something better. Something real. Something of their own. The numbers came later. Because real building costs. In time. In focus. In energy. And in the beginning, those costs feel like losses — unless you’re building for something deeper than a profit line. That’s the paradox: if you chase money, you rarely catch it. But if you build with care, clarity, and intent — money finds its way to you. So think long. Start anyway. And don’t let early math kill a vision that hasn’t even taken shape.
June 11 – No plan, just vision
Akira Nakai didn’t set out to build a brand. He just wanted to shape cars his own way. No plans, no approvals — just vision, steel, and a grinder. RAUH-Welt Begriff started in a small garage outside Tokyo, with one Porsche and a bold idea: do it differently, trust your eye, and commit fully. He cut into cars like no one else would. Not recklessly — but intuitively. That became his language. And people listened. Now, RWB is known in every corner of car culture. Not because Nakai followed trends, but because he followed his hands — and let the work speak louder than words. Sometimes greatness doesn’t come from strategy. It comes from doing what feels right, over and over, until the world has no choice but to notice.
June 10 – The power of patience
Charlie Munger often reminded us that true advantage comes not from quick wins, but from steady restraint. Saving isn’t about deprivation or sacrifice. It’s a form of discipline — holding back impulses, so you can build momentum over time.This patience isn’t passive. It’s an active choice to create distance between where you are and where you want to be. In a world that glorifies speed and noise, the quiet power of saving — money, energy, focus — is the edge few learn to wield.
June 8 – Brick by brick
In the early 2000s, LEGO almost fell apart. Too many distractions, too far from what made it great. So they went back to the brick — the system, the simplicity, the idea that anything can be built, one piece at a time. That’s what real businesses are too. Not flashy launches or constant reinvention, but solid foundations and parts that actually fit. Building, in business or life, isn’t about speed. It’s about clarity, connection, and patience. One block is nothing. But stacked right — it becomes everything.
June 5 – Clarity, patience and time
Sometimes the edge isn’t knowing where to act —
it’s knowing where not to. Every move has a cost. Energy, focus, reputation.
The wise don’t spread wide — they move narrow and deep. It’s not about doing more.
It’s about doing right, and letting the rest pass. The real builders don’t rush. They wait. They refine. They repeat. Because greatness doesn’t always look like motion. Sometimes, it’s just clarity, patience, and time.
June 4 – 7Eleven or 24/7?
7-Eleven didn’t invent convenience.
They just made it relentlessly accessible. Late hours. Right location. Essentials only — but always available. They understood that the world doesn’t move in 9-to-5 blocks. So they didn’t, either. It wasn’t glamour. It wasn’t innovation in the flashy sense. It was consistency, presence, and timing. Great businesses aren’t always about changing behavior. Sometimes, they’re about quietly fitting into it better than anyone else.
June 3 – Or simply better?
Not every idea needs to be new. Sometimes it just needs to be done differently. Or simply better. Coffee had been sold for centuries before Starbucks. No one was waiting for another café. But Howard Schultz didn’t sell coffee — he sold the space around it. A moment. A mood. An atmosphere. Same product. New lens. And it changed everything. There’s a lesson there. Innovation isn’t always invention — it’s often intention. Taking something familiar and raising the standard. Slowing it down. Sharpening the edges. Caring more than the last person did. That’s how you separate. Not by shouting louder but by doing something so quietly excellent, it can’t be ignored.
June 1 – Coffee vision
Some days feel heavier than others. Momentum stalls. Doubt creeps in. The path forward blurs. But stories like Howard Schultz’s put things in perspective. The man who turned Starbucks from a small Seattle coffee shop into a global brand — rejected by investors over 200 times. The vision wasn’t broken — just ahead of its time. He kept going. Quietly. Relentlessly. That’s what building often is. Not loud. Not glamorous. Just showing up — refining, adjusting, continuing. Progress doesn’t always look like motion. Sometimes it’s simply the refusal to stop.
May 31 – On Patagonia
Still thinking about Patagonia. Not just the gear — the way they built it. Most brands lose themselves chasing growth. Patagonia doubled down on values. They chose repair over replace. Less over more. Purpose over profit. And somehow… it worked. They weren’t trying to please everyone — just staying honest. And people felt it. Bought into the clarity as much as the product. Maybe that’s the real moat: Not hype. Not capital. But conviction. Patagonia didn’t scale by shouting. It scaled by standing still — in what mattered.
May 29 – Not your basic Blacksmith
Finished Let My People Go Surfing today. Yvon Chouinard started as a climber and blacksmith — not a businessman. And yet he built Patagonia. A brand grounded in values, not growth. Functional gear, built to last. A company that told customers to buy less. What stuck with me was how little he compromised. He didn’t scale by chasing trends — he scaled by staying true. That line keeps echoing: "You climb to the top of the mountain to see, not to be seen." Quiet conviction. That’s what I want to build with.
May 28 – Not just candies
I read today about Buffett’s early investment in See’s Candies — and it stuck with me. In 1972, he and Charlie bought it for $25 million.
At the time, Buffett still leaned toward buying things cheap. But See’s wasn’t that cheap — at least not on paper. What changed everything was how it behaved over time. Strong brand. Loyal customers. Pricing power that didn’t come from scale — but from affection. People didn’t just buy See’s. They gifted it. Trusted it. Loved it. Buffett called it a “dream business.” Not because it was the biggest. But because it endured. Steady returns. Minimal capital needs. Built-in customer devotion. It made me realize — the best businesses aren’t necessarily the loudest or the fastest-growing. They’re the ones people come back to. Year after year. And more importantly, it showed Buffett the value of quality. Of paying a fair price for a great business, not just hunting for discounts. It’s not always about buying low. Sometimes it’s about seeing clearly.
May 27 – Slowly growing
There’s a strange kind of beauty in things that grow slowly. Like trees stretching their roots deep underground, unseen but steady. In a world that glorifies speed and instant success, it’s easy to forget that lasting work takes time. Every detail matters, even the ones no one ever notices. Sometimes progress feels invisible — and that’s okay. Because what you build quietly today is the foundation for everything that comes next. The real challenge isn’t the finish line, but the patience to keep moving forward when no one is watching. That’s where true craftsmanship lives — in the commitment to keep going, day after day.
May 26 – Trust the process
Sometimes I wonder why we’re so obsessed with results — the big launches, the applause, the headlines. But real creation lives in the spaces between those moments. In the hours no one counts. In the small decisions no one notices. In the quiet commitment to do it right, even when it’s hard. There’s no shortcut here. No fast track to mastery. It’s about showing up. Over and over. Trusting the process more than the praise. Building not just for today — but for what lasts. Maybe that’s where true value hides: in the patient work no one sees, but everything depends on.
May 25 – The Greatness of Michael Jordan
Tonight, I’ve been thinking about what drives greatness. Michael Jordan wasn’t just talented — he was obsessed. Not with fame, but with the grind, the countless hours nobody saw. I read once that after missing a game-winning shot, he’d practice relentlessly late into the night. Failure wasn’t a setback; it was fuel. There’s something powerful in that refusal to settle, that hunger to keep improving when the world’s eyes are elsewhere. It’s easy to celebrate the highlight reels, but the real work happens in silence. Maybe that’s where champions are truly made — not on the court in front of thousands, but in the quiet moments when no one’s watching.
May 24 – Something about Steve Jobs
Spent the evening reflecting on what it really means to care about your work. I remembered reading about Steve Jobs insisting that the inside of the original Macintosh be just as beautiful as the outside — even though no one would ever see it. That kind of dedication is something else. It’s not for applause or recognition. It’s for the pride you hold in your craft. It makes me think about how often shortcuts are taken just because no one will notice the details. But those details matter. They are the work. Perfection isn’t just about what the world sees. It’s about what you refuse to compromise on — especially when no one’s watching. Maybe that’s the quiet heart of creation. There’s something humbling — and inspiring — about that.