I needed to figure out how to change my entire life. Because the current one was going badly. It was 2002. A lot of people had it bad. But sadly I didn’t care about them. I was really depressed. My entire career at that point had added up to zero. There were some successes. But… Continue Reading
I needed $20 million or I was going to die. That’s how I felt. I had a business, $20 million was invested in it, and then my investor went broke and needed the money back. But that would put me out of business. And then I would go broke and die. He threatened me. He… Continue Reading
Ok. I have a confession. Not quite like a confession. More like an adjustment. I’m only saying this because it’s Financial Fridays. But I’ve mislead a little. That’s all. I’ve written that people should not trade stocks. People should not daytrade. People should stay out of the markets. I believe this. But I also don’t… Continue Reading
I was passionate when I was throwing hard pointed rocks at other little kids. “I hit him!” My friends and I would climb around construction sites, pretending they were forts. And throw rocks at each other until we were caught by parents. By adults. Fun! Einstein found his passion because he wondered what a man… Continue Reading
I hate writing about finance. The most violent, ugly people in the world work in the traditional finance industry. I write something and instead of responding with a well-reasoned argument, they write things like “James Altucher is a wacko” or “James Altucher is a scumbag”. I’ve written for or appeared on the Wall St Journal,… Continue Reading
Ok, I admit it. I perjured in a court of law. It was after I ran over a guy. It was in 1985 or 86. I forget. I was 17 or 18. I remember it was raining. I remember the car spinning. I remember I went through a windshield. Supposedly when you go through a… Continue Reading
Then they told me I had to either take a 50% pay cut or I would be fired. If I was fired they would give me severance. I didn’t like either choice. I had responsibilities. I was counting on the money. I was scared. I wasn’t expecting this. HR said, “I have to legally tell… Continue Reading
After my dad went into a permanent coma I had to take his car back to the dealership and hand them the keys. They wanted to know what happened and I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t sign papers. I was shaking. I held out the keys and they took them. I walked out. My dad was… Continue Reading
When I was ten I wanted to be an astronaut, a writer, a spy, a superhero, and an advice columnist. I wrote a play. I did spy on people. But I couldn’t figure out how to be a superhero. I read collected columns of “Dear Abby” (an advice columnist) every day. The only advice I… Continue Reading
I used to love my job. Love it. I worked for my favorite entertainment company in the world. I would’ve paid to work there. I made friends at work. And on weekends we’d even get together and play poker. Sometimes we’d even travel on vacations together. My boss would yell at me but I could… Continue Reading
When I was a kid I used to skip school, hide behind my house until my parents left, and then go off to play chess with John Nash. Not THE John Nash, the Nobel Prize winner who also had schizophrenia. But his son, who was a very strong player. We would go over to his… Continue Reading
I think I’m in love with Mimi Ikonn. Oh, and also her husband Alex Ikonn. Don’t want to confuse anyone! When I was a kid I didn’t think I would be happy unless I was a “millionaire”. Some kids in my school said they were millionaires and they would make fun of anyone who wasn’t.… Continue Reading
Pierre Levegh killed 88 people in a car race. Even I am not that bad a driver. I’ve only almost killed one person. Maybe two. Pierre tried to get ahead of the Aston Martin in front of his Mercedes, made a sharp turn, flew into a wall, exploded, pieces flying everywhere, his skull crushed on… Continue Reading
I can’t believe how I’ve gotten away with what I’ve gotten away with even though I’m so stupid. I was having a weird argument yesterday with my ex-wife. I was trying to say, “I’m stupid” so she was disagreeing and accusing me of lying. So I kept insisting. “I got bad grades all through high… Continue Reading
I can’t believe how I’ve gotten away with what I’ve gotten away with even though I’m so stupid. I was having a weird argument yesterday with my ex-wife. I was trying to say, “I’m stupid” so she was disagreeing and accusing me of lying. So I kept insisting. “I got bad grades all through high… Continue Reading
