Author Archives: Ziad K Abdelnour

Can we separate Economics and Politics?

Some people criticize the injection of politics into economic discussions. But economic historians tell us that economists used to understand and accept that economics is wholly interrelated with politics, and that politics affects our economy. They note that modern economists have artificially tried to somehow separate the two, like Descartes tried to separate the mind from the body. Indeed, the father of modern economics – Adam Smith – talked a lot about politics in relation to economics.

 

If mainstream (“neoclassical”) economists think that politics is an irrelevant and separate topic, it may be because they are using wholly discredited models or that “it is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

 

Continue Reading: Economics and Politics

Stop Procrastinating and Find a Reason to be Rich – Ziad K Abdelnour

I believe each one of us has a financial genius in him/her that is asleep and just waiting to be awakened. It lies asleep because our culture has educated us into believing the wrong things about money. We’re taught to be employees and work for money rather than to be entrepreneurs and investors and have money work for us. We’re taught to not worry about our financial future because our company or the government will do that for us.

 

I also believe the best revenge against liberals and corporate bosses idiots is “obscene wealth”.

 

The message about money we’re taught from a young age is work hard, earn money, spend it, and when we run short, borrow some more. Unfortunately, 90 percent of the Western world subscribes to the above dogma, simply because it’s easier to find a job and work for money than to make your own way and build your own wealth.

But to those who want to buck the trend, I have 10 ways to awaken your financial genius which I’ll share with you over the next couple months.

 

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“Stop Thinking and Start Doing” (Monetizing your knowledge) – Ziad K Abdelnour

It is amazing the number of people  I meet on a daily basis who have all kinds of knowledge stored in their brains but still have not figured out yet how to convert all this knowledge into money.

 

Can this be achieved? … Well, here are my personal thoughts.

 

1. Knowledge does not convert into money. Knowledge is the multiplier for work. Work converts into money. It is only challenging to say the least to convert knowledge into money if one is not willing to put any work to support their knowledge with. So for all the day dreamers out there, it all starts with “smart work”.

 

2. Work is not translated into dollars until you find people willing to embrace your product or service. In other words, unless you have knowledge that others 1) need in its raw form, 2) cannot acquire on their own, and 3) are willing to pay for, then knowledge by itself is just potential. Like a car with no gas. Combine knowledge with the energy/effort needed to apply it to a purpose, you might get somewhere.

 

3.  Stop thinking and start doing. Most people would rather talk and not perform any actual work. They’re thinkers, not doers. Or, it could be that they are scared to fail, or find out that their knowledge isn’t all that unique or important.  Start executing and lose the fear.

 

Continue Reading: “Stop thinking and start doing”

A Period of Temporary Economic Decline Which Started in 2007 is ongoing…

This nation was founded on the principle of wealth creation. As a young Henry Clay said in the House of Representatives in 1812, “It [wealth creation] is a passion as unconquerable as any with which nature has endowed us.

 

You may attempt to regulate—you cannot destroy it.” That is supposed to be the federal government’s primary objective. It is supposed to promote the creation of an environment conducive to the creation of wealth—not job creation, not bailouts, not subsidies, not expansion of the federal bureaucracy, and not providing lifetime support to those who choose not to take advantage of the innumerable opportunities that exist in this nation for them to create a better, more productive life for themselves.

 

If we can turn around the tide at the next Presidential elections, I believe there is a very bright future ahead of us. If not, I am afraid we are in for an even bumpier road.

 

By Ziad K Abdelnour

Ziad K Abdelnour’s Book:”An unjust piece of legislation…”

Ziad K Abdelnour serves on the board of TMax Capital, an investment management and specialty finance group that focuses on commodities secularization, proprietary structured products based on debt and assets, private equity placements, asset management, and other financial ventures that create synergistic value for its partners and portfolio companies

 

He is also member of the advisory board of DPG Investments, a recognized premier multistrategy global merchant banking, alternative investment, management, and advisory firm; and FlatWorld Capital, a global private equity investment firm led by a team of dynamic investment professionals and entrepreneurs with over seven decades of experience in finding and structuring innovative and creative solutions to the challenges of global private equity investing.

 

Ziad K Abdelnour is a regular panelist and speaker on private equity and venture capital topics at industry conferences nationwide.

 

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Why is every private equity fund we meet trying to take advantage of us?

Our view in this regard is very simple:

 

As venture capital and private equity continue to make news headlines, entrepreneurs may find it challenging to distinguish fact from fiction.

 

1. Do investors win at the expense of entrepreneurs?
2. Are investors out to wrest control from management?
3. Is an investor’s sole focus on the final liquidity event?

 

Without question, misperceptions can prevent an entrepreneur from making rational, fact-based decisions.

 

During my 20 years as an investor, I have come to identify what I call “The Five Myths of Private Equity.” Let’s closely examine these five myths, one by one:

 

Myth #1: Private equity is a win-lose game — investors win, entrepreneurs lose.

 

According to this myth, private investors somehow make off with the value of your company — perhaps buying at a too-low price and cutting you out of the eventual rewards that you’d earn from going public or selling to another company. Remember, though, that private equity investors only make money if the value of your company appreciates.

 

Continue Reading: Private Equity Investing

“Millions of people have seen their savings evaporate…”-By Ziad K Abdelnour


This nation was founded on the principle of wealth creation. As a young Henry Clay said in the House of Representatives in 1812, “It [wealth creation] is a passion as unconquerable as any with which nature has endowed us. You may attempt to regulate—you cannot destroy it.” That is supposed to be the federal government’s primary objective. It is supposed to promote the creation of an environment conducive to the creation of wealth—not job creation, not bailouts, not subsidies, not expansion of the federal bureaucracy, and not providing lifetime support to those who choose not to take advantage of the innumerable opportunities that exist in this nation for them to create a better, more productive life for themselves.

By ZIad K Abdelnour

“The Criminal behavior of bankers…”-ZIad K Abdelnour

Blackhawk Partners, Inc., is a reliable trader and supplier of a wide range of commodities to industrial and financial consumers globally.

The Firm’s role is to be a trustworthy and competitive partner to businesses in the segments of the market which it serves and to support those businesses as they expand and develop.

The Firm’s customers around the world rely upon Blackhawk as a source of Metals and Minerals and Crude Oil and Oil Derivative Products.

By Ziad K Abdelnour