Kat S.’s Post

At a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island, Kurt Vonnegut informs his friend, Joseph Heller, that their host, a hedge fund manager, had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch-22 over its whole history. Heller responds,“Yes, but I have something he will never have — ENOUGH.” I’ve been having a lot of sessions with clients around the idea of “enough” when it comes to building thier businesses. And unless you define “enough”, you will spend your days thinking you’re lazy, unproductive, and lost. All businesses have so many things that need to be done, it’s impossible for one person, or even a team of people, to do them in one day. So how will you know you did a good job at the end of the day? You need to clearly define what “enough” work is for you in one day. Don’t overload it, don’t pack your schedule. Just make it clear when enough is enough for the day. At the end of the day, the day has to end. Might as well end it knowing you crushed it on your own terms. #mindset #coaching

💡Ray Dalio, self-made billionaire and hedge fund wizard, dropped a three-step recipe for success so simple it might make you wonder why you’re not already a billionaire too. He shared: 1️⃣ Know what you want. (Yes, clarity is key. No, “winning the lottery” doesn’t count.) 2️⃣ Figure out how to realistically get it. (Pro tip: “Realistically” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.) 3️⃣ Pursue it with ironclad determination. (Think Terminator, but for your goals.) 👉 Dalio, who turned principles into billions, believes the secret sauce is mastering cause-and-effect relationships and sticking to rock-solid principles. Translation: Success isn’t magic; it’s discipline, focus, and ➡️ knowing when to pivot. The question is, are you ready to apply the Dalio method to your goals—or are you here for the motivation and inspiration to get started❓

My career as a stand up comedian ended before it even started. I came up with the idea of doing a series of 'Life as a female Asian hedge fund manager' to encourage younger ladies who might have encountered similar situations, so it's a less lonely path. It's good to try new things but equally important to kill off the idea ASAP if it's not working. Here are some of the highlights of the constructive criticism I received: 1. You sound funny-smart and more 'put together' when you write. You should do a Live-action version of your best LinkedIn posts. 2. It was OK funny. And it wasn't even educational. So I wasn't sure what the point was. 3. It wasn't obvious this was at your office if you are trying to show the work place of a hedge fund manager. It looks like a house with lots of art. Maybe you should have some flashing Bloomberg screens or have some colleagues walking around in the background. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena. Certainly I fit the description of the damsel distressing to others "who errs, who comes short again and again". Some people might think there is a Mozart behind every successful hedge fund, coming up with wonderful tunes effortlessly. But it's probably more like Beethoven with an trial-and-error approach and overcoming setbacks. As Beethoven said, "To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable." So let me continue on my path to encourage with great courage, hopefully with a better outcome and perhaps more laughter next time. See more of my 'approved' media appearances at: www.gao-cap.com www.gao-adv.com #hedgefund #comedy #femaleempowerment

This really is a chilling read. Perhaps it's easy to dismiss as being 'in extremis', because let's face it not many of us are PA to a billionaire hedge fund founder, but to simply dismiss it on that basis is to miss the point. Feeling you can never switch off? A boss whose demands of you only ever increase? Every aspect of your behaviour and work being under scrutiny? Sacrificing friends, family and any semblance of your own life lived on your terms? Justifying it because its an amazing opportunity? Telling yourself it's a privilege? Compromising your own health because you never switch off? These are all too real for far too many people. If it feels more familiar than you'd like to acknowledge, maybe you need to rake a step back and check whether your job is actually killing you? Or as a minimum eroding who you are and your opportunity to live a fulfilling and well-rounded life? And if you're a leader...are you guilty of projecting these expectations on to others? Something to think about, especially if you had Sunday-night-itis last night. #burnout #sacrifice  #allworkandnoplay #balance https://lnkd.in/ey5Xngpq

Have you ever asked yourself, what is enough? I did, and here is what happened, After reading this story of Joseph Heller, the author of the book Catch 22, attending a party of a hedge fund manager. Chatting in a group of people, an acquaintance asked him, “How he felt that the hedge fund manager made more in a day than he did selling his book?” Joseph responded with, "Yes, But I have something he will never have... Enough." We are so focused on getting more, being more, wanting more. That we never sit down to ask, what enough is? So we go through life, from one stage to the next, and by the time we get older, we question, was this what I really wanted? Why am I not happy? I share this because I think it's important to take the time to think about deep questions like this. and I spent a Sunday answering questions about this topic. I’ve shared those questions with you below. 1. What is enough for me? In my career, in my family, in how much money I make, in what experiences I want to have in life. 2. Am I enough? 3. If I am enough and I have enough, how can I help others? Would love your thoughts below if you've pondered this question. #lifegoals #selfcare #personalgrowth

Year One Reflections: Lessons from Launching and Growing a Hedge Fund – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants As 2024 winds down, we reflect on the top lessons we’ve learned during Solimar Fund’s first year. One that stands out: The incredible privilege of being able to do this as a profession—something only possible because of the trailblazers who came before us. But whose shoulders are you standing on? And are you giving back? Throughout our careers, we’ve learned from the greats—through books, podcasts, research papers, and their stories. These lessons have shaped our approach to work and life. But perhaps of greater impact are the countless unnamed individuals—teachers, coaches, colleagues, parents, siblings, friends, and others—whose quiet contributions behind the scenes have had a lasting impact on each of us. Their guidance, both direct and indirect, continues to inspire our pursuit of excellence every day. On almost every investor call or meeting with industry peers, I am struck by how similar their origin stories are—how many, like us, were deeply shaped by a mentor, a professor, or a key individual who played a pivotal role in their path. These stories highlight the powerful, lasting impact that one person can have on shaping our journey. Standing on the shoulders of giants is more than an advantage—it’s a responsibility. It’s a privilege that allows us to reach for the stars and, in our case, deliver for our investors. But it also reminds us of the importance of giving back. As we reflect on our first year at Solimar Fund, our fourth at 2by2 Capital, and over three decades in the markets, we are deeply grateful for the knowledge, mentorship, and support that have guided us. And we are committed to spending even more time in the coming year giving back—helping others be what they were made to be. 🤙 G. Enjoy the ride.

Daniel Loeb, the 62-year-old chief executive of Third Point, represents one of his era's top hedge fund managers. His success suggests investors might want to follow in Loeb's footsteps. He wrote in a letter to Third Point shareholders on April 30, “AI’s transformational potential is a key element of the thesis for nearly half of our equity positions today.” A company taking full advantage of the AI craze is Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Thanks to AI demand, the company’s Google Cloud division saw revenue soar 28% in the first quarter. Here's what Loeb sees next for Alphabet shares.

Unexpected Meeting: Conversations with the World’s Largest Hedge Fund Owner It was a serendipitous moment—an unexpected encounter with one of the most influential investors of our time. As I was checking-in in the bustling JFK airport, in the midst of travelers and departure announcements, stood Ray Dalio—a man whose principles and experiences have shaped the world of finance. I approached him for a selfie and then recognizing the opportunity to learn from the living legend (a principle I learned from Robin Sharma), I initiated a conversation. “Your principles helped me recover from the onslaught of the pandemic,” I quipped. Dalio leaned in, his eyes reflecting decades of experience. “Ah,” he said, “those principles are the bedrock of my journey.” His voice carried the weight of hard-earned lessons on how he once lost everything, betting wrongly on the US economy in the 1980s. He nodded, acknowledging the painful memory. Ray Dalio’s story is one of resilience—a tale of rising from the ashes. When he hit rock bottom, he didn’t retreat; he reflected. Borrowing money from his Dad, he rebuilt his life. It was during those challenging times that he crystallized his principles. Here are some from his bestseller “Principles: Life and Work:” Clear Goals: Define clear objectives and align your actions with them. Root Cause Analysis: Diagnose problems at their root causes rather than treating symptoms. Effective Planning: Design effective plans based on data and analysis. Mental Maps and Humility: Understand your mental models and remain open to learning. Ray Dalio’s wisdom extends beyond investing—it’s a blueprint for a fulfilling life. Whether you’re managing a portfolio or navigating personal challenges, embrace hyperrealism, seek growth, confront weaknesses, and prioritize decision quality. As Dalio himself says, “Pain + Reflection = Progress.” And so, in the bustling terminal of JFK, I parted ways with Ray Dalio, carrying with me more than just a memory. I carried the essence of resilience, the power of realism, and the promise of success when you don’t allow fear and a bad experience cripple you.

"Build it, and they’ll show up... right?" Oh, how naive we were! We thought creating an incredible quantitative strategy, launching a hedge fund designed to double the market (SPY) every year with half the risk over five years, avoid down years, rank in the top 1% of all funds, and, most importantly, generate so much wealth for investors that their giving could create real impact... would have investors lining up at our door. Turns out, it’s not that simple. As emerging managers, we’re learning that even the best strategies need a platform and visibility. We've chosen LinkedIn . Apparently, that means showing up here regularly so you see my face, build trust, and (hopefully) start rooting for us. So here we go! I might not be LinkedIn’s Top Voice (yet), but I’m committed to sharing our journey and growing our network. Thanks for being part of it. If you or someone you know is an accredited investor, I’d love to connect! A quick intro or even sharing this post could make you the person who helped a friend build serious wealth. How cool would that be? Let’s chat! 🤙G.

A friend of mine flew in from overseas and surprised my son with an incredible gift—a book! I couldn't contain my excitement as I told him that I’d been following the author for a couple of years. I was absolutely thrilled to have this book in my office! Ray Dalio is an American billionaire investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist. He founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975, which became one of the world's largest and most successful hedge funds. Dalio is known for his unique approach to investing, focusing on radical transparency, and his emphasis on principles to guide decision-making. He’s also an author, best known for his book 'Principles', where he shares the insights and philosophies that shaped his career and life. Ray Dalio's book Principles can be summarized into three main points: 1. Embrace Reality and Deal with It: Face the facts of life and confront challenges head-on by being radically transparent and open-minded. 2. Use Principles as Decision-Making Tools: Establish clear principles to guide your decisions and actions consistently, leading to better results over time. 3. Strive for Continuous Learning and Improvement: Constantly seek to learn from experiences, both successes and failures, to keep improving and evolving.