Archive for October 2011
I Spy – Social Media and Recruiting
Having been in the executive search business since 1986, I am very familiar with methods for vetting candidates. Besides the usual reference checking, credit and criminal investigative reports are being conducted by outside agencies mostly for executive level candidates but even more junior rank potentials are now being checked.
In this world of technology we live in, other methods are being utilized now including reviewing social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. The New York Times recently posted an article about this called “Social Media History Becomes a New Job Hurdle”. The article discusses one start-up company that scans the Internet looking for information on potential candidates going as far back as 7 years! They review the more popular sites like LinkedIn but also try to find comments, videos, and photos on more obscure sites like Tumblr, Yahoo groups, and Craigslist.
This practice is widely used. According to this article, about “75 percent of recruiters are required by their companies to do online research of candidates. And 70 percent of recruiters in the United States report that they have rejected candidates because of information online.”
So what can you do especially when it is considered almost necessary to have a LinkedIn profile and a Facebook page? LinkedIn is a business networking site so the only area that could be a problem is the recommendations section. Make sure you edit any recommendations and also have another person read it so nothing will be misconstrued. In other words, what you think sounds fine may be to an objective person very troublesome. In addition, be careful who you link with. One recruiter I know will scan the connections list to ascertain what types of people the candidate interacts with.
Facebook is more tricky and needs to be monitored even more carefully. Although many people have their settings for only friends and family, many companies are now asking for candidates to show their Facebook page during their interview. I checked with two employment attorneys regarding this and they say it is not legal to do that but most candidates will comply or face not being considered for the position. Carefully review what your contacts are saying and “unfriend” or “block” them if they are posting anything that is not acceptable. Stress with your children that their postings can reflect badly on you and that they need to watch not only what they say but how they say it.
Recently I facilitated a workshop on personal branding. We discussed Facebook and how things can be misinterpreted. As an example, I participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and raise money through Facebook. Someone questioned that a potential employer may think I have breast cancer or someone in my family and will pass on my candidacy for medical reasons.
Even more importantly be extra careful with tagging. Being tagged in a photo is fun, however, if there is alcohol, drugs, nudity, etc. this will be a knockout as part of the interview process. According to this same article, one man posted many pages of himself with various guns and would never be considered for employment opportunities. If there are too many mentions of goofing off on the job or complaining about their coworkers or employer that will be a quick way for a recruiter to move on to the next candidate.
Employers do have to be cognizant about what information they will consider and what is not necessary or illegal. Recruiting practices need to be outlined thoroughly so there is no room for misinterpretation on what is acceptable in determining the viability of a person’s candidacy. I have heard in my workshops that some candidates are pushing back and not willing to partake in a social media background check. They feel that this is personal information and not indicative of their job performance. Whatever your views are just be wary of what you post and what others post as well. Others are definitely watching you…
By E. Elizabeth Carter
President
Carter Consultants Ltd.
Gold Trading
What types of Gold Trading are Available
There are a number of ways to do gold trading in the stock market. If you are looking to buy gold stocks, you can invest in mining companies. This will have you stock picking several mining companies to put in your portfolio. However, you must choose carefully as some of your stock picks in the mining sector may not perform. Many investors trading stocks in gold companies think that if the price of gold goes up, then mining companies will automatically see an increase in their share price. This is not true and is the reason why you should do a fundamental analysis of the company you are going to invest in.
There are many things to consider when looking at a mining company. It is important to look at management, the competition it faces from other mining companies, its financial health, and how much proven reserves it has. These are a few points that need to be looked into before you consider it a good stock pick. If the company has been operating at a loss or it has large debts, then an increase in gold prices may not reflect on the company’s share price. Other thing you can do to make gold trading profitable is to perform a technical analysis of the gold market prices. This will help you identify trends in the stock price, as well as help you find out where it may make a reversal.
GETFs or gold exchange-traded funds are another way that you can get involved in gold trading. In the stock market today, you will find gold exchange traded funds on the major exchanges. When gold trading with ETFs, a commission of about 0.4% is charged. Some ETFS will hold physical gold and they will have an annual charge for storage. It is important to find out what your ETFs policies are and if they are holding actual gold.
You can also look at gold accounts as an alternative to gold trading. Gold accounts are becoming very popular among investors who want trade in gold. These are accounts that let you buy and sell gold as if you were trading stocks or foreign currency. If you are new to investing in gold stocks, you should look to enlist the services of a broker who can provide you with advice and stock tips on mining companies, or help you with trading on futures and options. This will help minimize your risk at the beginning until you are more experienced in gold trading.
From Sharecropper’s Son To Entrepreneur, John Sperling Is A True Success Story
John Sperling Grew to become An Entrepreneur By Shear Determination
90 years ago John Sperling was born in a log Cabin in the Ozarks. As the son of a sharecropper his beginnings did not suit the role of an entrepreneur who would in the future help to shape and run a Fortune 500 company. His life started off an awful lot like Abraham Lincolns, he was the youngest of five children who had to use a coal burning stove to stay warm and share an outhouse.
By the age of 15 Sperling was a struggling student without much of a future when his father died suddenly. That was a turning point in his life, it pressed him to start making an income and John joined the Merchant Marines. There he and his shipmates spent their downtime reading books regarding politics and history.
It was at this point that John became hooked on learning and education and it pushed him towards a job as an instructor of Humanities at San Jose University. In near by San Francisco is where the now famous, University of Phoenix was born.
Like Nearly all Great Entrepreneurs, John Sperling Saw a Need And Filled It.
In the early 1970′s John and a group of instructors created a private entity to educate police officers and other teachers how to work with At-risk youth. This system was so well received that John and his, now partners, developed an additional curriculum specifically for working adults that was allied with local colleges from the Bay area.
From those programs sprang the early beginnings of an organization often known as the Institute for Professional Development. While not the first, this group was on a strong path to become the leader in “for profit” education. John Sperling was considered to be a pioneer in the design and conception of the new form of education delivery services.
While, quickly becoming a successful enterprise, John and his associates found themselves at odds with the State of California Educational system. Little did he know at the time, but this would result in a profound name change and move. Which was the start of a company that became recognized all over the world for it’s leadership in adult learning and education.
With a quick move to Arizona, this small but promising firm became known as The University of Phoenix.
Sperling Continues To Be An Leader And Entrepreneur
Once he had a successful business, John Sperling could have easily sat back and enjoyed the fruits of his labor. But what made him the leader of an industry still serves him today. He continues to look past the obvious and ascertain the wants of what some would consider to be a reasonably uninteresting and difficult market to enter.
His company evolved into one of the first to provide on-line teaching and has made its targets for instruction, working adults, parents and minorities offering them lessons and programs not always easily found in traditional colleges.
This has produced challenges for Sperling and his team, but at 90, he continues to contemplate creative methods to bring about new and distinctive programs and methods to deliver those programs to those that are not able to otherwise obtain the education they need to achieve their dreams.
As with most other successful entrepreneurs, John Sperling has continued to direct his company forward and allowed his vision to move him past the trying times and propel him in the good times.
John Seprling is proof once again, that a great entrepreneur doesn’t have to come from wealth or even a highly educated background. But drive determination, focus and a gift for looking for a deficit in the market are the cornerstones of what creates this distinctive combination for success.
Scott Schreiber is a retired businessman who has over 30 years of successful management of turn around projects, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital work and senior sales and marketing management. Scott’s current mission is to help small business owners and entrepreneurs learn how to compete, grow and succeed in our current economy. He is also the founder of The Entrepreneur Success Team.
Learn more about 21st Century Entrepreneurs here.
When Your Business Should Hire a Car, Limo, or Taxi Service Vs Handling Airport Runs on Your Own
The way in which business-related airport travel is handled reflects your company’s relationship with and attitude toward the person being transported. Make sure that you’re aware of what message you’re sending with the travel arrangements you make and consider the logistics of each specific travel situation carefully to see if it’s better for you to hire an airport car service or to handle the airport run on your own. That way, the trip will go smoothly, and your business contact will arrive or leave with a good impression of your company.
There are a number of elements to consider when it comes to coordinating airport travel arrangements. First and foremost, you should determine what option–hiring an airport shuttle or car service or taking care of transport individually–is logistically viable. There are already a number of stressors around air travel, so it’s essential to go with the airport transit option that won’t add to that burden. If there is any reason why it would be difficult for you to pick up or drop off your business contact at the airport on time, call an airport taxi, town car service, or shuttle service. If, on the other hand, you, or another company representative, are able to transport the person in question without trouble–and if you have an appropriate vehicle in which to do so–showing that type of personal attention to your contact may well be beneficial to your business relationship.
In addition to logistical concerns, it’s also essential to take into account what image you will convey with your airport transit choice. If the traveler in question is a VIP client, for example, it might be better to hire a private limo, chauffeur, or car service to pick them up or take them to the airport. Alternatively, if close individual connections are part of your business model and practice, picking up a guest or client in person may well serve you better than hiring a vehicle for them. Both options have their benefits, but both communicate a very different message. Before you make any airport travel arrangements, think about how you want the person who is being picked up or dropped off to feel about your company, and choose the travel option that will best serve and support that desired image.
Business travel is part of almost every company, large or small. If you have a business contact coming to visit, think through the logistics of the travel arrangements, as well as what sense of your company you want them to have, well beforehand.
That way, all the airport transit, whether it’s a private taxi or an in-person company pickup, will run without difficulty. Your guest will feel cared for, and you’ll be able to promote the image of your company that you want your guest to see. Maria Allen is a small business specialist and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, a leader in local online advertising.
City Maps Are Better on Paper
There are tons of people who could very easily argue that city maps printed on paper have become all but obsolete in these day. Certain online sites can give detailed directions to practically any destination on the planet, and many modern vehicles are equipped with GPS devices that are meant to ensure that drivers will never be lost again. Printed maps are still available at many truck stops and convenience stores across the country, but it seems like more and more people are more willing to forego traditional atlases and city maps in favor of modern technology. And yet, there are still times when it is best to have an old fashioned paper map available for use in a car’s glove compartment.
GPS navigation is the wave of the future, this is true. But the technology has been progressing to the point where maps are downloaded much more quickly, and they often are capable of delivering directions to destinations in real time. Free online map services also provide easy-to-read directions to a destination for those who have an internet connection but since lack a GPS system. Still, neither GPS systems or online map services are a perfect solution. GPS devices run on batteries which is an expensive cost. GPS navigation system may get a driver to where he or she needs to be most of the time, but when the batteries die during a long road trip, then what do you do? The fantastic source of up-to-the-minute information that was so convenient, in just moments before is essentially useless. Fortunately, a driver doesn’t have anything to worry about if he or she has a city map to pull out. It won’t give anyone directions in real time, and it also won’t tell anyone if there is road construction happening or any detours that are happening, but it will give the driver directions to get where he or she needs to go. As a navigational backup alone, paper maps can be endlessly useful in all situations.
Many drivers have been spoiled by their GPS systems. GPS devices are amazing tools, but they are far from perfect devices. A GPS map can easily be outdated, in fact some people may not realize this as they are using their GPS tool. Those precise directions that they can give also may steer a driver in the entirely wrong direction. It is true that paper maps printing on paper can never be updated, but the basic layout of road doesn’t change on a day to day basis.
All in all, drivers should not be left a paper city map on hand during long trips. As great as GPS systems can be, sometimes they simply cannot beat a folded up map or atlas when it come to navigation.
Top 5 Success Principles
If you think creating a successful business may just be the most challenging goal you’ve ever taken on, you are probably correct. Building a successful business is not a walk in the park, but it is certainly a realizable and achievable goal. It doesn’t always require a lot of money (although that would clearly be an asset) and frankly, it doesn’t even require that you have more talent than the “average Joe.” However, building a successful business does require a strategic business owner who follows the principles of success to build a castle where there was once only sand. Below are the Top 5 Success Principles that will teach you how to create a successful business in realistic and achievable steps. Success Principle #1: Don’t waste your time on unnecessary tasks that won’t help you build success. Tasks like watching TV, reading a magazine or talking on the phone with friends should all be done after you’re done with your goals for the day, not during your workday. Taking part in these activities throughout your workday is called procrastination and it’s a nasty self-sabotaging habit that will only keep you from being successful. You only have a limited amount of hours to work each day, make sure that these hours go toward activities that will build success for your business. Focus on your highest pay-off activities that put you in the highest probability position to achieve your goals and apply effective time management principles for even greater success. Success Principle #2: Put your money into your business. When you’re first starting out, it’s exciting to turn a substantial profit and you may be tempted to blow the money on non-business related items or events. The money is better served going right back into your business. Your business will never grow if you take most of the profits and use them for personal gain. In order to grow your business, you must constantly invest in it. That’s a principle of success, period. Success Principle #3: Get outside your own limited mindset. Negative Nancy’s never build success; do you know why? Because they’re too busy focusing on the negative to take action on valuable opportunities. That doesn’t mean that you must remain Happy Holly 24/7, but do not let the negative keep you down. If something doesn’t go your way, allow yourself just a brief moment to replay the situation and think about what you could have done differently. Once that minute is up – let it go. Learn from it and stay positive. It’s important to expand your mindset and train yourself to look for viable and profitable business opportunities in the midst of all the failure. You need to believe that your business can succeed and believe in your own abilities as a skilled professional, even when no one else is willing to. Success Principle #4: Remember your passion. After the novelty of opening a new business wears off, you’ll have to find a way to keep the passion for your work alive. Reconnect with why you started your business in the first place. Keep those triggering thoughts close to your heart and exploit them to propel you into working, smarter and build success for your business. Keep the fire that compelled you start your business in the first place burning bright. Success Principle #5: Take action, constantly. Many unsuccessful business owners share common traits: they complain, feel sorry for themselves and ultimately give in to failure. While all successful business owners have gotten to where they are today because they kept going – no matter what happened. Every step they took was step closer to achieving their goals and eventually, they experienced success. Don’t let anything derail you from your goals. Keep working on improving your business and overcoming failure. Regardless if you’re trying to take home $75,000+ profit or want to net $1,000,000 in sales within the next three years, it’s attainable; you just have to be diligent and believe in your business. Focus on what you can control – you and your actions and activities. You can build a successful business by following these five success principles. Many business owners tend to make a situation more complicated than it needs to be; they think achieving success is only attainable for the rich and famous or for those who have been dealt a lucky hand. However, it’s been proven many times over that an “average Joe” can transform into a wealthy business owner if they are dedicated to success and learn how to think strategically for the sake of their business. The most important factor when achieving success is having a game plan. Without it you are merely going to be “winging it,” and that will make the journey more complicated that it needs to be. Step #1. Start with where you want to be. Write out a list of goals that addresses long-term, big picture kind of goals. Step #2. Next, determine where you are. Is your current life completely different from your long-term vision or is it on the right path, just not quite there yet? This can be a difficult question, as most cannot “see” where they really are in relation to their goals. Get a life coach and you will have a much better idea of where you are and which direction to head in. Step #3. Now it’s decision time. There is a BIG difference between wanting a specific goal and actually committing to doing whatever it takes to accomplish it. Decide right now how much your goals mean to you and if you can stand to continue living life as you currently know it. If your answer is no, the only other option is to commit to making it happen – no matter what. Copyright Anne M. Bachrach. All rights reserved. Go to http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/landing/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now and an audio on Effective Time Management. Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle Membership today and receive 10% off on all products and services, in addition to having access to assessments and resources to help you achieve your goals so you can experience a more balanced and successful life ( http://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ ). Anne M. Bachrach is known as The Accountability Coach. She has 23 years of experience training and coaching. The objective is to work less, make more money, and have a more balanced life. Anne is the author of the book, Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule!, and Live Life with No Regrets; How the Choices We Make Impact Our Lives. Enjoy a myriad of proven resources that are available to you so you can enjoy the kind of life you truly want.
Catering Supplies: The Heart Of Your Business
When you are a caterer, it’s important to find catering supplies. Finding the necessary items at the proper price and adequate quality can be a challenge. Thankfully, we have many options and it’s getting easier all the time. With the proper research, your problem can easily be solved.
Caters need a lot of supplies to perform their job effectively. This is a unique business and requires some special items that no other entrepreneur will ever need. Additionally, the work space will change based on the job. One day you might be serving a luncheon for a group of business men on a high floor in an office building. Another day you might be serving a multi-course dinner for a wedding. You could be planning an outdoor event at a local park for a group of seniors.
Being flexible and versatile is all part of this service. While adapting to the ever changing settings, you also need to provide excellent food. This food needs to be kept at the proper temperature, whether hot or cold. The food needs to be presented well and look delicious. You want to make their mouth water before they even touch it.
The supplies you need are broken into many segments. First, you need the general business items. For example, business cards, invoice slips, and everything you see in a basic office from paper clips to a computer. Presenting yourself as a professional caterer is not possible without a home base office. Other supplies include a fax machine, business phone line, and be sure to hire someone to put up a website. You can’t do business today without a solid presence on the internet. Many potential customers will look for you there. You should also hire a graphic designer to create a catchy logo. Keep in mind that this logo will represent you for years and you need to love it. Also, be sure the logo looks OK in black and white as well as in full color.
Food is the heart of your business. Do your homework and find the best places in your town to secure your food requirements. You will need a good butcher who can supply you with good meat at a great price. Be sure to inquire about quantity discounts. Do you have a farmers market in your area? Visit and make some friends. Available fruit and vegetables will vary by season and it’s very important that you learn how the rotation works. You will also need a backup plan for securing out of season items. The vendors may have some ideas for you. Spices and seasonings are also detrimental. You can’t make great dishes without the proper spice. Invest in great flavors.
Next you will need preparation items. Obviously, this will vary by job requirement. Ever caterer requires good pots and pans, sharp knifes, bowls for mixing, measuring cups and spoons, and storage containers. Invest in a quality, electric mixer. Most caterers are also very skilled at baking. Be sure to buy some high quality baking pans for this reason. It’s so very important that you have a well equipped kitchen.
The proper transporting and serving items is just as vital. After you have crafted the meal, you need to load it into whatever vessel you will use to bring it to the site. Some of those containers might double as a serving dish or you might have to use a separate display pan. You may need to reheat the food onsite. It’s important to plan for this. Often you need butane heaters to keep the food warm. Access to ice is important for the beverages. Sometimes you need to keep food cool and ice is the only way to do this. Be sure to inquire about ice before you arrive since transporting it for a long way can be difficult or impossible. Be sure to include serving items if the site requires it. They may be relying on you to bring plates, napkins, and utensils. Be sure to have those conversations and you are on the same page with your client. It would be very embarrassing to show up with great food and no way for the guests to eat it.
Don’t overlook yourself and your appearance. Be sure to consider this in your catering supplies. You need to look the part, be professional, and still look good. Your hair needs to be secured and under a hair net. Most caters wear a uniform and a clean apron. Consider getting your logo embroidered onto your apron. Gloves are required for you and your staff. You and your staff are your best onsite marketing. Solid customer service skills will lead the way to your success as a caterer.
David Strickland Talks about Catering Supplies, learn all about catering supplies. Stop by The Next Day Catering site where you can find out everything you will ever need to know about catering equipment and what it can do for your business.
Adolf Hitler and Successful People Have Something In Common
You would also come to realize that almost all of them would keep pictures of their wants and goals so they could visualize them in their heads. Just the other day a former World War II veteran came clean on an album he stole from Hitler’s house during the war. The gentleman that had the book was named Pistone:
“Making his way through the Berghof, Hitler’s home near Berchtesgaden, Germany, Pistone noticed a table with shelves underneath. Exhilarated by the certainty of victory over the Nazis, Pistone took an album filled with photographs of paintings as a souvenir.”
So you’ll understand that Pistone actually took it as a souvenir. However what is interesting about this is what was inside the album and how it relates to people who are successful in life.
First off, I’ll say that I understand Hitler was a wild man and not set with good intentions to better serve mankind. But he was doing something that all successful people do. He was keeping a journal, book, album or whatever you want to call it on his vision and goal.
Inside this album was a collection of art pictures Hitler wanted. Hitler obviously wanted these pieces of art so much that he created an album of pictures so he could look at them daily to remind himself what he wanted and to keep him focused on his goals.
We all can understand the way he was going about achieving power and success was not the best way to go about it, yet he was following a principle that I recommend people use to achieve anything they want in life.
I feel that if you truly want something in life you must be able to first see yourself having it. The best practice I’ve found is not only to visualize yourself having it but to put things in place throughout your daily life that will remind you of your goals and intentions. By doing this you will constantly remind yourself of your deepest desires, which will assist with keeping you on track with your wants.
Many people have started doing what’s called a vision board, which actually became famous in a movie called The Secret. This method is no more than creating a board with pictures of things you want in life and hanging it up on the wall so you can see it every day to remind yourself of what it is that you really want.
Most successful people I know do something similar to this approach. They keep things around them that support them in achieving success. I personally keep a little vision board in my wallet so I see it every day and every time I pay for something. It reminds me to ask myself if what I’m paying for supports my higher mission in life. I know many other greats who documented their lives and kept things around them to stay on track. Whatever you decide to use is up to you. I just recommend doing something.
I know one thing is certain… success leaves clues. And we can learn from the greats just as much as we can learn from the people who thought they were doing right even when they were actually doing wrong.
Brian Zimmerman is a top leader in the home business industry. He is known for developing top producers and leaders. His last venture he assisted top infomercial company increase profits by over 300% in less than a year earning well over 1.5 million a week. To schedule an interview with Mr. Zimmerman call 1 720 230 6773. For information on his latest endeavor go to http://www.BrianEZimmerman.com
Best Online Sites for Finding Jobs
Finding jobs online is a common occurrence in today’s world. It helps the job hunter save on a number of things including: gas, stamps, envelopes, and being completely clueless. Having the internet to search for jobs and apply online can save a lot of stress. It also helps to narrow down markets and areas to search in.
It is hard to do a search for job sites on the internet and not run across Monster. This is one of the largest databases that exist online. It contains job openings for all types of positions and to this day contains over 41million resumes. This site is also great for those that already have a job, but are searching for a new one because profiles and resumes can be blocked from current employer’s search. They offer optional information on interviews, resumes, and how to negotiate salaries. This site is at the top or near it in most reviews for online job sites.
Another site commonly found is CareerBuilder.com. This site finds jobs from major newspapers and combines them in one place. It has over 23 million visitors each month, and can produce very unique job postings. The site also offers resources for specific types of needs. This site has been one of job seekers favorites for a few years now.
A highly rated site, but more focused on technical jobs and resumes is Dice.com. They offer more than 88,000 tech job postings. The site also claims that many applicants receive offers within 48 hours. An email is sent to the user every time jobs are posted that match their skills. The search engine works to look for jobs by location, industry, and percentage of travel time required. The site also offers links to complete online computer training and certification exams.
Yahoo’s! HotJobs is another popular site to search for jobs. It ranks just below Monster, which actually recent bought HotJobs, but it has many appealing features. For instance, users can see how many times their resume has been viewed, and they can also keep certain companies from viewing their resume.
Simplyhired.com is a site for job seekers only. The site shows job listings from many other websites and the users can send their resumes to the other sites. After the user has used the site for a while, it will send links to job postings that are similar to what the person is looking for. Resumes cannot be posted directly onto the site, but it does allow posting to other sites. It has recently partnered up with LinkedIn.com to allow users the maximum potential in having their resume seen and communicating with potential employers.
One last site is MediaBistro. It is a highly ranked site but is directed at the media niche. After registering, users can search listings by job, industry, and location. Jobs are offered from the largest media companies in the country. There are active bulletin boards for different interests in media related fields. The site also sponsors network gatherings across the country.
Dallas Sumahit is an entrepreneur and enjoys his time creating new and innovative techniques to help people find jobs and become employed. To view more of what Dallas Sumahit does, visit his website at http://www.sierrajoblink.com
Is Gold Sitting On The Shelf Laughing At Us?
Every man and his dog knows how good gold has been over the last 24 months. But is gold that has been bought up, just sitting on the shelf laughing at us. This is an interesting concept.
After such and eye popping run gold has had in the last few years, there are lots of people out there worried that gold is finally in a bubble and that bubble is about to pop badly.
Since 2009 gold seems to be the superman investment as it has been continually climbing for months on end. Every time it sells off a little it gets bought by and investors and head back up north continuing on its path. It is like gold is sitting there laughing at us the whole time.
But is gold really in a bubble? Well, despite many warning signs of gold being in a bubble it just doesn’t seem to be right now. The catch 22 to this situation is that people talking about gold being in a
possible bubble may have kept it from bubbling in the first place. There still seems to be many keen buyers out there, especially if gold sells off 5-10%
The larger funds and institutional investors are a little scared to get into gold right now as it has gone up too much for their liking. Their explanation is that anything that has gone up by 200% or more in 2 years is a very dangerous investment. But what if gold keeps skidding up more and more?
A lot of newbie investors will tell you that the US dollar is doomed, and that is their reason to sit down and just keep buying gold, over and over. But then again, these types of investors rarely buy and hold gold for the long term. They seem to be short term buyers and sellers.
The real reason for this, is that there is actually a bubble in interest not owning the gold. Everyone out there is bullish, but there are not many people buying gold at the moment.
Right now it is said that the ownership of gold only tops 2% of all global investments. While some say this is not clear about the future of gold as an investment. Other argue that this marked the end of the last gold bull market run. So that is why there are people a little scared to invest right now.