From the Desk of Dustin Clemons. 6/8/2020

As the whole world got a glimpse into the lives of African Americans this week and the obstacles minorities face around the world, I couldn’t help but to catch a Sam Cooke documentary on prime video. The documentary told details of the life of the talented singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. I was surprised to find out that all of the beautiful music he created was not even owned by his estate or a record label but rather a person. I learned that his family have not received any benefits or royalties from his life’s work and for the purpose of this post I wanted to get a picture of Allen Klein, the person along with Sam Cooke, who owns his rights but couldn’t find one. It made me think of a project I did in college years ago about how people should control and benefit from their own content. I did the assignment when I noticed the popularity of memes and how people were beginning to create short clips or montages to give their followers a laugh for free; Facebook brought Giphy for 400 million earlier this year and let’s just say I saw it coming.

Still to this day, I hear of ideas getting taken by big corporations or individuals with more of a following or vision, as well as up and coming talent who sign away all of their rights for money that they will eventually have to pay back; when will people learn? When will we all understand the benefits of the world wide web? Today we have information that is readily available and just about anyone can research a topic of their choice, develop an idea, and make some type of profit. I want people to take the time and discover that a large portion of all the great inventions and content that we consume daily were in fact created by someone who we never would have thought.

The creators of Superman sold the rights to DC Comics in 1938 for $130, about $2,300 today; we all know what Superman is worth now. What is even more crazy and will really make you understand what I’m saying is that the physical $130 paper check actually sold at auction in 2012 for $160,000. The check was actioned by the heirs of DC Comic’s original owners, so the original creators of superman didn’t even get a piece of that pie. What I’m saying is in this day in time you must own what you create and make sure the residuals stay within your family. Legalzoom.com and Copyright.gov have all the resources and ability you need to control the beautiful ideas you contribute to the world. In 2020, one major way to control your content is by creating your own website to post your thoughts and pictures, host your own video, social media and content video sites are great and have a huge customer base but if you want to make your own money, make your own decisions about what is allowed and protect your content and ideas from those who steal then I advise you to get more conscious of what you own and how are you going to continue to own it and distribute it in a safe and efficient way. 

Check that bought Superman rights for $130 sells for $160,000

https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-usa-superman/check-that-bought-superman-rights-for-130-sells-for-160000-idUSBRE83G02F20120417

Outlook: 

The markets are very unpredictable at this moment, so I will be shuffling my portfolio this week, optioning heavy. I want to try to get a grasp on what I feel would happen the next few months. I feel not all are focused on productivity and how will their bills get paid in November, I ask this week that you take time and get a clear picture of your business and your family’s personal financial approach for the next few weeks. 

Lasting Quote: 

“It feels like there is now lots of support around, but how much of that support is monetary?”

-Dustin Clemons

Until the next, I thank you for your time.   

From the Desk of Dustin Clemons. 6/1/2020

I don’t know how many times these past few months I’ve said the words “I can’t believe” and again, I can’t believe something happened to us that actually put the pandemic on the backburner. As I watched a group of people this week express their emotions, disappointment of inequality and losing people in their community to police violence, I couldn’t help but to think of Martin Luther King Jr. and wondered what would he have to say. How would he feel about our current state? What would his plan be to lead us out of it?

I, myself could barely watch the video that surfaced on social media platforms and couldn’t imagine that someone sworn to protect and serve can be so careless of the life of another human being. I am sick and deeply saddened by the action of the cop on Monday and want justice for the family; but I couldn’t help but to think of those cops that want to save lives and of those cops that quickly hop out their vehicle to help an elderly lady cross the street. Further, not all officers terrorize the neighborhood’s they patrol, a large majority are hardworking, family oriented, caring individuals who sacrifice their lives with great courage and devotion to duty.

Moreover, I was disappointed at how one person’s actions stain the work of the good cops and want to convey my regards to the looting and riots, and that is, I do not under no circumstances or situation condone it because I believe the best gifts come after hard work. Additionally, I couldn’t help but to wish I owned one of the stores that got broken into and wondered if I’d actually feel bad that the people who have been left behind for years finally got a few freebies. All brick and mortar owners should have insurance especially the large corporations that were mostly hit, so don’t be as mad. These people have lost their low paying jobs and didn’t get the stimulus they were promised, they have lost their livelihoods and human connection due to the pandemic; and they have lost another life, live on television.

And finally, you may ask how do we go forward? We apply ourselves, learn economics, learn how to build and grow your own business and employ people of different diversities, study the establishment and plan your move into the world of business. I believe instead of focusing on the unfairness of the system, you learn the system; information is available to all people and today a business can be started on the internet and become profitable. I feel this is the way to make change. Lastly, I couldn’t help but to feel that even MLK himself, with all his great preaching at peaceful protest, was alive today to witness what has gone on these past days. I could picture him in a cell shaking his head saying with a smirk, “These young people are something else”.

Outlook:

Bank of America CEO said Thursday, “Balances of checking accounts below $5,000 had 30% to 40% more money in them compared with 12 weeks ago”, He saw this as a good sign for the economy and I saw it as people saving money because the big bills will come in the future; I ask people to invest and try to grow your own money in the stock market or other means. Don’t just leave it in the bank because the bank will surely be making money off of your deposit. I see the market in red this week but if we see green on Monday, then you know the looting wasn’t as bad after all and the insurance money will have stakeholders smiling to the bank.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/28/bank-of-america-ceo-brian-moynihan-says-us-economy-starting-to-come-out-of-the-hole.html

Lasting Quote:

“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

Until the next, I thank you for your time.

From the Desk of Dustin Clemons. 5/25/2020

I have decided in the last few weeks that I will begin to make periodic post about my outlook and views on business and everyday life. In the last months, I have seen the drastic change we have all endured; I, myself am now even more grateful of the information that I have learned and compiled and see the value of sharing some of the blessings I have received. I won’t be sending out any funding because you can’t build wealth and lose a penny at the same time. I choose to offer something more valuable, which is a piece of my thoughts; an unbiased, educated opinion. I thank in advance all that may benefit, and this will be the only acknowledgement of those who hate; there will be no acknowledgement of those types. All that I promise from this action is to keep it short and sweet. A note to those who protect their future outlook, and a lasting quote for the days ahead.  

On this Memorial Day in 2020 and during our country’s setback, I get a renewed feeling of gratefulness for my own Father’s unselfishness; I never really understood the significance of the COP/E7 under sponsor rank on my military ID as a kid or why he would get saluted at certain places we would go, but as we struggle to figure out what’s going on in present time, I often ask is it really so bad right now? or did he really go through hell? He left South Carolina not knowing if he would return, who knows if I may have been here today. On this day and every day, I thank all those we have lost and all those who currently fight the brave fight; and I thank their family members who also sacrifice.     

Outlook: 

My outlooks this week are focused on the global markets and personal business activity. I see green this week, but I’m still not going all in until I see a big drop in new people going into the hospital country wide. We are starting a new marketing campaign with BLO. WA will be doing more R&D and speeding up a few products as we see even more need in our forthcoming W.A. Control Software as our country starts back up.      

Lasting Quote: 

“Now that some have thrown out the mask, don’t misinterpret all of the smiles” 

-Dustin Clemons 

Until the next, I thank you for your time.