Boring Will Be Back Soon
Our short attention and today's trends.
For three years and eleven months you know what most Americans don’t give a damn about? Swimming.
But once every four years the summer Olympics happen and suddenly swimming is talked about. There is an excitement that makes its way into our conversations. Interrupting talk about the weather, football, and our commutes.
For a short of period of time every four summers the quick excitement of olympic swimming grabs our attention, briefly.
The same can be said for politics. Every four years we have another election year, political campaigns ramp up and everyone has an opinion about everything they say.
Polarizing figures can add to this such as a Michael Phelps or Donald Trump. Characters that are unforgettable due to their incredible talents or outlandish personalities. They help create more excitement during our short spurts of attention.
The stock market fits under this short umbrella as well. When a majority of the population is talking about financial markets one of two things is happening; the sky is falling or the market is blowing the roof off the building. Right now is the ladder.
Back to boring.
We didn’t even have an olympics this year.
We just had our highest voter turnout in any election in the last decade. 66% of eligible voters voted.
The S&P 500 has only had one year of negative returns in the last twelve.
What to do with this?
Those who can spot and analyze trends are much likely to prosper from them rather than just participate. Based on events that have already happened one can answer, what will happen next?
