Business
Temu’s Push Into America Pays Off Big Time for Meta and Google. I don’t think the level of advertising spend that Temu shelled out the last two years is sustainable. Even if the company could financially carry on spending, they would want to generate enough loyalty so that acquisition cost wouldn’t be so high any more. I wonder if Facebook executives will offer enough disclosures when spending by the likes of Temu drops. This year is an election year. So policial advertising spending may offset any potential drop in ads spend from retailers. Beyond 2024, it’s all about the economy. I am really curious about Facebook’s growth in the next 3 years.
Boeing is withholding key details about door plug on Alaska 737 Max 9 jet. What transpired is the evidence that Boeing is a poorly managed company that sleeps on competition and innovation due to the protection from the US government. The incident with Alaska 737 Max 9 warrants an investigation, even a criminal one at that. Somebody has to be held accountable. Why not the CEO? Where is the Board of Directors in this? Instead of asking nicely, how can the authority be more “persuasive”?
The Youths Have Spoken: Wallets Are Uncool. Go Digital. This trend will not stop. It won’t become mainstream overnight, but gradually, it will get there. The tipping point will be the acceptance and adoption of mobile IDs. Right now, there are only a handful of states in the US that enable digital IDs. As more states follow, there will be less and less need for a physical wallet. And Apple has every reason to make iPhone as secure as possible. Not that they need encouragement from me.
The Balancing Act of Remote Workplaces. A very balanced and honest account on remote working. Everything has pros and cons and remote work is no exception. Yes, the convenience is unrivaled. You can get up in your pyjama 5 minutes before a meeting and it’s perfectly ok. No commute. No traffic jam. However, this convenience comes at a cost. There are other compromises that remote workers have to endure. This article did well to suggest actions that remote employees can take to stay engaged and recognized.
Toyota’s Hybrid-First Strategy Is Delivering Big Profits. “Amid all the enthusiasm for electric vehicles in the last few years, it seemed Toyota just didn’t get it. But in the last six months, sales of electric vehicles have slowed, and American car buyers looking to cut their fuel bill and tailpipe emissions have been flocking to hybrids. Now Toyota’s sales are booming, and the company is reporting huge profits. Toyota’s sudden strength is a reminder of how profoundly the auto industry is changing. Developing technologies like electric vehicles, advanced microchips and software are turning what was once a steady, slow-moving sector into a dynamic industry in which even fast-moving and well-run manufacturers can be knocked off course.”
U.S. Bank mandates 3 days a week in the office. Banks and corporations in general are trying to force people to go back to the office. I understand why they want to do so. Obviously, employees want flexibility and the freedom not to commute every day. However, if they put themselves in the role of executives, working culture, collaboration and productivity are hampered by remote work. Something has to give and given the situation we are in now, I don’t think the power balance is in employees’ favor. If you were looking for a place to settle and buy a house, I would keep this trend in mind and not bank on the assumption that remote work will be allowed in the near future.
Other Stuff I Find Interesting
Where Electric Vehicles Are (and Aren’t) Taking Off Across the U.S. “Lack of widespread and reliable public charging stations is one of the biggest roadblocks to broader electric vehicle adoption, experts said. Small towns and rural areas with few charging stations have some of the lowest rates of E.V. uptake in the country. But even people in urban areas can have trouble plugging in if they live in an apartment building instead of a single-family home with a garage. High prices are another top consumer concern.”
The Dumber Side of Smart People. Morgan did a nice job talking about mulitple scenarios from different angles. My take-away is that there is no hard and fast rule that works for everyone and in every situation. Each requires openness to new ideas, self-awareness and a desire to evolve over time. Smart people often lack those qualities.
I like Morgan Housel’s interview below, especially the part when he talked about how every dollar going to your savings is a piece of your future that you own and every dollar in debt is a piece of your future that someone else owns
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Minh Quang Duong 
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