James Lee's blog

They are all positive role models. There is a common thread of hard work, humility, and talent for all three men.

The return of uncomplicated heroes signifies an uptick in public mood. After years of expecting (and finding) the worst in everyone, people are ready for a "feel good" story.

The most important change happening in the minds of consumers today is a shift towards post-modern values systems. ConsumerShift is a comprehensive cartography of the emerging consumer psyche.

2011 was the year that wasn't. U.S. stock prices were largely unchanged for the year; commodity inflation appeared to be happening, but then didn't; the credit rating of the U.S. government was downgraded for the first time in history, yet long-term U.S. treasury bonds were among best performing assets in the world.

Collectively, it seems like everyone is holding their breath, waiting for "something" to happen. Small investors have fled the markets.  Market timers have been scratching their heads as their trend-following indicators have been getting whipsawed since last summer.

So, with a certain amount of hesitation, I offer the following forecasts for 2012...

The world is changing for big brands. Can they differentiate themselves in a market that demands authenticity, craftsmanship, and narrative?

What jobs will remain after work is fully automated?

Twenty years ago, Generation X graduated during what was a comparatively soft recession in the early 1990′s. The so-called Thirteenth Generation was branded by the media as being “cynical, directionless, and apathetic.” Subversive films such as Clerks, Reality Bites, and Slacker did nothing to harm that reputation.

In comparison, the Millennials are making members of Generation X look like career-obsessed workaholics.

Take a look at the CBOE Volatility Index – otherwise known as the VIX. This literally exploded upwards by 50% yesterday, from 32 to 48. In theory, if a person put 1/10th of their portfolio into the VIX index in 2008 and sold at the peak, they could have made a net profit even if they had invested other 9/10 of the portfolio in stocks.