Hi Michael!

Great thoughts.... :) The "human theater" around us can not only be interesting, but also profitable....

In at least two ways.... BOTH to do with trends!

I remember hearing a radio interview that the successful product developer Bill Myers gave.... In it, he talks about going to trade shows and fairs to see what people clustered around, what they were interested in.

It was a good way to get a finger on the pulse of upcoming trends.... To see what kind of products were getting HOT....

As a product developer, he wants to be at the early part of the trend, and catch the wave as it's surfing by.

From his research, by watching a certain section of the "human theater," he would get valuable information to help him with his product development activities, so he could have a product ready for the public when the trend was starting to heat up!

The second way to use the "human theater" for profit was given by Peter Lynch, who was one of the world's most successful professional fund managers. Here's the guts of the technique he gives in his books (like "One Up On Wall Street" -- a great book)....

He would go to places like shopping centers, and see what shops were BUSY. Where were people doing their shopping? What were they buying? What was HOT?

Then, he'd use this kind of information to help guide his stock-picking....

For example, he was shopping with his wife and daughters, and his daughters wanted to go to the BODY SHOP.

This was when the Body Shop was brand new....

When they got there, the place was jam-packed full of people. It was busy!

So after seeing that, Peter Lynch was no fool. He invested in the stock, and it skyrocketed....

Again, he watched the "human theater" to see what trends were happening....

A fascinating way to work! :)

Thanks Michael.... When I'm not staring at my computer screen, I like to get out among the public too, and see what's happening, and what people are doing....

It can clearly be lucrative, whether you are developing products or picking stocks.... :)

Cheers :)

Dien