Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Opinion & Prospective

Hear Dan’s viewpoints about how things work and the intended and unintended consequences, delivered with humor to keep you entertained and engaged.

They are delivered with humor, breaking down the barriers of reality, truths versus illusions, and manufactured narratives.

Search Results

For Zombie companies that do not have cash flow to sustain their business, they must issue more stock or borrow to keep operating. How does the ultimate collapse occur? Gradual, then absolute!

The collapse of a zombie company, a firm that cannot generate enough operating cash flow to cover its debt service and must rely on issuing equity or borrowing more, follows a predictable sequence of financial stress events. This predictability is crucial in understanding the systemic implications of such collapses.

"The Invisible Obstacle: How Secretive Bureaucracies Undermine Progress"

Many employees are so entrenched in their jobs as to create an aura of business activity without disclosing anything to the manager or the leadership. Sally has been with us so long that “I’m confident she is doing her job.” But Sally is deeply entrenched, while playing the quiet-quitting and quiet resignation. She is victimizing her company. This is particularly prevalent when affirmative action is part of the equation.

The Psychological Symbolism of Winnie the Pooh: A Cohesive Portrait of Personalities—and the Role of Tigger’s Exuberance

The world of the Hundred Acre Wood is a captivating casebook of human temperament. Each character, with their distinct emotional style or motivational tendency, contributes to a balanced ecosystem of traits. This intricate balance is a fascinating study in how differences in energy, mood, and control can clash yet also complement one another when guided by empathy and wise boundaries.

The 1998 Long-Term Capital Management Collapse was a Significant Event in Financial History that Warrants a Detailed study.

The shortcomings of financial leverage, computerized annualization, market hype, and moral hazards. A great read is the book “Conspiracy of Fools,” about the collapse of LTCM.

What is the Impact of Financial Leverage On Investment Yields? Understanding the potential benefits of financial leverage can be a game-changer for your investment strategy.

The impact of financial leverage differs significantly between stocks and real estate, primarily due to differences in asset characteristics, financing structures, volatility, and income generation.

The Distinction between truth and Illusion in American Politics: An Analysis of facts, Frames, and the Post-Truth Challenges.

In an era where the battle between objective facts and manufactured narratives is shaping American politics, understanding the difference between truth and illusion is more crucial than ever.

Police State, Tyranny, Authoritarianism, and Totalitarianism:

Understanding the Differences and Lessons for Modern Governance

The Social Security Trust Fund Illusion: What Americans Should Know

For decades, Americans have been told that the Social Security Trust Fund is a reserve of assets set aside to pay future benefits. In everyday language, “trust fund” evokes an image of money invested and waiting to be drawn down.

Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Significance

The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a classic Norwegian fairy tale first collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 1840s and later translated into English in 1859. It belongs to the Aarne–Thompson folktale.

Engagement Matters More Than You Think: The Hidden Driver of Productivity

Executives often focus on tools, generally technical, time management, and objectives and key results (OKRs). However, the key factor that consistently distinguishes ordinary performance from exceptional results is engagement.

Intrinsic Motivation: Why People Want to Learn, Work, and Excel Without Coercion

People do not need compulsion from the state—or any heavy-handed authority—to learn and get ahead. They need conditions that unlock the empowering force of intrinsic motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Why Do Borrowers Choose Privately Funded Loans Over Bank Loans?

When banks say no, private lenders, in most cases, will say yes.

Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh: A Distinctive, Iconic Character of Dreariness, Sadness, and Hopelessness.

Eeyore is one of A.A. Milne’s most iconic characters, introduced in Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). He is an old, grey stuffed donkey who lives in the Hundred Acre Wood in a place called “Eeyore’s Gloomy Place: Rather Boggy and Sad.”

How connected is the USA to Israel?

The relationship between the U.S. and Israel is not just a bilateral alliance, but a unique and significant factor in global geopolitics. It stands as one of the most financially and politically intertwined alliances in the world, underscoring its exceptional nature--In terms of payments to, and in turn, Israel lobbying the U.S legislature for preferential treatment?

California’s Entitlement Feed Back Loop: When Good Intentions, Bureaucracy, and Market Reality Collide

California prides itself on protecting consumers, tenants, and communities. However, as “I’m entitled to some of yours” expectations harden into mandates, the machinery required to deliver on those expectations grows—rules multiply, compliance becomes a business line of its own, and costs cascade through housing, insurance, and everyday enterprise.

Why Mutual Cooperation Is Breaking Down—and What’s Driving It

For decades, commerce and civic life rested on an implicit social contract: cooperation and mutual respect.

John Stuart Mill’s Contributions to Freedom: Historical Context and Impact

“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”

John Stuart Mill: Historical Context and Enduring Impact

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) wrote in the long shadow of the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian reform era—a period marked by expanding literacy, democratization, religious pluralism, and unprecedented social mobility, but also by entrenched hierarchies and intense pressure to conform.

Police State, Tyranny, Authoritarianism, and Totalitarianism: Understanding the Differences and Lessons for Modern Governance

Throughout history, societies have grappled with different forms of oppressive governance. While terms like police state, tyranny, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism are often used interchangeably, they describe distinct political realities. Understanding these differences is crucial for recognizing early warning signs in modern democracies.

How People Develop Their Frame of Reference—and Why It Matters in Business and Finance

Discover how frames of reference shape decision-making in business and finance. Learn the key factors that influence perspectives and why understanding them is critical for success.