Circular Economy - Introduction 101

The circular economy is rapidly emerging as a transformative approach to sustainability, reshaping how we design, produce, utilize and consume resources. A highly insightful course on this topic is offered by Dr. Gordana Kierans on Udemy. 

Key Learnings from the Course: 

Definition: Products and services that maximize use and reuse of materials and other resources can be both growth opportunities and sustainability measures. [Source]

1. Circular economy is opposite of linear economy as it focuses on preserving resources rather than consuming them for growth.

2. Circular innovation applies to diverse sectors like textile sector, e- waste, coffee processing, food wastage, packaging, electronics, toys, automtive industry, sportswear, and more.

3. The Circular Cities Network was launched in 2016 by 12 pioneering cities with the aim to move cities towards circular systems that reuse, recycle, and reduce waste and resource consumption

Business Models

1. Closed-Loop Recycling: Use materials from discarded products to create new ones; e.g., North Face’s program collecting and recycling polyester fabric.
2. Upcycling: Transform used materials into higher-quality products; e.g., Pentatonic makes furniture from smartphone screens or cigarette butts.
3. Downcycling: Convert materials into products of lower quality; e.g., Nike’s reuse-a-shoe program turns old athletic shoes into sports surfaces.
4. Lock-In: Sell a product with necessary consumables that force repeat purchases; e.g., Diapers with reusable covers and compostable inserts.
5. Local Loop: Bring production and consumption closer, using local currency and markets to retain economic value; e.g., Findhorn Eco-Village’s local currency.
6. Industrial Symbiosis: One company's waste becomes another’s resource, creating economic and environmental benefits; e.g., Kalundborg Symbiosis in Denmark.
7. Collection Services: Business model based on collecting used products for recycling or reuse; e.g., Beijing Subway’s recycling incentive program gives transportation credits.
8. Product as a Service: Customers pay for product usage, not ownership; e.g., Philips’ Pay per Lux lighting service with long-term contracts and product responsibility retained by provider.
9. Personalisation: Customize products based on user data, encouraging returns and recycling; e.g., Lyf’s 3D printed modular customizable shoes with QRCodes for lifecycle tracking.
10. Modularity: Design products in easily replaceable modules to extend lifespan; e.g., electric toothbrushes with swappable heads.

Book Recommendations: According to Jim Kwik, a survey of top CEOs revealed that they each read an average 60 books per year. Reading just 45 minutes a day can unlock the lifetime knowledge authors have distilled, helping circle entrepreneurs stay informed and inspired in this rapidly evolving field. Starting a journey into the circular economy can be greatly enhanced by reading foundational and inspiring books. Sharing top recommended reads (too costly for Indian student, better to use library):

1. "Confessions of a Radical Industrialist" by the late Ray Anderson of Interface, an inspiring story of sustainability leadership
2. "The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows" by Ken Webster, offering deep insight into circular system thinking
3. The Circular Economy Handbook by Peter Lacy, Jessica Long, and Wesley Spindler, detailing practical organizational strategies for circular transition
4. "Waste to Wealth" by Peter Lacy and Jacob Rutqvist, exploring circular business models in industry

Website Recommendation: EntrepreneurCircle.World is your ultimate membership platform to dive deeper into the circular economy. It offers a vibrant community where entrepreneurs and investors committed to circular economy principles connect, learn, and grow together. Members gain access to exclusive workshops, seminars, networking events, and an extensive library of practical resources to support their circular business ventures.  Please also find LinkedIn Group for Circular Entrepreneurs. 

Books Recommendations on Investing by School of Intrinsic Compounding (SOIC) - Expert

SOIC (School of Intrinsic Compounding) is a leading Indian education platform founded by Ishmohit Arora and a team of dedicated analysts. Their mission is to empower retail investors through in-depth investing education, financial research, and practical resources, with a special focus on fundamental analysis and value investing.

I have been a subscriber to their channel for the last 3 years. SOIC frequently shares top book recommendations to build a strong foundation in investing and personal growth. Part 1 and Part 2 of Books Recommendations on Investing by School of Intrinsic Compounding (SOIC) is already published on the blog. Here is the list of SOIC-recommended books for technical investors:

Category 1: Fundamentals

1. Interpretation of Financial Statements by Mary Buffett and David Clark - A comprehensive guide to interpreting corporate financials.
2. Understanding Michael Porter by Joan Magretta - Insights into Michael Porter's business strategies.
3. The Five Rules for Successful Stock Investing by Pat Dorsey - Key rules for successful stock market investing.
4. Competition Demystified by Bruce C. Greenwald and Judd Kahn- Simplifies competitive strategy for investors.
5. One Up On Wall Street by Peter Lynch - Investment advice from a legendary fund manager.
6. Value Investing and Behavioral Finance by Parag Parikh - Combining value investing with behavioral finance.

Category 2: Technical Analysis

1. How to Make Money in Stocks by William O'Neil - Techniques to profit in stock markets.
2. Secrets for Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets by Stan Weinstein - Strategies for navigating bullish and bearish markets.
3. Trade Like a Stock Market Wizard by Mark Minervini - Advanced trading methods from a top market trader.
4. Technical Analysis Explained by Martin J. Pring - An introduction to technical analysis concepts.

Category 3: Philosophy of Investing

1. Masterclass with Super Investors by Vishal Mittal and Saurabh Basrar - Investment lessons from successful super investors.
2. Market Wizards by Jack D. Schwager - Wisdom from renowned market wizards.
3. The Little Book of Behavioral Investing by James Montier - Behavioral investing principles in a compact guide.
4. The Little Book That Builds Wealth by Pat Dorsey - Building wealth with behavioral investing strategies.
5. Richer, Wiser and Happier by William Green - Lessons on becoming wealthier and wiser.
6. The Lucky Formula: How to Stack the Odds in Your Favor and Cash In on Success: Mark LaChance and Kary Oberbrunner- How to improve investment odds effectively.

4: Understanding Market Cycles

1. Bulls, Bears and Other Beasts by Santosh Nair - Explores the dynamics of market cycles and beasts.
2. Bull by Maggie Mahar - Analysis of bullish market trends by Maggie Mahar.
3. Capital Returns by Marathon Asset Management - Study of returns on invested capital.

Part 5: Mental Models

1. Parables of Perception by Max Gunther - Stories to enhance perception and decision-making.
2. The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli - A guide to clear and critical thinking.
3. The Great Mental Models by Farnam Street series - Compilation of important mental models for investors.
4. Zurich Axioms by Max Gunther - Principles for risk-taking in investment.
5. Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas- Focus on trading psychology and discipline.

Books Recommendations on Investing by School of Intrinsic Compounding (SOIC) - Intermediate

SOIC (School of Intrinsic Compounding) is a leading Indian education platform founded by Ishmohit Arora and a team of dedicated analysts. Their mission is to empower retail investors through in-depth investing education, financial research, and practical resources, with a special focus on fundamental analysis and value investing. 

I have been a subscriber to their channel for the last 3 years. Part 1 of Books Recommendations on Investing by School of Intrinsic Compounding (SOIC) is already published on the blog. SOIC frequently shares top book recommendations to build a strong foundation in investing and personal growth. 

Here is the list of SOIC-recommended books for experienced investors:

Decision Making and Behavioral Finance

1. Thinking in Bets – Annie Duke – Decision making under uncertainty using betting frameworks.
2. Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin To Munger – Peter Bevelin – Behavioral and evolutionary insights into investing.
3. Poor Charlie's Almanack – Edited by Peter D. Kaufman – Wisdom and mental models from Charlie Munger.
4. Damn Right!: Behind the Scenes with Berkshire Hathaway Billionaire Charlie Munger – Janet Lowe – Investment journey insights from Charlie Munger.
5. The Most Important Thing – Howard Marks – Investment philosophy emphasizing risk and psychology.

Value Investing and Stock Selection

1. The Tao of Warren Buffett – Mary Buffett and David Clark – Buffett's philosophies and value investing principles.
2. The Warren Buffett Way – Robert Hagstrom – Buffett's investment strategies and principles.
3. 100 Baggers – Christopher Mayer – Identifying stocks with massive long-term growth potential.
4. Margin of Safety – Seth Klarman – Investing with safety buffers to minimize risk.
5. Beating the Street – Peter Lynch – Tactics for stock picking and beating the market.

Financial Analysis and Accounting

1. Financial Shenanigans – Howard Schilit – Detecting accounting fraud and irregularities.
2. Romancing The Balance Sheet – Anil Lamba – Understanding financial statements with fresh perspectives.
3. Best Practices for Equity Research Analysts – James J. Valentine – Conducting high-quality research.
4. Bad Money: Inside the NPA Mess and How it Threatens the Indian Banking System – Vivek Kaul  – Overview of banking sector risks in India.

Growth and Compounding

1. The Joys of Compounding – Gautam Baid – The exponential growth power of compounding.
2. You Can Compound – Vivek Mashrani – Practical strategies for compounding money.
3. Investing for Growth – Terry Smith – Strategies focused on growth stocks and capital appreciation.
4. Of Long Term Value And Wealth Creation – Bharat Shah – Principles for sustainable wealth generation.

Investment Theory and Market Principles

1. What I Learnt About Investing From Darwin – Pulak Prasad – Evolutionary principles applied to investing.
2. A Random Walk Down Wall Street – Burton Malkiel – Stock market investing basics and efficient market hypothesis.
3. The Little Book of Valuation – Aswath Damodaran – Simplified valuation methods for investments.

Books Recommendations on Investing by School of Intrinsic Compounding (SOIC) - Basic

SOIC (School of Intrinsic Compounding) is a leading Indian education platform founded by Ishmohit Arora and a team of dedicated analysts. Their mission is to empower retail investors through in-depth investing education, financial research, and practical resources, with a special focus on fundamental analysis and value investing.

I have been a subscriber to their channel for the last 3 years. SOIC frequently shares top book recommendations to build a strong foundation in investing and personal growth. Here are some books endorsed and discussed by the SOIC team:

Behavioral Finance and Psychology

1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini – Explore the psychology behind influence and persuasion.
2. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Understanding habit formation and change.
3. Atomic Habits — James Clear – Building effective habits for success.
4. The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova – Exploration of probability and psychology in poker and life.
5. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel – Behavioral influences on financial decisions and money mindset
6. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman – How intuitive and deliberate thinking shape decisions.

Creativity, Productivity, and Growth

1. Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense by Rory Sutherland – Creative thinking and the unexpected power of ideas.
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport -  Techniques to enhance focus and productivity.
3. 10x is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan  – Strategies for exponential growth in business and life.
4. Principles by Ray Dalio – Key principles for economic success and personal growth.
5. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson – Wisdom and advice from entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.

Economic, Historical, and Scientific Perspectives

1. Factfulness by Hans Rosling – A data-driven view on global development and health.
2. The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver – Making sense of complex data and predictions.
3. How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region by Joe Studwell – Economic insights into Asia's development model.
4. Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by [Author] – The critical role of raw materials in the modern world.
5. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari – Human history is shaped by revolutions in cognition and society

Philosophy and Mindset

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – Reflections on finding meaning in life.
2. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Stoic wisdom on resilience, discipline, and personal leadership growth