Finding Great Companies. Building a Meaningful Life | Chris Begg

Описание: In this episode of William Green’s Markets and Life, William speaks with Christopher Begg, CEO and CIO of East Coast Asset Management and a longtime Columbia Business School professor. Chris explains why he looks for investment opportunities when “short-term clouds are present,” how he weighs macro and company-specific risks, and when he decides whether fear in the market reflects real danger vs. long-term opportunity.

This video clip comes from an in-depth episode of the Richer, Wiser, Happier podcast. To hear the full interview, visit William Green’s Markets & Life podcast library at The Investor’s Podcast: https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/r...

🧭 Topics Covered
• Why Chris deliberately looks for opportunities when “short-term clouds are present,” and how he distinguishes between macro uncertainty, and company-specific (micro) problems.
• How he evaluates whether fear reflects real risk of permanent impairment, using examples like TransDigm during Covid and Meta during its heavy-spending phase.
• What he means by “reducing entropy” in business—and how companies that do things cheaper, better, or faster build lasting competitive advantages and long-term value.

⏱ Timestamps / Chapters
00:00 — Introduction: William talks to Chris about his strategy of investing when “short-term clouds” are present, and why uncertainty and market despair can create opportunity.
02:26 — Investing Through the Clouds: Chris explains why, during the March 2020 Covid shutdowns, he focused on balance sheets. He also discusses what led him to invest heavily in aerospace parts companies like TransDigm despite widespread fear.
04:50 — Weighing Risks in Big Tech: Chris describes how he analyzed multiple “clouds” around Meta, including heavy spending, and how he evaluates perceived threats like ChatGPT to Google’s search business by asking better questions rather than assuming permanent damage.
07:55 — Entropy and What Makes Great Businesses Different: William and Chris discuss entropy, value creation, and why great companies reduce disorder by doing things cheaper, better, or faster, with examples like Amazon, Visa, and MasterCard.
Concluding Insights: Chris breaks down the layers of competitive advantage — including scale, network effects, switching costs, and culture. He also explains how long-term thinking and continuous improvement help businesses compound value over time.

✅ Connect with William Green
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⚠️ Disclaimer / Disclosures
This content is for general informational purposes only. Opinions are those of William Green and do not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. This clip comes from a William Green Richer, Wiser, Happier podcast with Christopher Begg conducted in 2023.

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