First deal was a crucible of 🔥 😂 😭

The look my wife gives me when I say I’m not buying another business. I’m just looking.

Well I’ve gotta save up to pay those coaching fees 😂 😂

Done

They are not beyond UberEats/Doordashing Sbucks either….

Unpopular opinion. I know what you make. WTF are you doing buying $7 Starbucks every day? Ordering $25 DoorDash subs for lunch? While I hang in the shop breakroom on my air fry nuggets and veggies for fuel during cash flow forecasting session.

I was 54 when I bought my first company. 58 when I bought Mallard 2+ yrs ago. LFG 🔥 all the Chad Uncs out there.

French fry laundromat? I read suds not subs

‘66 Lincoln Continental Convertible w suicide doors. Seats 6 comfortably. Vitamin D. 7.6 liter V8. 💥

😂 😂

Many times unfortunately calm and grace emerge from situations where you are unable to solve and / or just tragic events. My short list (spanning nearly 20 yrs): - near-death of my daughter when she was 5 (and yrs of testing following) - job loss during a downturn stuck in a house w negative equity (probably resonates these days again) - 2 kids in college during a tough 1st acquisition - many years of elder care for parents followed by their passing over a 10+ yr period - 2d acquisition and key employee walks day 2…. List goes on but hey we are still here getting stuff done.

This is a deep one. I’m motivated by agency. Not money. Not status. The freedom to make my own choices—and own the consequences. But the real reward isn’t just my freedom. It’s helping my family, my team, and my friends find theirs. I take chances because I believe in people. I trust, but verify. I forgive, but I don’t forget. And I’ve learned something about second chances. Getting back to zero is the easy part. Staying the course after redemption? That’s where character is built. Nothing fires me up more than seeing that same hunger for agency in someone else—and having the opportunity to bet on them. People will surprise you when you give them trust, responsibility, and room to grow. Some will disappoint you. That’s the price of believing in people. I’ll keep paying it. So if you’re at zero, or life has just gone off a cliff, don’t be afraid. There’s life on the other side. And you might just build something better than what you lost.

Get some exercise today!

Congrats man!

Happy Humpday, St Pete!

Great finally meeting you IRL Colin!

Amazing mixer, thanks @ryanraysr for the invite! (There’s Joe unnamed 😂)

What a great meetup @ryanraysr and nice podcast backdrop @paulswaney3 !

You too!