I don't usually share someone who is not a member of this groups work... but this is so important to understanding what is happening right now and how to protect yourself before it excellorates I wanted to share it with everyone. https://substack.com/home/post/p-215974828

Biddy Mason was born enslaved. She had no legal control over her work, her money, or even whether her children could remain with her. But in 1856, after being taken to California, Biddy did something extraordinarily brave. She challenged the man who claimed to own her and petitioned the court for her freedom. And she won. Biddy began working as a nurse and midwife. She saved what she earned and used it to buy a small piece of property in Los Angeles. That land became the beginning of her wealth. As Los Angeles grew, so did the value of what she owned. Biddy became a successful real estate investor, helped establish a school and daycare, fed people in need, and helped found the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. She did not build wealth simply to prove that she had escaped poverty. She built it so other people would have somewhere to stand. That is the part of her story I want you to remember today. It's not just about building something that pays... But something that uplifts humanity. Your first asset may not look impressive. It may be a small piece of land, a simple offer, a book, a skill, or a business you build from what you already know. But ownership changes things. Income can help you survive today... But Ownership can change what becomes possible tomorrow. It is the most patriotic thing you can do is to own where you stand. With love, Vickie Helm P.S. What could you begin owning today that might become someone else’s place to stand? How about building a Lifeboat business with us on SKOOL

I wanted to share a win! I looked at my substack analytics today and I have 2000 followers!

Sharing this since we’ve been discussing this very thing. Costco starts rationing motor oil as a key ingredient shortage, driven by the Iran war, pushes prices sharply higher. The retailer hiked its Kirkland Signature full synthetic oil from the mid-$30s to $57.99 and now caps purchases at two units per membership every seven days, with Mobil 1 also capped at five units. Industry group ILMA’s CEO Holly Alfano said the real culprit is a shortage of Group III base oil, whose price has jumped 235 percent since the Middle East war began, since roughly 40 percent of US supply comes from Middle Eastern facilities damaged in the fighting and another 30 percent from South Korea, which relies on Middle Eastern crude. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has compounded the problem by raising shipping costs and lengthening delivery times, and oil companies are also prioritizing crude for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel over motor oil ingredients since those are more profitable right now. Costco’s competitors, including Walmart, AutoZone, and Amazon, haven’t introduced similar limits yet, but Alfano said she doesn’t expect the market to normalize until at least the end of next year, since new Group III production capacity in the US and rebuilt Middle East facilities won’t be ready before then.

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