The other day my son said something no 6-year-old should even be able to conceive of. While they were probably just words being recited @Janine DePaul and I, saddened and confused, immediately started wondering where he even heard of such a concept. School? Friends? Television? Was it that dumb show he watched? Maybe. So we decide “that one's off the list.” But then… what about the next one? When he’s at a friend’s house? Last week he had overheard me on the phone telling my wife that a man got shot. His supersonic hearing caught what I never intended him to. I should’ve been more careful — but it happened. And it’s a reminder that no matter how much I try to protect him, he’s going to learn the hard truths of this world one day… sooner than he should... It's just a matter of if we're there to help him process when they come. We watched the movie Little Giants the other night — remember the little kid whose mom wraps him up in foam insulation before sending him out to play? It's funny… but don't we all wish the bubble wrap method would work?! But then he asked my wife something else that landed even deeper: “Why does Daddy like working so much?” He understood why people work… but he couldn’t understand why I seem to prefer it. "No, he REALLY likes work." He must perceive that work gets more of my attention than he does. And you know what? My inner voice had an answer I didn’t like hearing: “Well son, that's because Daddy must not be satisfied with himself. He probably thinks maybe he’ll find it in what he builds or accomplishes. The next thing he does. Meanwhile, his most prized creation is you — the one thing that is he lost he’d burn everything else down for.” Go figure. Even when we get what we thought we wanted… we still want more. We still keep filling a void that only seems to expand. So I ask myself — and maybe you too: When is enough, enough? Enough mindless, junk food entertainment that rots our brains. Enough of our own bullshit and excuses.

I’ve been devouring books for years — mostly through Audible since 2013. But I never stopped to truly organize them: Which ones shaped me the most? So I mapped my all-time favorites through my personal BoomZeal SCARD values that drive how I live, lead, and build. Maybe one of these will spark something in you too. BOOM! 💥 💡 SOLUTION-ORIENTED ...The ones that rewired how I solve problems and build systems. Traction — Gino Wickman > And the entire EOS series (Shine, Rocket Fuel, The EOS Life, etc.) — the premier framework to run your business and your life. This Is Marketing — Seth Godin > Pretty sure I've listened 10+ times already. Marketing is the generous act of solving someone’s problem, not selling your widgets Becoming Your Own Banker — R. Nelson Nash > Boring as hell… until it unlocks your inner wealth architect. Are you in the banking business? Why not? The E-Myth Seminar — Michael Gerber > ALL TIME FAVE! This recording alone changed the trajectory of my entrepreneurial brain as a teenager. 🤝 COLLABORATIVE ...The ones that prove greatness is never built alone. How to Win Friends & Influence People — Dale Carnegie > Come on, this one needs no explanation. Who — Geoff Smart & Randy Street > The manual for hiring and building teams. Right People, Right Seats. Also see: Who Not How — Dan Sullivan > If you want to go further, stop asking “How?” and start asking “Who?” Team of Rivals — Doris Kearns Goodwin > "The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" says it all. Leadership in it's truest form. Delivering Happiness — Tony Hsieh > Zappos’ mind-bending culture of service shattered my idea of being “average” 📏 ACCOUNTABLE ...The ones that remind you that no one’s coming to save you. The Fountainhead — Ayn Rand > For my fellow high-integrity contrarians. Build what you believe in, or don’t bother. The Hard Thing About Hard Things — Ben Horowitz > Narrator Kevin Kenerly brings this sucker to life in living color. He makes shit sandwiches taste gooood Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell

Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated with the way money is used to magnetize more money. I still remember as a kid the first time I looked at my little savings account passbook and saw interest added on top of what I already had. The idea that money could quietly work for me—even while I was asleep—blew my mind. That’s the power of compounding. (Book plug: The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy) And compounding doesn’t just happen with money. Think about learning a new skill or building a relationship. Every small rep stacks on the one before it. Until one day, the results feel exponential. A few pages read each day turns into a library in your mind. A few intentional conversations can eventually transform into a deep, life-changing network. Fast forward to today, and it’s probably why the Infinite Banking Concept resonates so strongly with me. It’s the same principle, just leveled up: putting your dollars to work, over and over, instead of letting them sit idle. One example from my life was when I decided to become a runner. 👟 Running was always a thing I did, but it was usually a component of another game or sport. Not the whole enchilada. But when I decided to "just run" as long and far as I could, it was unimpressive. But I kept doing it. And by the time I completed my first 10K, my lung capacity, lower body endurance, and stride at all improved. So I kept going with it and eventually completed the NYC Half Marathon under my target time. Credit compounding at work. (That was 2017, and let's just say that reverse compounding has been in play for a while now 😆) Here’s a thought to chew on:👉 If compounding is always at work—whether in money, skills, or relationships—where is it working for you right now… and where might it actually be working against you?

Welcome to my neighborhood. Share your biggest WIN from the last 7 days, and let's get this Kool-Aid chugging party started!