The Propeller – No Turbulence Here – Just Smooth Sailing this week! – 2-2-2025

Want to gain a deeper understanding of human nature?  Forget clinical studies and psychology textbooks… Just watch Seinfeld instead.  (For those that know me, they know Seinfeld is one of my favorite shows)

Case in point:

There’s an episode where Kramer comes up with the brilliant idea to launch a cologne that smells like the beach.  He’s convinced it will revolutionize the fragrance industry.  And, in classic Kramer fashion, he somehow manages to secure a meeting with Calvin Klein himself to pitch the idea.

Ultimately though, Calvin Klein decides to pass on it.

But then in a later episode, Kramer discovers that Calvin Klein has actually STOLEN his idea and launched “Ocean” by Calvin Klein.  He can’t believe it.  So, he turns to Jerry and says…

“I could’ve been a millionaire, Jerry… a FRAGRANCE MILLIONAIRE!”

🤣  Too funny!  Especially because it captures a fundamental flaw in the way most people think about business:  They overvalue ideas and undervalue execution.

It’s a mistake I’ve made myself.  More than once.  A perfect example is getting hung up on finalizing product details, coming up with the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and finalizing details on the product.

You can get assistance from Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT in approximately 3.2 seconds to assist you with all of this.  It’s not a PhD level math problem to solve.  Yet most experts and creators think in order to be successful, that they need to find a totally uncharted piece of digital real estate where no one’s ever thought to plant their flag before.

Spoiler alert:  This is a recipe for staying broke.  Instead, what matters most is your ability to execute.  Beyond that:  Competition is actually a GOOD thing.  It’s a sign of strong market demand for whatever it is you want to sell.

Don’t try to swim against the current.  Figure out which direction the river of desire and money is flowing in and then tap into it.  It’s that simple.  You certainly don’t need my help solving that part of the puzzle.

When it comes to execution, though, A great business idea is worthless without execution. Ideas are easy – everyone has them – but what separates successful entrepreneurs from dreamers is their ability to take action. Execution is where strategy, persistence, and adaptability turn concepts into reality. It’s about refining the idea, building the right team, marketing effectively, and constantly iterating based on feedback. Many groundbreaking ideas have failed due to poor execution, while some average ideas have succeeded because they were executed flawlessly. The marketplace rewards action, not just imagination. In business, it’s not what you think of – it’s what you do that matters.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing details about an idea that I am working on with an old high school friend that I have reconnected with that might not be uniquely innovative but will include some products that we hope to be successful because of our execution in unique ways with unique customer groups.

Every day, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals provide life-saving care to millions of kids, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. From premature babies to children battling cancer, these hospitals offer critical treatments, research, and support that change lives.

My friend is currently organizing fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and he set a lofty goal to reach! Every dollar helps provide life-saving treatments, medical research, and support for children in need – regardless of their families’ ability to pay.

You can make a difference by donating today! Every contribution stays local and helps kids in your community.  Use the link below and make a contribution:

👉 https://greekpartners.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=461994

Let’s come together and make miracles happen!

“Every experience has a lesson to teach, and in that lesson, you see a silver lining.” – Wangari Maathai
 

It is important to find the silver lining in every experience.  Life has a way of teaching us, whether we realize it in the moment or not. I’ve faced challenges that seemed impossible, setbacks that felt unfair, and situations where I questioned, Why is this happening? But with time, I’ve learned that every experience – good or bad – has a lesson to teach. And in that lesson, there’s always a silver lining.

When I first started writing this weekly email newsletter two years ago, I had no idea if anyone would read it or enjoy it. I had many people subscribe, and then many people unsubscribe.  Luckily the subscribes have far outweighed the unsubscribes.  I could have let the setbacks of every unsubscribe discourage me, but instead, I used each one as a lesson to improve. The silver lining? Every unsubscribe sharpened my skills, strengthened my resolve, and ultimately led to more people reading what I share every week.

The same applies to finances, career moves, and even personal struggles. When I took control of my financial future by getting rid of financial planners and managing my investments myself, I made mistakes – investments that didn’t pan out, ideas that flopped. But each misstep taught me something valuable, and those lessons paved the way for the financial independence I cherish today.

So next time life throws you a curveball, ask yourself: What’s the lesson here? The silver lining may not be obvious at first, but it’s there, waiting to be discovered. Keep learning, keep growing, and trust that every experience is shaping you for something greater.