At this rate, I should call this publication What I Read Every Other Week, haha!

In all honesty, keeping up with the weekly cadence has been difficult, but I won’t stop.

Timeless Idea💡

Wisdom from Epictetus

I’ve been reading Discourses lately, and I read that quote this week and sat with it for a while.

Epictetus is talking about the wind, but really, he’s talking about life. He’s reminding us not to waste energy on things outside our control.

That hit home for me.

Sometimes I get caught up in things I can’t change, what other people think, how quickly something happens, and whether the “right thing” is recognized. I even get tempted to have strong opinions about things far outside my reach.

But this line reminded me: if it’s not mine to steer, maybe I was never meant to hold the wheel.

And maybe that’s a mercy.

Would I really want the power to control the wind? Or the pressure that comes with it? Probably not.

What is mine? My effort. My thoughts. My tone. My responses. These are small things, but they shape everything.

And if I can master those, that’s enough.

New Idea 🌟

The $20,000/Month AI Worker & AI Will Improve 1,000,000x in 5 Years

OpenAI is working on something wild. They’re building AI agents, digital workers with PhD-level intelligence, that could cost $20,000 a month.

These agents won’t just answer our questions or write our emails. They’ll take our whole to-do list and do it for us.

Imagine two screens. One looks like ChatGPT, and the other like a browser, a terminal, a Google Doc, a spreadsheet, or even our desktops. We tell it what we want. It breaks the job into steps. Then, it logs in, clicks the buttons, types the code, edits the document, sends the email, and does it all without blinking.

I think this will eventually make its way as the new user interface for computers.

The part that concerns me the most is that most people won’t be able to afford it.

Unless there’s a breakthrough in open-source or regulation steps in, we’re about to see a massive gap grow even wider. The rich will have access to this kind of hyper-productivity. The poor will not. And the compounding effects on income, knowledge, and opportunity will be staggering.

I’ve been worried about this. I believe that compelling technology behind a paywall will have disastrous long-term consequences.

On top of this, everything is accelerating AND compounding:

• Chips are getting 3x faster every year.

• Algorithms are improving 3x faster every year.

• Data centers are scaling 3x bigger every year.

That’s 10x every two years.
100x in four.
A million-fold leap in five.

Of course, that also means prices might drop. Compute might become more available. Progress might benefit us all.

What I See In Markets 📈

A lot has happened in the last two weeks.

GDP & Jobs Report - Yikes.

Recent GDP data paints a concerning picture, with first-quarter U.S. GDP shrinking by 0.3%. Some economists attribute this to businesses stockpiling imports ahead of anticipated tariffs, skewing the numbers. While this contraction raises eyebrows, it’s not a definitive recession signal yet.

Though not detailed in recent updates, the jobs report remains critical as markets look for signs of labor market resilience.

Both of these are pretty bearish signs, but the S&P 500’s recent winning streak suggests optimism persists, but volatility will happen if economic data continues to disappoint. I will keep an eye on upcoming PMI and ISM services indices for clues on economic momentum.

GDP Source

Jobs Source

Trump Pauses Tariffs

President Trump’s signal of potential trade deals and a 90-day pause on some tariffs has helped reduce market uncertainty and is probably responsible for the recent rally.

I haven’t seen anything set in stone yet, so I am still watching this carefully.

Admittedly, the combination of GDP, jobs report, and the tariffs has me more cautious than usual.

Yahoo Finance

Buffett Names New CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett’s announcement at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting that he’ll step down as CEO by year-end, with Greg Abel taking the reins, marks a pivotal moment.

Abel, long groomed as successor, inherits a $348 billion cash pile and a conglomerate with a stellar track record. Berkshire’s stock has returned 5,502,284% since 1965, dwarfing the S&P 500’s 39,054%.

The transition has sparked debate about Berkshire’s future strategy. Abel may shift toward dividend payments, a departure from Buffett’s no-dividend policy, potentially attracting income-focused investors.

Retail investors’ $24 million rush into Berkshire’s Class B shares after the announcement signals confidence, but markets will scrutinize Abel’s capital allocation decisions.

With the S&P 500 overheating (in my opinion), I’ve been looking into Berkshire as an alternative to indexing. I’ll be watching Abel carefully to see if that is a strategy I want to try.

CNBC

Motley Fool

Yahoo Finance

Fed Holds Rates & Powell Hints at Stagflation

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s recent comments at the FOMC meeting sent shockwaves.

He warned that Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs could fuel inflation, slow growth, and raise unemployment, a textbook stagflation scenario.

With the Fed holding rates at 4.25%-4.5%, Powell’s blunt assessment that tariffs are “substantially larger than anticipated” highlights the central bank’s dilemma.

In case you don’t know…stagflation is a nightmare for markets: rising prices erode purchasing power, while slower growth hammers corporate earnings. Equities, especially growth stocks, could face headwinds, and bond yields may spike as inflation expectations rise.

The Fed’s wait-and-see stance means investors must prepare for prolonged uncertainty. Diversifying into defensive assets like utilities or gold could hedge against this risk.

Personally, I think the Federal Reserve should’ve cut during the last meeting, but it seems like they won’t cut for at least a few quarters.

The FOMC Fed Watch tool says there is an 88.4% chance that the Fed will hold rates at the next meeting.

Source

Personal Update 💙

Spring Fair

BSU crushed it this year; we raised a ton of money and sold out (as we usually do).
I was on the grill, cooking hot links. At first I was struggling, I couldn’t quite get them right. Then the previous BSU advisor walked up and showed me how it’s done. Shout out to Mrs. Brown!

It felt good being out there with students, outside the classroom, sharing laughs, music, and food. Moments like that make this job a little sweeter.

AVID Banquet

I wrote awards for some of the seniors.

Some were funny. Some were serious. A lot of them made people cry.

Students handed me letters, pages and pages, thanking me for being their teacher.

As cheesy as it sounds, it reminded me why I do this, why it’s worth it, even when it’s hard.

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week was full of little kindnesses.

Some bracelets. A Starbucks gift card. Tacos. Ice cream. More notes than I could count!

I felt seen. And honestly, that’s rare.

Mother’s Day

I cooked lunch for my wife, my mom, and my mother-in-law.

On the menu was mushroom Alfredo, steak, roasted broccolini, and homemade ice cream.

They played with the girls, and my wife even got a nap.

I call that a perfect Mother’s Day.

Again, I skipped another week, but this week was monumental in my life, and I’m glad I took the time to focus on what was important.

Timeless Idea💡

Man In The Arena

It's easy to sit on the sidelines. It's easy to point fingers, to judge, to say how things should be done.

It’s a lot harder to actually stand up and do the thing yourself.

Life rewards the people who step into the arena.
Not the ones who stay safe in the stands.

The arena is messy.
We will get bruised.
We will get tired.
We will fail, and people will see us fail.
But if we want a life that matters, we have to be willing to get dirty.

We have to be willing to be seen trying.

The truth is:
If we are doing anything worthwhile, we will be criticized.
Sometimes by strangers.
Sometimes by people you love.
Sometimes by the voice inside our own head.

But the critics don’t matter.
The cowards don’t matter.
The only thing that matters is that we had the courage to show up.

I had to keep this in the forefront of my mind the last few weeks.

New Idea 🌟

China’s Thorium Breakthrough

China had made a significant leap forward with a new type of nuclear technology: thorium molten salt reactors (MSRs). (My chemistry students should know how exciting this is to me.)

Thorium is a metal that’s three to four times more common than uranium. By itself, thorium can't power a reactor. But when it absorbs a neutron, it transforms into a special kind of uranium (uranium-233) that can.

This process could make nuclear energy cheaper, safer, and cleaner.

Why thorium matters:

• Abundant and Cheaper: There’s way more thorium than uranium on Earth. Plus, thorium doesn’t need to be enriched like uranium, making it less expensive.

• Safer Design: MSRs use molten salt instead of water. They run at low pressure, can shut down safely without human help, and won’t blow up like old-school reactors.

• Less Waste: Thorium reactors produce dangerous waste for hundreds of years instead of thousands. They also create very little material that can be turned into nuclear weapons. This is not ideal, but it is much better than uranium.

China’s Big Win:

• In 2023, China’s experimental reactor in Wuwei reached criticality (meaning it worked). By late 2024, they did something no one had done before: they refueled the reactor while it was still running.

• They're also building bigger reactors in the Gobi Desert that could produce clean electricity and even hydrogen fuel by 2029.

How did China get ahead?

They studied U.S. research from the 1960s that was later abandoned when America decided to focus on uranium reactors (mostly for making nuclear weapons). China's government poured hundreds of millions into reviving and improving the technology, while America's strict regulations slowed progress at home.

What’s the catch?

• Building thorium MSRs is still expensive.

• The tech faces hurdles like corrosion from the molten salts.

• Thorium reactors aren’t fully ready for mass use yet. Even in China, they’re still experimental.

But if it works, thorium reactors could power remote areas, reduce carbon emissions, and offer a safer path to nuclear energy.
China is leading the charge, but the U.S. could catch up with the right changes.

If you have been reading my newsletter for a while, you know that I’m extremely excited about the future of nuclear energy. This is another step in that direction. There are many vectors where we could achieve nearly limitless clean energy in our lifetimes, which could dramatically change the standard of living for billions of people.

Source: Nature (Paywall)

Source: IEEE Spectrum

What I See In Markets 📈

Earnings Season, baby!

It might just save the market, at least for a little while.

But yikes...
Fed Chair Powell recently warned that the federal debt is on an unsustainable path, and we’re running crisis-level deficits even with full employment. Not exactly a small problem. I want to mention that he said we are on an unsustainable path, not that where we are is unsustainable…so there is some hope in this regard.

Still, the market feels so bearish right now that it’s flashing opportunities everywhere.
I’m seeing big names like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Amex trading at surprisingly low P/E ratios, especially when we factor in their strong business models and growth rates.

Google has my attention the most:

• They just announced stock buybacks.

• Growth in search still outweighs any losses.

• They own Waymo (autonomous driving) and the market gives them zero credit for it despite making incredible progress over the last year.

• They also have a hefty stake in SpaceX, again, barely reflected in the stock price.

• Gemini doesn’t have the best UI, but I think they have the superior AI product on the market right now.

• People dramatically underestimate Google’s resilience.

And then there’s the rally we just had...
Fueled by Trump slowing down the tariff threats.
Another day, another headline.

That’s why I keep buying.
There’s always drama.
There’s always noise.
I consistently stick to fundamentals, play the long game, and buy.

Personal Update 💙

A Game-Changing Two Weeks

The last two weeks have been some of the biggest for me personally.

I pitched my first product to a school district and hired my first intern.

Leverage is incredible.

I always knew it in theory, but experiencing it firsthand is a total game-changer. Watching myself pitch something I built gave me a new kind of confidence. It confirmed something deeper: I can shape my future.

I also spoke at my first conference, and it was more successful than I anticipated.

I booked a consulting gig, got five more leads from people who want me to consult with their districts, and met student speakers who reminded me why I started all of this.

I am really excited to enter the world of educational consulting and hope to make a genuinely positive impact on more students (and educators). It’s no secret that education is broken, but I believe we can create a fantastic future with effort and integrity.

The speakers and presenters at this conference?

Some of the best I’ve ever seen. I walked away with ideas not just for my own classroom, but for BrightStar Education, too

The keynote speaker had the same title as my workshop, but despite the redundancies, I had a full room, and people were thoroughly engaged! I was nervous, but it all worked out.

Some of the biggest lessons I’m carrying with me are these:

• I’m not on the ground floor anymore. I’m much further along in my journey than I thought.

• It’s time to drop the impostor syndrome.

• It’s time to stop fearing the “what ifs.”

• The faith my family and friends have in me is incredible and irreplaceable, and I am so lucky to have that kind of unwavering support.

I’ve always believed that everything around us was made up by people who were not more intelligent than me and that I could make things up, too. But now I’m seeing it happen in real time, and that is very different from knowing that in theory.

I’m finally living the part of my life where my love for sharing ideas and years of work in education are turning into something that matters.

I can see that this is what happens when I mix talent with hard work, integrity, and consistency.

Some of the most powerful moments were meeting students who reminded me of myself:

• One student battled PTSD and bullying and is now using her story to be a more compassionate educator. I had a similar story.

• Another was a brilliant young woman who tied her entire identity to achievement, something I used to struggle with but had forgotten over time.

Those conversations will shape how I work with my students from now on.

We don’t always need to learn new things.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded.

On a lighter note...
I gambled for the first time…what a ride!
Won some, lost everything, but had a blast.

My wife and I went on a date to a winery, got free drinks, and even though our kids ended up crashing the party, it made it even better. There was live music, and we all danced to Earth, Wind, and Fire covers. It was amazing to see my oldest daughter see a live band for the first time! She loves music as much as I do.

I also got to spend time with my parents and sister, and nothing filled my heart like that.

It’s been a wild, beautiful couple of weeks.

And somehow, I know it's just the beginning.

I took two weeks off, but now I’m back.

The last few weeks were quite interesting for me, so this edition will be a little longer this week.

Timeless Idea💡

Aristotle once walked through a bustling marketplace surrounded by shiny objects and tempting luxuries. He looked around and said, “How many things there are that I do not want.” That’s stuck with me.

I feel the same way. There’s a freedom in not wanting things.

Some shoes don’t tempt me. Cars I’ll never crave. Even entire lifestyles that just don’t pull at me. That space, where desire doesn’t live, is where focus can flourish. When I stop wanting what doesn’t matter, I can double down on what does.

It’s not that I have everything. It’s that I don’t need everything.

And that’s even better.

New Idea 🌟

Thoughts on OpenAI Image Generation

Over the break, ChatGPT quietly dropped a huge update: it can now make stunning images with their 4o model.

I’m talking about full-blown ad campaigns, educational posters, cartoons of your friends, interior design mockups, logos, UI designs—you name it.

This isn’t just a cool toy. I think it changes how people build things. Many huge technological breakthroughs are first seen as play.

Before this update, I exclusively used Midjoruney for my image generation, but I’m adding 4o to my workflow now.

A single person can now look like a team. Startups can move faster, and established companies can scale content with less friction.

It’s not just one tool, it’s like suddenly having a marketing team, art department, and creative studio, in your pocket.

A Few Thoughts:

📌 I used it to study anatomy & other things
I asked for accurate muscle diagrams and used it to sketch and understand body mechanics. It was like having a free tutor that could create images for me to understand better. From my experience, visuals are one of the best ways to apprehend new knowledge and I’m excited to use this to my advantage.

📌 It changes online ads.
Ads can now be generated on demand. There are no longer long wait times or big budgets to test visuals.

📌 It changes filters.
Remember when Instagram filters required coding? Now, you just say, “Studio Ghibli style,” “South Park,” or “Dr. Seuss,” and you’ve got it.

📌 It changes memes.
Memes will get better. Why? The effort-to-quality ratio just flipped. Good memes are now easier to make than bad ones.

📌 It may change books.
Imagine taking a public-domain book and turning each page into a comic panel. I want someone to do this with Frankenstein or Jane Eyre. Suddenly, old books get a second life. I eventually want to try this with classic works of literature or philosophy.

I may publish a comic version of Seneca's Letters From a Stoic as the next book. Making those ideas accessible may be a great advantage.

📌 It changes slide decks.
We’re close to the day when bullet-point-only presentations will feel lazy. AI can now generate custom images for each idea.

📌 It may change social networks.
Once this becomes widespread, every image upload button might have a “generate instead” option. To post without a photo, just click “make one.”

📌 It should change image search.
Looking for a stock photo? Soon, you’ll just type and generate what you want—right next to the search results.

This is the beginning of something big. A visual revolution that puts the tools in everyone’s hands.

Scientists Have Brought Back Direwolfes from Ancient DNA

On October 1, 2024, two wolf pups named Romulus and Remus were born. But these aren’t just any pups.

They’re the first genetically engineered dire wolf hybrids in history.

Thanks to CRISPR gene editing, scientists at Colossal Biosciences took DNA from ancient dire wolves—fossils dating back over 11,000 years—and spliced it into modern gray wolf embryos. The result: pups with white fur, bigger jaws, and a prehistoric presence.

But they’re not pure clones. These are hybrids. Their goal? To eventually restore the ecological roles once filled by dire wolves.

But not everyone’s cheering.

At six months old, Romulus and Remus already show signs of being less social with humans. Critics worry about unintended consequences, disrupted ecosystems, unpredictable behavior, or worse.

This sparks bigger questions:

• Should we bring back extinct species?

• What counts as “natural” anymore?

• Are we rewriting evolution—or just remixing it?

Whether it’s a marvel of science or a cautionary tale, one thing’s clear:
We’re entering a new era where extinction might no longer mean forever.

Source

Paralyzed Man Stands Again, Thanks to Stem Cells

According to Nature, a team in Tokyo just pulled off a fantastic accomplishment.

At Keio University, four men with severe spinal cord injuries, no movement, and no feeling became the first people to receive a new kind of stem cell treatment.

The therapy used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—adult cells (like skin) that scientists reprogram into blank slates. These can then be guided to become specific types of cells, like the ones found in the spinal cord.

Researchers transformed these into neural precursor cells and injected two million into each patient’s injury site to rebuild the nerves and restore function.

What Happened

🧍 One man—paralyzed from the neck down for years—stood up on his own. He’s now in rehab, learning to walk again.

💪 Another regained partial movement in both his arms and legs.

🙁 Two others saw little to no improvement… but none of the patients experienced any major side effects after a year.

Why This Matters

Spinal cord injury affects 20 million people worldwide. Until now, most treatments have focused on managing the injury, not reversing it.

This trial proves that injecting reprogrammed stem cells directly into the spine is safe and that recovery might be possible, at least for some.

And because iPSCs don’t use fetal tissue, this approach avoids the ethical battles tied to embryonic stem cells.

Limitations and the Road Ahead

This was just four people. Scientists aren’t sure why only two improved. Was it timing? What type of injury? Genetics? Like always, more research is needed.

More trials, with control groups and larger sample sizes, are coming.

Still, this is a glimpse of what might be coming: a future in which regenerative medicine doesn’t just manage conditions… it heals them.

Source

What I See In Markets 📈

Buying the Drama: Tariffs, Bonds, and Opportunity

Trump gave the markets a sugar high.

His announcement of a 90-day tariff pause (excluding that brutal 145% tariff on China) sent stocks rallying—but this wasn’t generosity. It looks like a short-term play to pump the market and lower bond yields… maybe to get better refinancing terms.

I think the US needs to refinance its debt at a lower rate, and the only way to do that is to force big money to invest in bonds, lowering interest rates.

Then came the retaliation. China hit back with 125% tariffs and started dumping U.S. bonds, which spooked the market. Bond yields surged, and prices fell.

I also think the language this administration uses to define the tariffs is incorrect. It seems like the tariffs aren’t reciprocal; they’re proportional.

China and the U.S. aren’t playing nice, and it’s starting to look like this rivalry won’t fade anytime soon.

Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Pivot

We’re heading into short-term pain, especially in supply chains. Let’s be real: America doesn’t yet have the manufacturing muscle to go toe-to-toe.

I keep thinking back to COVID. When the global supply chain collapsed, shelves went empty, and that’s when I realized how vulnerable we are.

A self-sufficient America?

That idea still sticks with me. We need it. Maybe this friction is the beginning of that reset.

What I’m Doing

I’m watching this entire drama unfold and buying the dip at the proper levels.

💡 Stocks I’m Watching Closely:

Big Tech (Tariff-sensitive, but strong):

• NVDA (support zone: $100–105)

• AMZN ($170–175)

• META, GOOG, TSLA

My 2025 Favorites (Higher risk, higher reward):

• SOFI, SHOP – I see big upside

• HNST, ELF, CAKE, NKE – a bit more consumer-dependent, but I like them long-term.

I’m waiting for key support levels, keeping favorites to 20–30% of my portfolio, and using NVDA and SOFI as early market strength indicators.

Reminder: I am a long-term investor, and my time horizon is at least 5-10 years.

Source: Reuters

Source: CNBC

Source: Reuters

Personal Update 💙

Spring Break Adventures

I just wrapped up Spring Break, and honestly—this is one of the best parts of being a teacher. A solid stretch of time to rest, reset, and (my personal fav, work on) what’s next.

Here’s how I spent mine:

👨‍🏫 Prepping to Present

I’ve been working on a talk for the School Climate Conference. I’m hoping it’ll be not just good but useful, something people can take to their schools and actually apply.

🌴 Mission Bay Moments

We took a little family trip to San Diego, stayed near Mission Bay, and had a blast. We had beach days, bike rides, Belmont Park, and even a rare date night (thanks to my mother-in-law). Watching my daughters take it all in was a joy.

🐆 Zoo Days

We also went to the Living Desert Zoo. My girls are obsessed with animals; seeing their faces light up never gets old.

🛠️ Building, Building, Building

I carved out some deep work time for my education company, and I’m excited. Two ideas are taking shape—things that could really support students, families, teachers, and administrators. It’s still early, but the direction feels promising.

❤️ Home Is the Highlight

The best part, though? Just being with my daughters and my wife at home. It was restorative, chaotic, deeply fun, and full of love. I’m grateful I get to enjoy them so much. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end.

Timeless Idea💡

Michelangelo is best known for his sculptures, paintings, and architecture—the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the David statue, and St. Peter’s Basilica—big, breathtaking stuff.

But we forget this: making them took him a lifetime of work.

Masterpieces look magical. But they come from grinding effort. Quiet hours. Missed dinners. Countless redos.

I think about that a lot when people compliment the things I make.

Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to hear, “Wow, that’s impressive!” And I smile, but a part of me laughs because if they knew how many drafts I wrote, how long I stared at blank screens, how many times I almost gave up… they might not say it was impressive. Honestly, they might wonder why it isn’t better after all that effort.

But that’s the thing.

The work is the wonder.

The finished product gets the applause, but it's the hours behind the curtain—those unglamorous, stubborn, faithful hours—that make it possible.

If you’re in the middle of your own long, slow project: keep going. You’re not behind. You’re just doing what all the greats did.

Even Michelangelo.

Sometimes, I have to remind myself of this.

New Idea 🌟

Figure Announces BotQ: High Volume Robot Manufacturing Facility

Figure has recently become the most sought-after private company for investors. That is not surprising, considering they are the front runners (in my opinion) in the Year of the Robot.

Recently, they announced their BotQ, a headquarters for manufacturing large numbers of robots. It can make 12,000 robots annually and aims to hit 100,000 in four years. These robots will help with jobs like factory work, shipping, and maybe even chores at home.

BotQ builds almost everything itself, from motors to batteries, and even uses Figure’s own robots to help make more robots. They’ve got smart software to track every part and make sure everything runs smoothly. The new Figure 03 robot will be cheaper and quicker to produce, thanks to faster methods like molding instead of slow machining.

Located in San Jose, BotQ is Figure’s big step toward making humanoid robots common—and they plan to open more factories soon. They also have backing from big players like Jeff Bezos and is valued at $2.6 billion. The founder has openly stated that no amount of money will get him to sell this company— I think this company has the makings to be an American powerhouse.

Here is a video that shows part of the process:

You can also check out more on Figure here. Today, they announced that their robots could now walk naturally like humans.

What I See In Markets 📈

Fed’s Latest Move: Rates Steady, QT Slows Down

The Federal Reserve’s FOMC met on March 18-19, 2025, and decided to keep interest rates steady while changing its plans for Quantitative Tightening (QT).

No Change in Interest Rates

• Current Rate: The federal funds rate stays at 4.25% to 4.50%, unchanged from the last meeting. After cutting rates by a full percentage point in late 2024, the Fed is hitting pause to watch how the economy reacts.

• Future Cuts: The SEP’s “dot plot” shows the Fed still expects two rate cuts in 2025, dropping the rate to around 3.75% to 4.00% by year-end. That’s a total of 50 basis points (0.50%). However, fewer members now predict more than two cuts compared to December, signaling caution.

Slowing Quantitative Tightening (QT)

• What’s QT? It’s the Fed’s process of shrinking its balance sheet by letting Treasury securities roll off without reinvesting the proceeds. Basically, they are taking money out of the economy.

• New Plan: Starting in April 2025, the Fed will slow QT, reducing the monthly cap on Treasury redemptions from $25 billion to $5 billion. That’s an 80% cut in the runoff pace, leaving more cash in the system to ease market pressure.

• Why Slow Down? The Fed wants to avoid stressing the Treasury market while keeping inflation in check. One member, Christopher Waller, dissented, preferring to stick with the faster $25 billion pace.

Key Numbers from SEP

• Growth: The Fed lowered its 2025 GDP growth forecast to 1.7%, down from 2.1% in December 2024. Slower growth ahead :(

• Inflation: Core PCE inflation (the Fed’s favorite measure) is expected to hit 2.8% in 2025, up from 2.5% last time. It’s still above the Fed’s 2% target, showing inflation’s stubborn side.

• Unemployment: The jobless rate is projected at 4.4% by year-end 2025, a slight nudge up from 4.3% in the prior forecast. The labor market’s holding steady.

What do I think about this?

Personally, I find this short-term bearish but long-term bullish. I’m expecting equities to see a little more headwinds ahead, considering rates are not falling the way most investors expected (although I’ve been saying higher for longer for a while now).

However, the slower pace of QT makes me highly optimistic in the long run, which was a pleasant surprise. Generally, the less QT we have, the more markets can go up and to the right.

I think the Fed’s playing it safe—holding rates steady and easing up on QT to keep the economy humming without letting inflation run wild. Chair Jerome Powell called the outlook “highly uncertain,” hinting at new policies like tariffs as a wild card.

For now, it’s a balancing act: cool inflation, support jobs, and avoid a bumpy landing.

Source

Personal Update 💙

The Final Move in my Permanent Classroom

I finally feel like a real teacher.

The imposter syndrome’s wearing off—maybe because I have a classroom to call my own, or maybe because I’m tenured now. Either way, it feels different. More grounded.

The move was challenging to squeeze in before spring break, but I’m so glad I did it.

I’m excited to decorate. To make it feel like me. Like home.

I’ve always heard stories of teachers who’ve been in the same classroom for decades, and now… somehow, I’m one of them. I’m here until I quit, I’m fired, or I retire. That’s wild.

I’m planning to put up pictures of my family. Hang my degrees. Start a little classroom library with books I actually want my students to read. And, of course, there will be an overly extra coffee and tea station—complete with a distillation setup and fresh ingredients. Because why not?

If I’m going to be there every day, it might as well feel good to be in there.

Taking it Slow for Spring Break

This newsletter is a few days late, but for good reason—I’ve been taking it slow with my family.

Sure, it’s harder to get things done. But maybe that’s the point.

There will probably come a day when I’d give anything to slow down again. To step back into this exact season of life—tiny voices, sticky fingers, the way they gasp at butterflies like it’s the first time, every time.

Since spring break started, my wife and I have been easing into our mornings. We make breakfast together and then put on a little Studio Ghibli while we eat. There’s something about Hayao Miyazaki that has completely captured our attention lately. His stories, his creative process, the tenderness and care behind every detail.

My daughters are absolutely obsessed with Kiki’s Delivery Service. I think we’ve watched it 4 times this week.

My personal favorite? Ponyo.

It’s gentle. A little weird. And beautiful in that way only Ghibli films can be—where everything feels like a dream I once had and forgot about until now.

Timeless Idea💡

Wisdom from Lao Tzu

The Tao Te Ching is a book I love to return to whenever I feel overwhelmed or powerless.

Two of its primary guiding principles are minimal necessary force and effortless action, so it is a lovely book that reminds me that I can accomplish more with less struggle. Since I first read it in 2019, I have returned to it at least once or twice a year.

I love this idea because it reminds me that overcoming difficulty does not mean I must be harder, but softer.

Lao Tzu refers to water, although soft and yielding, wears down rock over time.

True power comes from flexibility, patience, and resilience rather than brute force.

New Idea 🌟

We Can Turn Skin Cells into Eggs and Neurons

Imagine a future where eggs for IVF aren’t harvested through invasive procedures but are created from a simple skin cell. That future is closer than we think.

Scientists have discovered that they can turn ordinary skin cells into egg cells by using Yamanaka factors—a set of four genes that can reprogram any cell into a stem cell. This process is being successfully tested in mice, but within the next five years, it could revolutionize human fertility treatments. This breakthrough could allow women who are past childbearing years or those who struggle with fertility to conceive using lab-created eggs made from their own skin cells.

Some argue that this is “playing God,” but I see it as an incredible leap forward that gives more people the chance to become parents in ways we never imagined possible.

But fertility isn’t the only frontier for this technology.

MIT researchers use a similar approach to turn skin cells into neurons, the brain's fundamental building blocks. In a groundbreaking study published in Cell Systems, scientists developed a method that is 100 times more efficient than previous techniques, producing over 10 neurons per skin cell in mice.

What does this mean for us?

This innovation could pave the way for treatments for spinal cord injuries, ALS, and motor neuron diseases. It could also fuel advances in brain-computer interfaces and regenerative neurotechnologies—offering hope for restoring lost function and even enhancing human cognition.

While the process is still slower in human cells (currently achieving 10-30% efficiency over five weeks), it is already far ahead of older methods. This research has vast potential applications, and we may soon see life-changing therapies emerge from its discoveries.

We live in an age when science blurs the lines between the possible and the impossible. Whether it’s fertility or neuroscience, the ability to reprogram human cells into entirely new forms will change medicine forever.

The future of healing may be written in our skin.

Sources: MIT & National Library of Medicine

What I See In Markets 📈

Trump’s Tariffs Triggers Market Uncertainty—My Chance to Buy Big

This week, markets went red (again), with the S&P 500 moving into correction territory—down over 10% from its February peak—thanks to Trump’s tariff bombshell, doubling tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%.

The $4 trillion wipeout, tech stock carnage (Tesla -15%), and gold’s leap past $3,000/oz signal fear is dominating market sentiment.

But here’s the silver lining: I see market corrections and crashes as prime buying opportunities. While the herd panics, I’ll grab more of my favorite stocks at discount prices—because history shows these dips often set the stage for the next big rally.

Even if the tariffs stay, I am investing in companies with strong balance sheets that can endure this drama and possibly even thrive in this environment.

This week, I bought more ELF and HNST. Although ELF doesn’t have as strong a balance sheet, I think it can afford to pass off any tariffs to the consumer and protect its margins. HNST is a solid company with more cash than debt. I’ve also bought a bit of SHOP. I’ve wanted to develop a significant position in SHOP for years, but I missed the boat in 2022, so I’m grateful for this slight downturn.

Remember that I am a long-term investor seeking above-market returns over the next five years. I am okay with not making any meaningful gains for one to three years.

Source: Reuters, SHOP, ELF, HNST

Personal Update 💙

An Honest Conversation with My Mentor Teacher

Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide

This week, I spent some time with my mentor teacher discussing my experience as an educator. The conversation was honest and authentic, making me feel better about what I have been going through internally. However, it also showed me that what I am experiencing is challenging, even though I insist I am not affected.

While a lot of the day-to-day teaching involves putting fires out and making 1,000,000,000,000,000 decisions, the hardest part is handling the emotional load of the students with whom I interact.

I’ve recently learned that I have become the go-to guy for troubled students to talk to. When a young Black man is struggling, I am the guy they are referred to. Which is a fantastic privilege, but hearing why they act the way they do is intense. On top of that, I have many students who live in fear due to the current political climate, and it is heartbreaking to see the real-world impact of what these children go through.

One of the toughest challenges I went through this year was losing a student to suicide. Unfortunately, that student was one of the most active readers of my blog, and he passed away during a period when I wasn’t writing as much. Part of me wondered if he thought I could help him and the answers were in my blog posts. I wish I could have hired him to help me with my business or something, primarily since I dealt with suicidal ideations when I was younger, and I know how he felt.

I need to write an entire post on my thoughts on suicide so I can at least refer to people who have felt the same as me. While I don’t believe I found a perfect solution, I did find one that worked for me, and I should share it. If you know someone struggling with suicidal ideation or are struggling yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. My email is chris@chrismukiibi.com

While I may take a while to respond, I promise to do so thoughtfully and in a way that I believe can help.

My mentor teacher told me that I needed to spend more time away from it to process it properly, and I agreed with her. Accepting that my students affect me emotionally and having an honest conversation about my experiences have helped a lot. However, I still need to spend some time away from all the chaos.

Timeless Idea💡

Power vs. Poise: Saxon & French Words in English

This week I learned that English is a mix of two languages—Saxon and French. Saxon words are short, strong, and direct. French words are longer, polite, and refined. This mix gives English its unique flexibility, shaping how we communicate.

Why English Has Two Styles

Before 1066, English was purely Germanic, spoken by common folk. Then came the Norman Conquest, and French-speaking rulers introduced words tied to law, government, and high society. Saxon words remained in everyday speech, while French words took on an air of formality and sophistication.

When to Use Saxon vs. French

If you want to sound powerful, use Saxon words. Take Winston Churchill’s speech:

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

Every keyword—fight, beaches, fields, streets, hills, surrender—is Saxon. It’s raw and emotional.

Now compare that to business or academic language:

"We must initiate a strategic dialogue to facilitate cooperation and mitigate potential risks."

It sounds polished but lacks punch. Words like initiate, facilitate, cooperation, and mitigate are from French and Latin. They make you sound professional but can also be vague or detached.

For a deep dive into the power of words, check out The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth. It’s a fun read on how word choice shapes speech.

English lets us choose between simple strength and elegant sophistication. Want to rally people? Use Saxon. Want to sound official? Go French. The key is knowing what effect we want to have.

New Idea 🌟

AI Can Find New Mineral Deposits. Are We Entering the Post-Scarcity World?

Companies are using AI to find new mineral deposits that we didn’t know existed because of the limitations of our current technology. It turns out that many of the materials we thought were scarce may actually not be.

We may be entering the “post-scarcity age.”

A post-scarcity world is one where technology and resources eliminate the traditional constraints of supply and demand—think boundless energy, food, and shelter for everyone.

In this world, there is no need for trade wars or fighting for limited resources…because we have enough of them. This would be a big deal for humanity, but it would require a ton of energy. The post-scarcity world would free humankind to focus on creativity and exploration. However, challenges will still remain: extraction costs, environmental impacts, and geopolitical tensions could complicate this.

The discovery of thorium in Inner Mongolia brings us closer to this idea of a post-scarcity world.

Thorium, a radioactive metal, offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative to uranium for nuclear power. It produces less waste, reduces meltdown risks, and could theoretically provide energy for millennia.

China’s Bayan Obo mining complex reportedly holds 1 million tonnes of thorium—enough to power the country for 60,000 years—this breakthrough could redefine global energy dynamics.

You can read more about it here!

What I See In Markets 📈

Why I’m Buying In the Bearish Storm

AAII Investor Sentiment is Bearish

The stock market is buzzing with uncertainty right now, and the latest AAII Investor Sentiment Survey reflects that loud and clear. Bearish sentiment has surged to 60.6%, the highest since September 2022, with the bull-bear spread hitting a stark -41.2%. That’s a level we last saw right before the market bottomed out in late 2022, kicking off a rebound. Historically, such extreme pessimism has been a contrarian signal—when individual investors are this downbeat, it often hints at a potential turn within a month or so. I’m taking that as my cue to load up, scooping up my favorite assets while they’re on sale.

So what’s driving this fear?

Markets hate uncertainty, and there’s plenty to go around. Tariffs and trade war fears are making investors nervous, with worries that the current administration’s policies could squeeze corporate profits and consumer spending in the short term. Recession talk is coming up, compounded by inflation concerns and government austerity measures. Interest rates lingering high aren’t helping either.

I Bet Things Will Change by Midterm Elections

Yet, I’m not here to predict the exact outcome, because I have no idea—markets have a way of muddling through chaos. In a year, this drama will likely feel like a distant memory.

Looking ahead, the midterm elections in 2026 could change things. Political cycles often bring market-friendly policies as politicians court voters, potentially easing some pressure. For now, I’m holding steady, betting on the market’s resilience. The bearish sentiment feels overblown, and I see this week’s dip as a buying opportunity. I got more of my favorites and am excited to bring down my cost basis.

Personal Update 💙

A Surprisingly Successful BSU Business Workshop Fundraiser

This week, I organized a fundraiser to raise money for our school’s Black Student Union. At one of the meetings, one of the members said I need to sit down and teach everyone everything I know (what a wonderful compliment).

So, I asked them what they would like to learn about.

They told me many things, but the biggest was “how to make money.”

Although, I do not believe it is the school’s job to teach students how to make money, I will not turn down an opportunity to teach something someone wants to learn.

So I put on a 2 hour workshop: “How to Start a Business with $0.”

It focused on the basics of business, creating and enchanting offers. The participants developed a business plan that they could execute if they wanted to.

I also saw it as an excellent opportunity to refine my skills as a public speaker. I also thought I could turn this workshop into a course for BrightStar Academy one day. So, it was an excellent opportunity to do something bad and improve it later.

Additionally, if it worked out, I could show the students that creating good offers actually translates to money. So, not only did the students learn a little bit about business, but they also saw it happen in real time.

This workshop went better than I thought. A few staff members donated so the students interested in the seminar could afford to attend, and BSU still benefits. Because of our wonderful community, this fundraiser was pretty successful, and I hope we can do it again, especially since the next iteration of this will be much better.

On a personal note, this workshop taught me a lot about myself:

• Even though it was the 4th time I’ve given it, I still learned more about business when I got to apply it to the participant’s businesses. So I improved my business skills.

• I cannot listen to the voices telling me my bold ideas are terrible. For every voice I hear that is saying no, there are more voices that I wish I could follow through. I hesitated to follow through with this, but I’m glad I did it. It was a successful fundraiser and an excellent experience for those involved. It’s almost like a voice in my head doesn’t want me to win, but now I know when that voice comes up, it will be a sign to power through.

• I learned that I still love teaching so much. Part of me was worried because this year has been particularly challenging, but I am realizing that I love teaching but hate classroom management. I hate convincing someone that learning things is helpful. I want to teach to those who want to learn, and for a while, I thought that meant I couldn’t teach anymore. I just need to put myself in front of the right audience. I want to start doing these workshops regularly to remind myself that I am a good teacher and I love teaching because my daily experience doesn’t align with that.

My Daughter Turned 2

My youngest daughter turned two last week, and we celebrated her birthday this weekend. It is incredible to see her grow and her little personality become more and more pronounced.

My home was filled with so much love this weekend, and I was present to it. It was a great weekend, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the love in my life. What makes me even happier is that my daughter has access to all of that love, too.

The birthday was Minnie Mouse-themed and my daughter received so many wonderful gifts. Her favorite (which she shares with her sister) is a giant remote-controlled pink car that they love riding around it.

Timeless Idea💡

Wisdom from Cao Cao

I’ve recently indulged in my childhood obsession with China’s Three Kingdoms period.

Cao Cao was a brilliant and ruthless warlord, strategist, and poet during China’s Three Kingdoms period. He is known for unifying northern China and laying the foundation for the Wei Dynasty. Although often portrayed as a villain, he was a master of warfare and political maneuvering, balancing brutal pragmatism with bursts of poetry and philosophy.

When I was younger, I didn’t like Cao Cao. I thought he was harsh and self-serving. Now that I’m older, I see why history played out the way it did and why he emerged victorious over the Shu and Wu Dynasties.

I recently discovered he was big on poetry and philosophy, so I’ve been diving into his writing.

I love this quote because Cao Cao suggests that a good leader values clear judgment over gossip or public perception. I believe this was foundational to his success. He constantly practiced thinking for himself and didn’t allow himself to be moved by others. This is how he created alliances with people who were once enemies and made decisions that others couldn’t even imagine. Independent thought is foundational to success and survival.

New Idea 🌟

A Glimpse at the Future of Robots at Home

Figure, the robotics company, just introduced Helix AI, and it’s wild. This system lets robots reason like humans, meaning they can pick up and handle all kinds of household items — even if they’ve never seen them before. That’s been a huge roadblock for robots in homes, and this is a big step toward solving it.

Helix's Vision-Language-Action model, detailed in Figure's technical report, combines perception, language, and control, allowing robots to execute tasks through natural language prompts, marking a first in multi-robot collaboration and full-upper-body control.

But here’s the part that blew my mind — there are actually two models working together. One handles most of the thinking (the reasoning and decision-making), and the other handles the physical actions. They’re constantly communicating — like, one model needed an apple, and the other handed over the whole fruit bowl for it to pick from. That back-and-forth collaboration? Super underrated breakthrough.

Dexterity still isn’t quite there yet for truly general-purpose robots (we’re not at “robot butler” level), but we’re getting closer. Maybe still a few years away — but even that’s insane when you think about it.

You can read more about it here.

What I See In Markets 📈

Bullish on Market Correction

I’m seeing a lot of stocks crash left and right. There are a few reasons for this, but nothing I see as too severe.

• Economic Slowdown: Weak data like slowing housing starts, declining home sales, and a contracting services PMI signaled a cooling economy.

• Inflation Spike: Inflation expectations rose to 4.3% (from 3.3%), raising concerns about persistent price pressures.

• Fed Policy Shift: FOMC minutes hinted at pausing rate cuts and continuing quantitative tightening, reducing expectations of monetary easing.

• Tariff Impact: Trump’s post-inauguration tariff policies (e.g., on China, Mexico, Canada) sparked fears of trade disruptions and higher costs.

• Volatility Triggers: A $2.7 trillion options expiration (from February 21) and shifting investor focus from tech to small/mid-cap stocks added pressure.

Overall, I see market corrections as a wonderful gift for a long-term investor like myself. It’s like all my favorite things are on sale.

Despite all the red, I’m still bullish because the bond market shows that we are not expecting any long-term inflation. This administration's austerity measures should help the country's long-term stability.

The 10-year Treasury yields rose to 4.6%-4.7% in early 2025, but the breakeven inflation rate (near 2.5%) suggests long-term inflation isn’t expected to surge. Currently, the 10-year treasury is near 4.2%.

Trump’s administration, via Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a February 2025 House Budget proposal, aims to cut spending by $2.8 trillion over a decade alongside tax cuts, potentially stabilizing the country long-term if executed.

You can read more about this here: Reuters & Axios

Great Time to Buy (HNST & ELF)

This week, I made a few moves in my portfolio. Unsurprisingly, I added to my VOO position (because I always do). However, most of my contributions this month went toward ELF and HNST.

I picked up more shares of Honest Company (HNST) even though their Q4 wasn’t as strong as I expected. Honestly, I’m not too worried. I still believe they’ll turn profitable by 2026, and right now, it feels like a lower-risk play compared to some of my other positions. To add to my conviction, their balance sheet is strong.

As for ELF, I couldn’t resist. I’ve wanted to buy into ELF at this price for a while. Growth is expected to slow, and they might face some headwinds if Trump’s tariffs return. But I believe in them long term. Short-term pain? Sure. But I’m here for the bigger picture. They also have a balance sheet that is strong enough to weather the storm, so I’m not worried.

Personal Update 💙

Making Friends Online

Taking my online presence seriously was one of the most beneficial decisions I made last year. This week, I enjoyed getting to know someone through the internet.

I love making internet friends! I’m so grateful that I live in a time where I can connect with people I would never meet in my day-to-day life.

This week, I met a teacher who has been teaching for the last twenty years, has two toddlers (like me), and has started a successful academy that nets him about 60% of his teacher salary. It was so cool to talk to someone who has created a successful academy, and I got to ask him questions to help me start my own.

I’ve wanted to start an academy, but a million little problems have consistently slowed me down. My new friend has helped me see things differently, and I’m super excited to get it going.

BrightStar Academy will be even better than I previously imagined, and it’s all because I took the risk and put myself out there. Now, I can connect with others who can help me make my dreams a reality.

Reevaluating My Priorities

At the start of the year, I planned to expand my skincare company. Since then, however, I’ve been presented with a changing landscape that requires me to reevaluate my priorities. For the last few years, I’ve been planting different seeds, and in the last few months, many of those seeds have sprouted and require more attention and time.

I’ve struggled to prioritize which of these “plants” to attend to. I’ve decided to save the skincare company for Q3 and focus on my education business until Q2. Many opportunities have come up (like booking a conference and learning key insights about starting academies), which have changed the landscape for me.

Getting to this conclusion was difficult and not obvious to me, but I’m grateful to have too many things to do.

Lesson learned: I’ve been so focused on planting seeds I didn’t stop to consider if I could water and nurture them if they sprouted. I need to have more faith in my ideas and be ready to capitalize on them when the time comes.

Timeless Ideas💡

Wisdom from Rumi

When I was younger, I had a deep desire to improve the world. I was constantly aware of its flaws—how cold and broken it seemed. With boldness and intellect, I believed the best use of my abilities was to fix what was wrong around me.

After more than a decade of holding that perspective, I’ve realized that changing myself is not only easier but also far more effective.

By focusing on my own growth, I have a greater impact on the world around me. The changes I make within myself ripple outward in a tangible and meaningful way.

When I work on becoming better, I naturally improve my corner of the world.

New Idea 🌟

AI Trained on DNA Predicts and Cures Diseases

Similar to how ChatGPT and other large language models are trained words and language. Evo 2 is trained on DNA.

It’s a groundbreaking artificial intelligence built by the Arc Institute and NVIDIA.

It’s trained on 9 trillion genetic building blocks from plants, bacteria, and humans, allowing it to detect genetic issues without being explicitly told what to look for.

I think this is a potential game-changer in our fight against some of the world’s most challenging diseases.

What makes Evo 2 so promising is its capacity to generalize from a single human sample and all life’s DNA to detect disease mechanisms never explicitly shown to it. It’s like the model has internalized the "grammar" of life, spotting errors and suggesting fixes based on first principles. For instance, it can predict how a mutation ripples through DNA, RNA, and protein interactions—crucial for diseases where these layers interact, like cancer or Alzheimer’s.

How It Works

Think of DNA as a recipe book for the body. Sometimes, tiny typos in that book lead to diseases. Evo 2 acts like an expert proofreader who has read every recipe. It can spot these mistakes, even the subtle ones we might otherwise miss because it understands the deep rules of how life is structured.

Evo 2 doesn’t need to see a specific disease to detect a problem—it just gets DNA like no other technology before.

What Could It Help With?

Evo 2 can predict how gene combinations interact, even if it has never seen that exact pattern. This gives it an unprecedented understanding of life's building blocks and a powerful edge in disease research.

Biologists are also exploring Evo 2’s ability to model protein structures, meaning it doesn’t just understand DNA—it can predict the structures DNA creates. Researchers are now working on training even larger AI models to build on this foundation, scaling up from DNA to higher levels of biological complexity. The goal is to develop AI that first understands organelles, then entire cells, and eventually, whole multicellular organisms.

Here are three ways Evo 2 might change the game:

• Breast Cancer – A broken BRCA1 gene dramatically increases cancer risk. Evo 2 can identify harmful mutations in BRCA1 with over 90% accuracy, potentially allowing for earlier detection and new treatment strategies.

• Cystic Fibrosis – This disease causes thick mucus to clog the lungs due to a faulty gene. Evo 2 could pinpoint additional hidden mutations that worsen symptoms, paving the way for more precise therapies.

• Alzheimer’s – A complex disease with multiple genetic components. Evo 2 can analyze how different parts of DNA influence the brain, uncovering risk factors and potential ways to slow progression.

Why This Matters

Evo 2 doesn’t just identify genetic errors—it’s trying to solve them.

• Identifying genetic problems means researchers can develop targeted treatments faster.

• Evo 2 could help design precise DNA edits to repair faulty genes.

• By identifying risks early, we might be able to stop diseases before they start.

What’s Already Happening?

• Scientists are using Evo 2 to predict harmful DNA changes more accurately than ever.

• It can analyze how DNA affects the entire body—far beyond what traditional tools could do.

• Researchers have even used it to design new genomes from scratch, proving that Evo 2 isn’t just reading life’s code—it’s beginning to rewrite it.

The Future of AI and Medicine

Researchers hope this deep learning will translate into cures by speeding up drug discovery (e.g., targeting specific mutations), enhancing gene therapies (e.g., designing repair sequences), and even preventing diseases before they manifest.

If Evo 2 continues to evolve, it could become a cornerstone in curing all genetic diseases, turning the dream of precision medicine into reality.

You can read more about it from Nature and Stanford.

What I See In Markets 📈

Market Volatility & Drama

Honestly, to me, this wasn’t an eventful or notable week.

Markets fell a little, probably because of:

• Fed Signals: That “no cuts till Q3” comment could’ve spooked investors, pushing bond yields up and stocks down.

• Tariffs: Trump’s tariff threats (e.g., on Mexico, Canada, and China) might have flared up, especially if Friday’s drop was tied to a policy update.

• Earnings: Late February isn’t peak earnings season, but a big player's (e.g., Nvidia, Amazon) missing estimates could have triggered Friday’s slide.

• Global Noise: tensions and weather—could be background factors.

As usual, stocks go down, and I see it as a great opportunity to buy.

Drama comes and goes; what matters is that I am building.

Alex Karp is Selling $1.3B of PLTR

I also noticed Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, released that he is selling $1.3B of his company’s stock. That is downward pressure on top of the already high valuation.

To maintain this valuation, Palantir needs to increase its growth rate above 40% per year for the next few years. It’s possible, but in my opinion, unlikely.

I’m glad I sold part of my position when I did, but like I’ve said before, my position is house money, and I’m happy wherever it goes.

Personal Update 💙

Invited to Speak at a Conference

I was recently invited to speak at the School Climate Conference on April 25th. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about this, but I have learned this feeling means I need to prepare more.

It’s so cool to take a step back and see how far I’ve come since writing my little blog on education back in 2018.

I keep learning that growth and change happen slowly and then all at once.

Just a few years ago, I remember walking into my first staff meeting, being scared and intimidated by all these professionals and hoping I could do a good enough job.

Now, I’m signing books and speaking at a conference?! It is pretty unbelievable.

Seeing Myself From the Outside

Admittedly, I struggle with not feeling as successful as I want. But this week, I took a step back and saw my role in the grand scheme of things. I observed my life from a bird's-eye view, not the first-person perspective I usually use.

I took on a perspective of “turning the sound off.”

If I was watching my life like a movie without sound, what was I doing? What kind of movie would it be? What am I like as a character in that movie?

This exercise helped me realize a lot of things.

For the first time, I realized that I am truly a different person than I used to be.

Here are some of the changes I’ve recently noticed:

• People suddenly take me seriously. They listen when I speak and look to me for solutions. I rarely have them, but I can help them find their answers.

• I have written a book and give copies to students who want more out of their lives. It’s a pretty special experience that I created and will be something I can always look back on with pride.

• I’m spending more time creating workshops for people to learn. All of a sudden, I’m an expert. I still feel like that angsty 23-year-old who just graduated college, but I’m definitely not.

• People ask me if I am working on my next book…and I am! (I still can’t believe I wrote one, but I’m also compulsively creative.) My writing process for my next book is very different from how I wrote my first one.

• People have told me they hope to be as successful as I am one day. Every time I hear that, I think, “But I’m not successful yet.” Maybe that’s a lie, I tell myself. Perhaps success is not binary but a continuum. The right question is not “Are you successful?” but “How successful are you?”

I’m starting to see that I can only feel successful if I consistently work towards a better future AND take the time to slow down and admire how things have changed.

I’m pretty damn good at working towards a better future. I’m much worse at recognizing when I get there.

Regardless, taking the time to reflect has made me feel much better about myself and helped me see my role. I always say the most significant wins come from reflection, but I rarely take the time to reflect seriously. It’s a lesson I’ve needed to learn over and over again.

Timeless Ideas💡

5 Ideas from David Deutsch’s The Beginning of Infinity

I’ve always believed that education—real education—is about more than just facts and figures. It’s about the ability to see the world more clearly, to ask better questions, and to solve meaningful problems.

David Deutsch expands on one simple human process:

1. Good explanation leads to knowledge.

2. Knowledge is unbounded

3. Therefore, progress is infinite.

This idea shifts how we see the world. If all problems are solvable, then what’s stopping us?

Insufficient knowledge.

Every obstacle we face—whether in learning, relationships, or career—can be traced back to something we don’t yet know.

But here’s the exciting part: knowledge is unbounded. The more we learn, the more we can create. Progress has no ceiling.

There are five ideas that Deutsch shares in his book that I think are worth pondering.

1. Everything that isn’t forbidden by the laws of nature is achievable—given the proper knowledge.
   This means that our biggest limitation isn’t talent or background—it’s simply not knowing enough yet. And knowledge? That’s something we can work on. Human potential is infinite if we seek and apply knowledge. The more we learn, the more we can create.

2. Creativity is our ultimate leverage.
   Without human creativity, the universe would be an empty expanse of gas. Our ability to imagine, design, and build makes us powerful, and learning fuels creativity. Creativity transforms ideas into tools, wealth, and moves the world forward.

3. All problems are solvable.
   If we treat life as an ongoing series of problems to be solved, we stop seeing roadblocks as permanent. The most successful people aren’t the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who get better at solving problems. The biggest opportunity comes from the biggest problems…and they are solvable! The principle of optimism is that all evils are caused by insufficient knowledge. Failures happen simply because we don’t know enough (yet).

4. The quality of our explanations determines our progress.
   Good explanations are hard to vary. They hold up under scrutiny. If we want to learn better, we should focus on understanding—not just memorization. Ideas that can be easily changed, twisted, or redefined are usually inadequate explanations.

5. Knowledge reshapes our future.
   Humanity's progress—from medicine to technology to philosophy—comes from a better understanding of the world. The same applies to our personal lives. The better we understand something, the more options we have. Human progress comes from our ability to create explanations, understand, and transform the world. This is what sets us apart from all other species and monkeys.

What I Took From This:

• Knowledge drives infinite progress.

• Creativity drives transformation.

• All problems are solvable.

• Optimism is seeing problems.

• The truth lies in good explanations.

• Knowledge reshapes our future.

If we aren’t breaking the laws of physics, it is possible—we just don’t know how. I find that extremely exciting, meaning the path forward is always within reach.

If something prevents us from achieving our wildest dreams, we can always start solving that problem by asking: What am I missing? What do I not know yet?

New Idea 🌟

New Study Reveals Surprising Health Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs (Ozempic)

A recent study in Nature Medicine examined the benefits and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), a class of medications primarily used for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. While these drugs are effective for weight loss, the study highlighted several other effects:

• Reduced Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes: In a 176-week Phase 3 trial, tirzepatide, a GLP-1RA, lowered the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes by 94% in adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight.

• Improved Heart Health: Tirzepatide demonstrated a 38% reduction in heart failure outcomes—such as urgent visits, hospitalizations, or cardiovascular death—in adults with heart failure and obesity.

• Potential Health Risks: Some weight-loss medications, including certain GLP-1RAs, might increase the likelihood of developing conditions like arthritis.

Eli Lilly's CEO, David Ricks, has expressed confidence in the company's extensive clinical trial program and emphasized its commitment to advancing treatments in the weight loss and diabetes sectors.

There has also been some talk about using GLP-1 drugs to help fight addictions, but I couldn’t find any solid information about that.

While GLP-1RAs offer significant benefits, they also carry risks. Of course, of course consult healthcare providers to determine if these medications are appropriate for their individual health needs.

You can read more about it in the links below:

Nature

Eli Lilly Investor News

What I See In Markets 📈

Hot CPI Inflation Report & Commodities Trending Up

Honestly, the latest inflation report doesn’t look good. Here’s what I saw:

• Annual Inflation Rate:

  • January 2025: 3.0%

  • Previous Month (December 2024): 2.9%

• Monthly Change:

  • January 2025: +0.5% (the highest since August 2024)

• Core CPI (excluding food and energy):

  • Annual Rate: 3.3%

• Sector-Specific Changes:

  • Food Prices: +0.4% monthly

  • Energy Costs:

    • Total: +1.8% monthly

    • Gasoline: Significant increase within the energy sector

• Shelter Costs:

  • +0.4% monthly, contributing substantially to CPI due to its significant weight in the index.

Basically:

• Inflation has moderated from its peak but remains elevated in some key sectors.

• I personally think this is more of a reason for the Federal Reserve not to cut rates any time soon. As I’ve been saying for the last few months, rates will be higher for longer.

In addition to a pretty hot inflation report, commodities have been trending up over the last 3 months. If you aren’t aware, higher commodity prices lead to higher inflation too.

So, what does this mean for my portfolio?

Nothing big. I see it as an opportunity to buy more growth stocks over the long term. As their cash flow gets discounted more due to higher-than-expected rates, their stock prices should face headwinds (have trouble going up). As a long-term investor, I think this is great.

You can read more about it here.

Personal Update 💙

Celebrated My Wife’s Birthday

Many people who talk to me regularly know that my wife’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a pretty special day in our house. My wife requested donuts, a shopping spree, a masterclass subscription, and a day when the girls were out with Dad.

My wife stays at home with my two crazy daughters, so she deserves the day, and I was excited to spend it with them. I took my daughters to a nearby children’s museum, and they had a blast. It was a pretty enjoyable experience for me, partly because my phone died, and I was disconnected from the internet and other people for a few hours.

I Saw My Book in the School Library

It was so cool to see my book on display in the library at my work. I know I put a lot of work into it, but I often forget all the cool things a book can do.

Seeing my book with a Dewy Decimal System number was especially neat. It’s still surreal to me that I publish a book. I’m so grateful to have supportive coworkers and a welcoming community of people who encourage and promote my creative work.

I hope a student picks up a copy and learns something that resonates with them.

Old Idea💡

A Perspective from Jean-Paul Sartre

Existentialism is a Humanism is a book based on a lecture Sartre delivered in 1945, later published as a text in 1946.

Sartre's philosophy of existentialism suggests that existence precedes essence, meaning humans exist first and then define themselves through their actions.

Sartre suggests that the only real thing about our lives is what we do, not what we think or intend. Since first encountering this idea, I’ve been experimenting with it and found some benefits and drawbacks. I’ve been more externally productive but notice a notable neglect of my “inner world.”

Sartre also says that each individual is a project in progress, constantly shaping and reshaping themselves through decisions and actions. There's no fixed blueprint for humanity; each person must invent their meaning in life. This notion is both liberating and terrifying, as it burdens meaning-making entirely on us. Despite this idea's uncomfortable nature, I find it empowering and exciting.

According to Sartre, to exist authentically means to live by one's chosen values and projects, not merely to survive or conform. I believe this is part of our responsibility to make meaning out of our lives. When we try to survive or conform, we crush a unique beauty to life that can only shine through when we exist authentically.

While this perspective can have serious drawbacks, I think it is healthy to try it occasionally. The extensive emphasis on action may not always solve our problems, but it is a powerful position when confronted with external challenges. In some ways, this idea is pretty radical, and I think it’s worth mentioning that our lives are not just about external actions but also about the internal choices that lead to those actions.

New Idea 🌟

Children with Autism have Hyperconnected Brains

A study in CellReports used neuroimaging to show greater functional connectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People used to believe that autism was a sign that brains were “under-connected,” but that theory has been difficult to replicate.

ASD impacts about 1 in 88 children and involves multiple interconnected brain regions.

Early signs of autism include enlarged head circumference due to brain overgrowth, with postmortem studies showing excess neurons in the prefrontal cortex.

The study found that hyperconnectivity in ASD at whole-brain and subsystem levels is linked to higher brain signal fluctuations.

Increased brain connectivity in children with ASD correlates with more severe social deficits, predicting symptom severity.

These findings offer a new understanding of the brain mechanisms in childhood autism, potentially aiding in early diagnosis and intervention strategies.

You can read more about it here!

What I See In Markets 📈

Jobs Report January 2025

The most recent U.S. jobs report for January 2025 shows:

• The economy added 143,000 non-farm payroll jobs

• Unemployment rate decreased to 4.0%. This marks the second consecutive month of a lower unemployment rate.

• Hourly wages increased by 0.5% for the month, with an annual increase of 4.1%.

This report also included significant revisions to the previous months' data. The November 2024 and December 2024 job numbers were revised upwards by 49,000 and 51,000, respectively, totaling an additional 100,000 jobs for those months combined.

These figures are based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and various news sources covering the release.

Traders and investors might see this as a reason for the Fed to delay rate cuts until at least June, potentially leading to a more cautious approach in equity markets.

You can read more about it here!

Earnings Season (PLTR, PYPL, AMD, AMZN, ELF, GOOGL)

I always joke that I pay more attention to company earnings than sports. While most people watch the Super Bowl today, I think about Q4 earnings.

Here are some of the companies I paid attention to:

🚀 Palantir (PLTR): On Monday, Palantir reported earnings of $827.52 million, beating analyst expectations of $775.91 million.

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 2.2%, and earnings per share (EPS) were mostly in line with analyst estimates. Palantir beat both top- and bottom-line expectations. Congrats to all shareholders!

Currently, the stock is up +43.26% over the past 5 days.

💰 PayPal (PYPL): On Tuesday, PayPal reported earnings of $8.37 billion, slightly above the expected $8.28 billion.

PayPal's CEO, Alex Chriss, joined the company in September 2023 and is trying to revive its growth. PayPal beat both top and bottom-line expectations.

The stock has been down by 10.15% over the past 5 days.

⚡ AMD (AMD): AMD reported earnings of $7.66 billion on Tuesday, beating analyst expectations of $7.53 billion for the quarter.

AMD’s data center sales nearly doubled in 2024, beating top and bottom-line expectations. However, they still fell short of estimates.

The stock is down -5.51% over the past 5 days.

📦 Amazon (AMZN): Amazon reported earnings of $187.79 billion on Thursday, slightly above the expected $187.23 billion.

According to Amazon’s forecast, the company expects revenue growth of only 5% to 9% in the first quarter. Amazon beat both top-line and bottom-line expectations.

Currently, the stock is up +0.91% over the past 5 days.

💄 e.l.f. Beauty (ELF): e.l.f. Beauty also reported earnings of $355.30 million on Thursday, beating analyst estimates of $330.39 million.

The cosmetics company reported holiday sales that were higher than expected but profits that slightly missed estimates. e.l.f. Beauty beat the top line but missed on the bottom line.

The stock has been down by 25.38% over the past 5 days.

I am super excited for this. I have been looking for a big opportunity to buy ELF at lower prices, and it looks like I’m getting my wish!

💻 Google (GOOGL): Google reported earnings on Tuesday, with revenue of $96.47 billion, narrowly missing the expected $96.62 billion.

Google announced plans to spend $75 billion on capital expenditures (capex) for AI infrastructure development, which led to a 7% drop in its stock price. The focus seems to be shifting towards Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), as investors question whether Google can achieve a return on such a significant investment.

Over the past 5 days, the stock is down by 7%.

Personally, I think this is bullish. Much like Meta, Google directly benefits from AI improvements through its advertising platform. Historically, Google has been prudent with its capex investments, suggesting this move is part of a broader, well-considered vision for future growth, similar to its past strategies with servers, energy, and cloud computing. Considering depreciation, Google would need to generate an additional $22 billion annually to justify this investment, which isn't out of reach given its scale and market position. Google doesn't just spend; they invest with a clear vision for future returns.

So, what does this mean for my portfolio?

• I’m holding steady with PLTR; I’m considering selling more.

• I’m holding PYPL. I might add more, but it’s not a big priority.

• AMD is staying on my watchlist, but I won’t buy unless I see a more significant drop in the stock price and their fundamentals improve.

• AMZN is a solid hold for me.

• ELF is a massive buy. This will be a priority for me.

• GOOGL is a massive buy too, but I expect to see delayed returns compared to other stocks I’m looking into.

Personal Update 💙

My Girls are Growing Fast

My girls are growing fast, consuming all my time, energy, and whatever patience I can muster.

My 3-year-old is really leaning into her role as a big sister. She helps change her sister’s diapers, picks out and helps her sister change into her outfits, and even tries to tidy up, entirely without me asking and with the full compliance of her little sister. Of course, she’s still 3, so halfway through, she gets distracted and wanders off, leaving things half-done.

Meanwhile, my almost-2-year-old is deep in the trenches of teething, which means most of her day is spent screaming about one thing or another. With her frustration levels maxed out, even the tiniest inconvenience sets her off.

The "dad hat" has been on full-time this week and my schedule? Not really mine. But that’s part of the deal, and honestly, I don’t mind.

Ah, the life of a dad—exhausting, chaotic, and absolutely worth it.

Old Idea💡

Wisdom from Carl Jung

In Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, Carl Jung discusses the medieval description of the devil as simia dei—the ape of God.

What does that even mean?

In medieval thought, Simia dei suggested that evil doesn’t create anything new. Instead, it imitates, mocks, and distorts what is good and true. It’s like an ape trying to mimic human actions—it might get the motions right, but something is missing.

In this sense, the devil is seen as an imitator of God, twisting what is pure into something deceptive.

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: folklore often paints the devil not as some mastermind but as a simpleton—a fool who’s easily tricked or cheated. I see it more as someone who is posing as a simpleton pretending to be fooled and cheated. This flips the whole narrative.

Instead of an all-powerful force, evil is portrayed as clumsy, bumbling, and ultimately self-defeating. It might look powerful on the surface, but dig a little deeper, and we see it’s just a poor imitation.

I see this as a reminder that while negativity or harmful forces might seem overwhelming, they don’t have the same depth or lasting power as what’s good and true.

Evil can mimic and fool—but in the end, they’re hollow.

New Ideas 🌟

Nvidia’s Free Courses on AI & Machine Learning

In today’s world, knowledge is everywhere, and Nvidia is ensuring it. Through its Deep Learning Institute (DLI), it offers free, self-paced courses on everything from AI fundamentals to advanced machine learning.

The coolest part if that these resources are available to anyone with an internet connection.

High-level education requires tuition, and elite institutions are no longer a necessity. With just a few hours and a willingness to learn, we can gain valuable skills that can reshape our careers. Some courses even offer certificates to showcase what we learned.

“Today, not knowing something, ignorance, is a choice.”

Christopher S. Mukiibi (The Learning Compass)

In a world where information is everywhere, success belongs to those who take advantage of it.

You can check out the courses here!

Trump Signs Executive Order for School Choice

Public schools are undergoing a cultural shift that many people find concerning. As access to knowledge and information becomes increasingly decentralized, the traditional role of educational institutions as gatekeepers is being questioned. This shift has sparked a growing interest in independent learning models, with some families choosing to homeschool or develop personalized curricula.

While public education remains the best option for many, there's a rising belief that alternative methods can outperform traditional schools. For some, this is true—but it's essential to recognize that the ability to opt out of public education is often a luxury belief, accessible primarily to those with the resources and time to support such endeavors.

Here's a summary of President Trump's Executive Order (EO) on school choice:

• What it Does: The EO gives parents more power to choose their children's schools. Families can choose from public, private, or religious schools that best suit their children's needs.

• Federal Money: Trump wants the Department of Education to show states how they can use federal money to support these choices. This includes money that usually goes to public schools being used for vouchers or charter schools.

• Special Groups: There's a plan for military and Native American families to use government money for their preferred schools, too.

• Health and Human Services: This department will investigate using child and family grants to fund different schooling options, such as private or faith-based schools.

• Challenges: Some people worry that this order might not be fully legal because changing how money is spent needs Congress's approval. There's also a big debate about whether this helps or hurts public schools.

• Why Now? According to recent tests, Trump signed this order as students are falling behind in reading and math. He says school choice could help fix this.

• The Debate: Supporters believe this will give every child the chance for a great education. Critics fear it might mean less money for public schools, which educate most kids.

This EO shows that Trump wants to change how education works in America, focusing on parents' rights to choose. However, there is disagreement about how beneficial this change will be for everyone.

Regardless of political beliefs, I think it is essential for everyone to pay attention to what is happening in education. We are spending more money than ever, even outpacing inflation, and our performance is getting worse and worse.

In many areas, we see markets where consumers spend more but receive less. Unfortunately, this pattern is emerging in education, too. But our children’s education isn’t just another market—it’s their future. We must improve our public schools and embrace healthy competition to address these challenges. Parents deserve reasonable alternatives to ensure their children receive the education they need and deserve.

Neuralink’s Patient Controlling a Robotic Arm with His Thoughts

Neuralink is a company focused on developing brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Its goal is to create devices that connect the human brain directly to computers, allowing seamless communication between the two. The idea is to help people with neurological conditions and, eventually, enhance human capabilities.

Currently, Neuralink has a patient who can control a robotic arm with ONLY his mind.

Most people don’t realize how huge this is: Neuralink’s patient moves a robotic arm just by thinking about it.

No joystick. No muscle sensors. Just pure thoughts.

Here’s how it works: The implant reads signals from the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. Then, these signals are sent wirelessly to the robotic arm, translating them into actual motion.

And this is just the start. Imagine controlling full-sized robots or exoskeletons with your mind! Think about restoring lost motor functions for people who’ve had strokes or spinal injuries. Add pressure sensors, and you’re not just moving the arm—you can actually feel with it. You’d regain the sense of touch.

It’s mind-blowing. And right now, no one else is even close to doing what Neuralink is doing.

You can see more about it here!

What I See In Markets 📈

The Fed Holds Steady: What It Means for Us

During Wednesday's meeting, the Federal Reserve decided to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell clarified that they’re "in no hurry" to cut rates.

There are two main reasons for no rate cuts:

1. Inflation is still stubborn. While it’s come down from last year, inflation isn’t exactly where the Fed wants it. Consumer prices rose 2.3% in Q4 2024, up from 1.5% in Q3. Even though annual inflation dropped from 3.8% in 2023 to 2.5% in 2024, that recent uptick has the Fed cautious.

2. The labor market is holding up. Unemployment is steady at 4.1%, and while companies have slowed hiring, there’s no sign of a major downturn. Powell described the labor market as "healthy," suggesting there’s no immediate pressure to ease rates to stimulate jobs.

Powell gave a tone of cautious optimism.

With annual GDP growth at 2.8% and inflation trending lower, Powell called the economy in a "good place." However, he wants more consistent progress on inflation before raising interest rates.

Market Reactions?

The markets took the Fed’s decision in stride—no surprises here. This meeting never expected rate cuts so that the steady hand won’t shake up stocks or bonds much.

Trump’s Pressure: A Non-Issue

President Trump has been vocal about cutting rates, but remembering that he has no direct power here is worth remembering. The Federal Reserve operates independently—despite its name, it’s not a federal agency, and it doesn’t have reserves in the way people might think.

Looking Ahead: Two Cuts on the Horizon

While the Fed isn’t rushing, two rate cuts are scheduled for later this year. The timing will depend on how inflation and the labor market evolve. For now, the Fed is watching and waiting.

The AI Arms Race Begins: DeepSeek, Qwen, Nvidia & What This Means for the US

Alibaba has released "Qwen," a powerful new AI model that writes, generates images and videos, and performs web searches. But Qwen isn’t just another AI tool—it’s outperforming heavyweights like DeepSeek, ChatGPT-o1, and Claude Sonnet.

This marks a bold new phase in the AI arms race, with technology advancing faster than ever. You can read more about Qwen here!

But Qwen isn’t the only AI model that is making waves.

DeepSeek has also made waves in AI with its full R1 model, an open reasoning large language model (LLM). It’s being compared to top U.S. models like OpenAI’s o1, which shows similar performance in math, coding, and reasoning tasks but at a fraction of the cost. Here’s why people are losing their minds:

• Cheaper: DeepSeek reportedly spent just $6 million to train their model, a staggering contrast to the massive budgets of companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta. This cost-effectiveness is one of the most talked-about features, signaling a shift in how AI can be developed and deployed.

• Open Source: DeepSeek's open-source nature adds to its disruptive potential. Developers worldwide can freely build on its architecture, speeding up innovation worldwide. Although this is great for consumers, companies that open-source their state-of-the-art products are typically doing so to catch up to leading companies. So, I see the open-source move as a sign that the US is still in the top position in AI, but the heat is definitely on.

• Chain of Thought Technology: Like ChatGPT-o1, DeepSeek uses "chain of thought" technology, pushing AI to new heights in reasoning and complex problem-solving. As these models evolve, they open up new possibilities—from automating intricate workflows to enhancing creative projects.

These Chinese AI models show that China is not far behind the US in the AI race and is posing much more competition than previously thought.

Market Shockwaves

Individually, Qwen and DeepSeek would have made headlines. But together, they sent shockwaves through the markets. On January 27, 2025, after DeepSeek's capabilities were announced, the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped by 3.1%, marking one of its sharpest declines in recent history.

Nvidia’s market cap plunged by nearly $600 billion in a single day—the largest one-day loss for any company in Wall Street history. Other AI and semiconductor giants like Broadcom, AMD, and ASML also faced significant losses.

The panic stemmed from fears that DeepSeek’s cost-efficient model could threaten U.S. firms’ massive AI investments, particularly in expensive, high-end chips used for training. However, markets began to stabilize the next day, with Nvidia recovering some of its losses, hinting at a partial rebound.

Despite Nvidia’s historic loss, this might be more of an emotional reaction than a rational one. AI isn’t just about large language models (LLMs), and DeepSeek still relies on Nvidia chips. Although Nvidia cannot sell chips directly to China, allegedly, Chinese companies use shell companies in Singapore to make the purchases. You can read more about that here.

This market dip could be an opportunity for savvy investors who recognize that AI infrastructure demands will continue growing, regardless of short-term market jitters.

I will be looking to add more Nvidia because of this.

Where AI Value Lies

AI can be thought of as refrigeration—a revolutionary technology. But it was not the inventors of refrigeration that profited most, but companies like Coca-Cola that used it to transform their business.

The "Coca-Cola" of AI hasn’t shown up yet. The current surge in AI competition suggests that AI is moving towards becoming a commodity rather than a unique service.

Personal Update 💙

Sharing My Book & Getting it in a Library

This week, I shared The Learning Compass at a staff meeting. To be honest, I was reluctant. A few coworkers put me on the spot, and I couldn’t cower out—even though I wanted to. But then I thought, I worked so hard on this book, it would be insane not to say anything.

Despite the incredible love and support, it felt uncomfortable, and I wanted to figure out why.

After reflecting, I realized I feared being seen as a “know-it-all” or “trying too hard.” But really, I’m just trying to do the most good with what I have. If someone wants to judge me for that, what does that say about them? It's funny how easy it is to forget that.

The best part? A coworker messaged me, saying she wanted to buy multiple copies of my book and put two in the library for students. How incredible is that? So many students have asked me for copies, but it costs too much to print them myself. Seeing this kind of support is amazing.

I’m genuinely grateful and blessed to have such a supportive work environment. I was afraid sharing my book would come off as “self-indulgent” or something, but it’s been the exact opposite, and I’m thankful I have a community of people who won’t let me forget it.

Old Idea💡

Wisdom from Jean-Paul Sartre: A Toothless Life

In Nausea, the protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, experiences a profound (and relatable) existential crisis. He realized he never took any risks or followed any of his passions.

His life lacked real engagement and was passive and reserved. This kept him from genuinely experiencing or committing to something, and he always waited for the “later” that never came. Now is a good a time as any.

This reminds me that “now” is all we have; “later” will never come, and we must be courageous enough to pursue what interests us. Courage is the foundational virtue; nothing good can come without it.

One of my biggest fears is looking back on my life and regretting that I never indulged in anything as much as I wanted. Being present to that fear gives me the fuel to take bold action. Although there are risks, everything worthwhile in my life has come from bold action.

New Idea 🌟

Open AI Releases Operator

Open AI released its newest product, Operator. It is designed to perform tasks autonomously on behalf of users.

It can navigate and interact with web interfaces as a human would, executing tasks like booking travel, ordering groceries, or even writing code.

It can interact with websites without needing custom APIs. It can also do simple things like make online purchases or book reservations for you, combine PDFs, and manage PDFs or spreadsheets.

Although there is more work to be done, this is game-changing technology, and within a few iterations, it will be unbelievably powerful. Eventually, I want to try to use it to do all of my administrative tasks on my laptop. That would be incredible.

You can learn more about it here!

Operator is only available to ChatGPT Pro users for now.

What I See In Markets 📈

Trump’s Tariffs

Trump has proposed imposing 10% to 20% tariffs on all imports, aiming to protect U.S. industries and generate revenue to offset tax cuts. The two main tariffs are:

• China: Additional tariffs of 60% or more on Chinese imports continue to be a central part of Trump's strategy, targeting sectors like technology, defense, and energy.

  • I think this will affect the price of sneakers, furniture, and toys.

• Canada and Mexico: Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on imports from these countries, ostensibly to pressure them to address migration and drug trafficking issues.

  • I think this will affect the prices of avocados, beer, and cars.

Both of these policies are inflationary. The consumer, not the businesses, will bear the cost of these tariffs.

The anticipation of these tariffs has led to fluctuations in the stock market, with investors concerned about the potential for a trade war or increased inflation.

You can read more about it here and here!

Personal Update 💙

Entering the Stan Dare To Dream Challenge

This week, I did something bold: I entered a contest that will give one person about $120,000+ to follow their dreams. To enter, you must post a video on Instagram explaining what you would do if you won.

I chose to share my vision for an online academy I want to start: BrightStar Academy.

You can check out my video here!

I recommend you enter too, if you have a dream you want to pursue. The contest ends on 1/31. Look up Stan Dare to Dream to learn more.

I was nervous about filming and posting for this contest. I kept procrastinating, but a voice in my head told me to do it, even if I worried about judgment. Despite all my growth last year, I still have to cope with the fear of judgment, but it is less overbearing than it used to be.

Despite my fears, my video was better received than I expected. Many students told me they were excited to join my academy and hoped I would win the contest so they could be the first set of students.

I almost didn’t post the video, but a coworker sent me a video that said, “You’re cringe until it works.” I won’t let being “cringe” stop me from pursuing what I want, especially now that I see many people in my corner. I’m pleased that I did not let my fears get in the way, and even if I don’t win, I’m happy that I gave it the best shot I could.

Old Idea💡

What Makes a Fulfilling Marriage

Even though Nietzsche had several failed marriage proposals and a lonely life, this perspective rings true for me. Although. I haven’t been married long; the most fulfilling parts of my marriage have been the conversations with my wife.

I can see us talking about anything and everything forever. Our respect and reverence for words and conversation have helped keep us connected. Additionally, intentional conversation has been key to overcoming any challenges we’ve encountered.

I always tell my students that we live in two worlds:

• The world of matter (the physical world)

• The world of conversation

Both influence our lives tremendously. Our words define our experience and create the world around us just as much, or maybe even more so, as the physical world.

Good relationships are shaped by intentional conversation. I will forever be grateful to my wife for showing me the power of words.

New Ideas 🌟

AI Tutors Outperforming Traditional Education Methods

It’s slowly happening; AI is replacing educators…well, almost.

In Nigeria, researchers conducted a study where students used an AI tutor, specifically GPT-4 powered Microsoft Copilot, for after-school sessions over six weeks. The aim was to see if this AI tutoring could enhance learning compared to traditional methods.

Here’s what they did:

• The study involved students from Nigeria, focusing on those who might benefit from additional support, especially girls who were initially behind in their studies.

• Students had AI tutoring sessions twice a week where they interacted with the AI, which provided personalized learning experiences based on their responses.

• There was a comparison with a control group, which likely followed the standard educational curriculum without AI support.

Here are the results:

• Students using the AI tutor showed learning improvements equivalent to what would typically take two years of schooling, all within just six weeks.

• This AI approach was more effective than 80% of other educational interventions, significantly boosting learning outcomes.

• The AI tutoring benefited all students, with a particular advantage for those initially struggling, especially girls.

So what does this mean?

This study suggests that AI tutoring could be a powerful tool for leveling the educational playing field and helping students who are behind catch up quickly.

Notably, the study highlights that AI works best when guided by teachers, not as a standalone solution. Teachers' involvement ensures the effectiveness of AI and keeps the human element in education.

The success of this approach shows exciting promise for AI in education. It could revolutionize how we teach and learn by making education more personalized and efficient. Of course, more research is needed, but this is exciting stuff.

In simple terms, this study shows that with the proper guidance, AI can dramatically speed up learning, especially for students who need extra help. I see a bright future where technology and human teaching work together.

You can read more about it here!

MBA Hiring Downturn & Implications

Harvard and MIT have the highest rates of unemployed MBA graduates, reaching nearly 25% in 2024.

There seems to be a broad trend that even elite MBA degrees are not immune to employment difficulties. I’m seeing increasingly more business owners and employers who do not hold degrees and elite institutions in high regard. There seems to be a prioritization of:

• practical experience

• soft skills

• data analysis

• technical skills

These things have become prioritized over degrees from top institutions.

Additionally, I think this is the first step in a more significant movement. The value of higher education is starting to crumble in a world of self-learning and AI. More than ever, people are learning what is relevant to them with the help of technology. I’ve noticed this trend for years, which is partly what inspired my book.

Traditionally, people who get MBA degrees from these elite institutions are almost guaranteed a high-paying career. In a way, MBAs from top universities were used as a move to derisk their career; now, it doesn’t seem like a sure bet. I also think that AI is hollowing out middle management before other jobs.

Despite the challenges, ultimately, I think this is a great thing. More opportunities are becoming about what people can do, not what school they can get into.

You can read more about it here!

What I See In Markets 📈

CPI Lower Than Expected

The December 2024 CPI climbed by 2.9% from last year, up from 2.7%, with core CPI at 3.2%, which is 0.1% lower than expectations.

Here's what this means:

• For the Fed: Higher inflation might delay rate cuts, pushing them to May or June 2025. The Fed might wait for inflation to cool down.

• For the Stock Market: Stocks jumped after the report, but bond yields dropped, showing some market uncertainty about inflation's direction.

• For Consumers: Prices, especially for food and energy, continue to rise, putting pressure on household budgets despite wage growth.

• For Inflation: There is debate about whether inflation will continue rising or if this is just a bump. Services and housing are still pushing prices up.

• For Businesses: Costs could rise, leading companies to rethink pricing and wages.

This report signals a tricky balance for the Fed between controlling inflation and supporting growth. The coming months will tell us if this inflation surge is temporary or here to stay, affecting policy and markets.

You can read more about it here!

U.S. Steps Up Investment in Nuclear Energy

The U.S. government is making bold moves in nuclear energy to boost domestic supply and reduce reliance on foreign uranium. This shift could create significant opportunities, especially for companies like Constellation Energy ($CEG), which recently caught my attention.

A fellow investor mentioned that Constellation Energy is a new position they plan to expand, so I added it to my watchlist. But now, after seeing the momentum in nuclear investments, I’m seriously looking for a buying opportunity.

Here’s the bigger picture:

• Constellation Energy just landed a $1 billion federal contract to supply nuclear power to 13 agencies, covering 80 facilities across the PJM grid, which serves 13 eastern states.

• The Department of Energy (DOE) is committing $2.7 billion to boost domestic nuclear fuel production and another $900 million to support small modular reactor (SMR) development.

• Russian uranium imports have been banned, with significant support for U.S. production of low-enriched uranium.

Private companies are also taking action. Google, for instance, became the first corporate buyer of power from SMRs under development by Kairos Power. Many tech companies are investing in nuclear energy to meet the electricity demands that AI will eventually need.

The U.S. remains the largest nuclear power producer in the world, generating 30% of global nuclear electricity and 18% of domestic power. With strong government backing and private-sector innovation, this coordinated push for energy independence makes nuclear a sector worth watching closely.

I’m watching Constellation Energy, which could be a key player in this evolving space.

As a chemistry teacher, I’m excited to see progress and interest in nuclear energy. Despite what some people think, nuclear energy (fusion, not fission) is the most potent energy source in the universe and is completely clean!

As we make more progress in this area, we will be able to access more energy in a cleaner way, improving everyone's quality of life!

You can read more about this here.

Personal Update 💙

Sent Out My First Batch Of Signed Books

I finally sent out my first batch of signed books. I wrote a small note for each person who ordered a book because I genuinely expected no one to be interested in this project. Their support meant the world to me. Admittedly, the support I received has been overwhelming in the best way possible.

This has been a wonderful reminder of how much love I have in my life.

If you want a copy of my book, you can check it out here!

Old Idea💡

In his book The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis depicts Hell as a place people choose to live in because they believe it is Heaven.

I thought about this a lot this week because the hardest person to liberate is the one who thinks their bondage is freedom.

In the last few weeks, I have undoubtedly been this person. I have not actively sought joy, and I am left with pain. Rather than just “being positive,” I will challenge myself to genuinely find joy and beauty in everything. This will require me to be more focused and disciplined in my perceptions and thoughts - a challenge I know will make me better.

When we think everything around us is terrible, we are choosing to believe that…it may not be true.

New Ideas 🌟

Why Insurance Companies Canceled Fire Protection

This past week, Los Angeles experienced a devastating wildfire, now deemed the most expensive in California's history. On top of that, major insurance companies canceled fire protection for many homes just months before the disaster, causing even greater outrage.

While conspiracy theories are running amuck, I want to shed light on a less-discussed perspective - why the insurance companies canceled fire protection in the first place. It’s not because they are evil but because the system was built to fail.

David Friedberg breaks it down:

1. Rising Risk: The frequency of losses in climate-sensitive areas—like wildfires in Los Angeles—is increasing. Insurance premiums would naturally rise to match the higher risk in a free market. There are risk models that show that catastrophic weather events that occur in 1 in 100 years now happen every 1 in 20 years. This reflects a 5x increase in risk.

2. Regulatory Constraints: California's government imposes strict caps on insurance rate increases, effectively subsidizing the cost of coverage. This artificially inflates real estate prices, as insurance remains cheaper than it should be given the actual risks. These restraints were designed to protect the consumer from predatory rates, which results in people not getting paid when catastrophes happen. Additionally, people wouldn’t be able to afford the insurance rate increases.

3. Economic Incentives: By keeping home values high, the state benefits from increased property taxes, creating the illusion of economic prosperity.

4. The Fallout: Major insurance providers like State Farm have withdrawn from at-risk areas, canceling thousands of policies. Californians now rely on the state’s insurance program, the FAIR Plan, which is drastically underfunded. With $220 million in capital and $5 billion in reinsurance, the FAIR Plan faces $24 billion+ in potential wildfire losses statewide—a financial catastrophe waiting to happen. The economic impact of the fire goes well beyond destroyed homes. Many residents had significant wealth in artwork, antiques, and other high-value items, pushing the estimated total damages to over $100 billion.

Essentially, the insurance companies need to raise their rates, or their business models will fail. If their business models fail, people will lose their homes and be unable to pay them back.

The insurance companies are not legally allowed to raise the rates as much as necessary to keep the companies solvent, so they pull out altogether, leaving many families without any fire insurance at all. This is a terrible situation all around. We can see the same thing happening on the East Coast but with flood insurance. Please ask your family living in flood-prone areas to double-check their flood insurance.

Despite the controversy, the entire catastrophe was due to both climate change and terrible management.

Here is a short clip of Friedberg explaining it.

(Relatively) Affordable Autonomous Humanoid Robots

I’m so excited about robotics' future, especially now that artificial intelligence drives so much progress. I honestly think this could be the Year of the Robot. Over the past few years, we’ve seen huge breakthroughs in software and machine learning, and now it feels like robotics is about to have its big moment.

Have you seen the Unitree G1 humanoid robot? It’s incredible. This thing moves like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie, and it’s built to handle real-world tasks. They can be trained, and I genuinely want something to do all my household chores, but my wife is not enthusiastic about it.

What gets me so fired up is imagining what these robots can do. AI-powered robots will change how we approach healthcare, transportation, and basic household chores. And the speed of innovation right now? It’s wild. We will see breakthroughs this year that might’ve seemed like a distant dream just a few years ago.

These robots can be used for much more than little tasks around the house. They can collect data and perform many other tasks. They are equipped with AI APIs to understand natural language, lidar to analyze the environments, and the ability to transfer payloads.

It is also incredibly cheap, considering all of its technology. According to the website, the Unitree G1 costs about $16,000 (but maybe more), nearly the price of a used Toyota Prius.

Technology is like bankruptcy—it happens slowly, then all at once. Whether it's Unitree or another company, I think there will be massive progress in robotics.

This company does a lot more than just humanoid robots. If you want to see more of what they’re up to, you can check them out here!

What I See In Markets 📈

January Jobs Report Slows Market Momentum

This January, the U.S. jobs report came in significantly higher than anticipated, presenting a scenario that benefits the economy but challenges the equities market.

Nonfarm payrolls grew by an impressive 256,000 jobs, far exceeding the estimates of 164,000. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, lower than the expected 4.2%.

While strong job growth is generally a positive sign of economic health, it has a downside for investors. The strong employment data suggests that the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates higher for longer.

Here’s the logic: remember, the Federal Reserve has a dual mandate: 1) keep inflation low and 2) keep unemployment low. Since the labor market looks good, there is no reason to cut rates further.

From an investor's standpoint, this scenario can be less than ideal. Higher interest rates often mean higher borrowing costs for companies, reducing their profits and potentially stock valuations. This has led to a noticeable impact on market momentum, with major indices like the Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 declining as investors recalibrate their expectations for monetary policy adjustments.

Personally, I have no problem with this. I have more of an opportunity to buy my favorite stocks.

Stock Moves: Taking Profits, Reducing Risk, and Starting New Positions

It’s been an active time in my portfolio, with a mix of derisking, taking profits, and adding new positions. Here’s what’s been happening:

Derisking Palantir

In 2023, I bought a good amount (like half my retirement account) of Palantir (PLTR), and it’s been a fantastic performer. I was confident the stock would do well because of the management team, market sentiment, and rumors of entering the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. I’m delighted with the result.

Recently, I took out my initial investment along with a healthy profit. Now, my remaining PLTR shares are essentially house money. What’s even better is that my position is still relatively large, so I have as much exposure as I want with zero risk. I still think PLTR is a great company, but I’m skeptical they can maintain impressive growth rates. That said, I’m happy to let this ride wherever it goes.

New Positions: HNST, SOFI, and ELF

I’ve been adding to my portfolio with some new buys:

• The Honest Company (HNST): I picked up more shares because I believe 2025 will be their first profitable year. This could be a pivotal moment for the company, and I see strong upside potential if they hit this milestone.

• SoFi (SOFI): If you read last week’s newsletter, you’ll know why I’m bullish on SoFi. Their growth in financial services and member base make them a compelling investment. Additionally, they do not have physical locations, which lowers their operating expenses. I believe they’re just getting started in redefining personal finance.

• e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) has been on my radar for a while. I’ve been waiting for the right buying opportunity, and now feels like the time. ELF has been executing well, and I see a lot of potential for them to continue growing in the beauty space.

Personal Update 💙

Last Week of Winter Break

This was the last week of my winter break. As sad as I am to see it go, I’m grateful I had the time to enjoy the holidays, launch my book, spend time with family, and clean my house.

As a teacher, I get a solid amount of time off. During every break, I get incredibly ambitious and feel pressure to do so many things because when school is in session, I don’t have as much time as I’d like. This break was no different, I was caught in a struggle that can only be summed up by this meme:

Safe to say, I chose more often than not to work on personal projects and call them “relaxing.” Perhaps I need to accept that working on personal projects is relaxing.

Moving Into a New Classroom

At work, the campus is under renovation, so I was roving (changing classrooms) for the semester. This time around I have my place and I spent a few hours this break moving in. Even though I had my own classroom in the past, I have a newfound appreciation for having my own space at work, so I spent more effort than I would have, making it a relatively nice place to work.

I hope to bring back the short videos I used to post on the internet, but we will see where this semester takes me.

Last week, I did my yearly review, so I’m also including things from then as well.

Old Idea💡

A student recently told me that his favorite thing about Jesus is that he only used his miracles on others.

Our gifts are not for ourselves but to give away. That is where we find the most meaning.

Regardless of belief, it is wise to recognize that when we are given power, we should use it for the good of others.

New Ideas 🌟

Disease Resistant Strawberries

Ohalo has created disease-resistant strawberries, eliminating the need for fungicides. This, in turn, increases farmers' profits and produces a tastier, healthier, and more affordable product for consumers. I love seeing business ideas that help everyone win. (The fungicide companies probably won’t be so happy about this.)

You can read more about it here!

Ohalo is a company that genetically modifies food to make it more disease-resistant and produce higher yields. Some people have strong feelings about GMOs, but I think they have the potential to do some good. Agricultural engineering and innovation were pivotal to human civilization, and I think we should use everything we know about biology, genetics, and engineering to take that to the next level.

DOGE Kills Their First Bill: An American Turning Point

This is (relatively) old news, but I have to share my opinion on this because I think this may have been a massive turning point for America.

It’s well known that the government spends a lot of money. Our government spending has exceeded 23% of our GDP, our National Debt has surpassed $36 trillion, and we run a $1.4 trillion deficit yearly.

The problem is that the US spends so much money, but most people don’t experience the quality of life improvements expected with this money moving around everywhere. Rather than build things quickly and efficiently, the same few contractors are lining their pockets by charging the government multiple times market value for the same products. The government is hugely inefficient, so DOGE was born.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, played a significant role in the recent defeat of a large spending bill in Congress. I believe this was their first significant legislative impact.

Here’s what happened:

Congress proposed a spending bill that was 1,547 pages long with over $100M in spending.

After DOGE and others opposed it, the bill was reduced to 116 pages, and presumably, the spending was also dramatically reduced.

Many people are upset, and those supporting the bill are disturbed that funding for disaster relief and cancer research is being cut. Those supporting DOGE and opposing the bill claim that those dollars will not be spent efficiently and people will not see the outcomes they want.

Okay, but why is this such a big deal?

For the first time in a long time, the average American is paying attention to what is being pushed in Congress and putting pressure on our congressmen to vote against these bills. Our rare combination of technology, distribution, and interest gives the average American a clearer picture of what Congress is doing.

People use LLMs to quickly determine what is offered and spent in a 1500-page document. At another time, they probably wouldn’t have bothered to read it. I know I never did.

They also post their findings on the Internet so others can see them. Once enough people see the nonsense, they start contacting their congressman, saying, “We won’t vote for you if you support this bill.”

This event will fundamentally change how the general public interacts with the government.

Regardless of our political beliefs, I sense a massive increase in government involvement from the average American. I am excited for the people to hold Congress accountable in a new way.

What I See In Markets 📈

Why I Think Mortgage Rates Won’t Fall Despite Fed Rate Cuts

People have asked me why I think bond and mortgage rates are rising despite the Fed cutting rates. There are a few parts to my theory:

1. The Federal Reserve interest rate cuts (this is known as the Federal Funds Rate, FFR) only partly influence mortgage rates. The FFR affects how much interest the banks pay each other, which ripples the economy.

2. The 10-year bond (a 10-year loan to the US government) is slightly affected by the FFR and supply and demand. If there is a lot of demand, the rates will go down. If people don’t buy the 10-year, the yields must go up to encourage people to buy.

3. Mortgage rates are mainly determined by the 10-year Treasury bond (not the FFR)—the higher the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, the higher the mortgage rates.

4. China (the biggest buyer of US treasury bonds) is not buying new US bonds and, in some periods, selling them. This keeps the 10-year yields high.

Even though the Fed is cutting rates, the biggest buyer of US bonds is not buying and slowly selling them off. No big buyers for US treasuries mean that our rates are staying up.

A great way to fix this mortgage rate problem is for government spending to follow a zero-based budgeting strategy. This could encourage big buyers of US treasuries and lower inflation.

However, I believe that mortgage rates will decrease over time as long as the Fed keeps cutting rates.

Stocks I’m Watching

Nike is looking attractive at these levels for long-term investing. I think this is a great time to buy dividend companies.

I’m also looking at SoFi as well. I have many student loans, and my loan servicer moved all my debt to SoFi. I think SoFi will be the student loan giant of the future. Both of these companies are in high positions on my watchlist.

I also bought more HNST.

It is helpful to know that I am a long-term investor. I am looking for above-average returns over the next 3 to 5 years, not the next 12 to 24 months.

Personal Update 💙

Perfect Holiday

This was probably the best Christmas I ever had. It was simple, but I enjoyed it. Our family’s Christmases over the last few years have been pretty tough, but this year was perfect in every way I could imagine. It was the first Christmas when we hosted both sides of our family on the same day. Additionally, we had a wonderful New Year’s lunch since my girls couldn’t make it to midnight. While that may not seem like much, seeing everyone together was nice.

I’m still used to hosting, but I think I will eventually improve at this new skill.

This holiday season was less stressful than in the past and exactly what I needed to recover from a brutal teaching semester.

My girls also went to Legoland, the first time they had been to an amusement park. I learned that I have the most fun watching my kids have fun. There was a moment when my daughters enjoyed Minicity—they were captivated by the little figurines and the noise buttons. I experienced a joy that I had never had before.

Watching my children experience the wonder of life is a peak life experience I hope to have many times over.

More Focus On The Family Business

I always have many ideas I want to pursue at once, but last year, I decided to focus on just one.

If I could keep this up, ideally, over five years, I would have accomplished five big projects instead of only 20% of five different projects. I’ve always had issues staying on one task (maybe because I’m in the 93rd percentile in openness), but last year, I wanted to try to work on one as hard as I could. It was challenging, but I finished a massive project and am delighted with the outcome.

Focusing on one thing at a time works wonders. This seems to be a lesson I have to learn repeatedly.

I think 2025 will be my chance to take Sioné to the next level. If you didn’t already know, my wife and I have a small skincare business. Feel free to check it out.

Now that the book is off my mind, I have more headspace to work on this project.

I still plan to create educational content and build that part of my work, but I’m excited to dedicate more energy to my skincare project.

I started doing this in 2019, and I’ve noticed that the biggest wins in my life came from deep reflection, specifically my yearly reviews.

My previous reviews are here: 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. (I didn’t publish my 2019 one.)

Here’s to 5 years of slowing down and thinking about what the hell is going on in my life! 🥂

Also, happy birthday to my little sister! ❤️

Going Public: Sharing My Work and Overcoming Judgment💫

This year, I took a bold step—I started sharing my teaching online after years of hesitation. Recording myself and posting those moments felt like exposing a piece of my soul to the world.

I was scared and felt I shouldn’t do it because other people would judge me. That’s part of why I knew I needed to, especially if I wanted to impact others in a way that mirrored how the people I look up to have affected me.

The response was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Strangers, people I’d never met, or people I barely knew supported me in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Some people I knew supported me in ways I believed to be unreasonable. A huge lesson I learned here is that strangers on the Internet will want to see you win - I have found more support online than I would have noticed in my day-to-day life.

One moment stands out: a student (whom I never met) quoted me in his Instagram bio, pulling a line from a blog post I never expected anyone to read.

This reminded me that the work I do—the words I share—matters far more than I realize. People are paying attention to what I say, and that is important.

I also learned that other people’s judgment is nothing to fear. I was worried people might criticize my qualifications or opinions, and when it finally happened, I felt no pain. Instead, I saw those comments for what they were: distractions from people who have little to show for themselves.

I found strength in knowing that what matters most is how I feel about myself and the opinions of those closest to me. That realization helped me publish my first book. I now realize that the only permission I need to create and share my work is my own, and I intend to keep stepping into that power.

If you are interested in going on this journey with me, feel free to follow my socials:

IG: @mrmukiibi

X: @chris_mukiibi

My life is still incredibly chaotic, so my progress will be slow and steady.

Media as Leverage and Connection 📱

This year, I realized that social media isn’t just a tool for sharing—it’s a platform for connection and leverage. I was invited to film content from someone who has (what I consider) a massive following; I began seeing my posts not as drops in an ocean but as ripples that could reach far and wide. Each follower, every view, is a real person who engages with my work. This became real when I realized my online reach surpasses my classroom impact tenfold. If I am willing to put in tremendous effort for a small number of people, I should be able to put in that same effort for a larger number. In a single post, I can reach hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people compared to the 80 students paying attention in a set of 160.

You can see the video here!

Media multiplies my message in ways I still don’t fully understand. This realization excites me, and I'm excited to explore the possibilities of combining my voice, ideas, and technology's power to create an even more significant impact. However, this discovery also comes with a great responsibility. The judgment I use to craft the messages I send people has a much more substantial impact. It is so critical that I refine my judgment and my messages because I’m speaking to more than 80 teenagers in a chemistry class now.

Finishing My Book: The Learning Compass 🧭

I wrote this tweet back in February. I didn’t want to be another 20-something who never finished their book. Funny enough, I didn’t finish the book until shortly after I turned 30. Ha. Better late than never. How ridiculous would it have been if I gave up on the project because it took me a week longer than I wanted? I almost did that, and I’m delighted I did not.

Holding my book in my hands still feels surreal. When I read pages from it, I can’t help but think, “This is a good book. " What is even crazier is that I wrote it—painstakingly.

But 6 years and over 780 pages later….it is done, and I am proud of it. (Something I have trouble believing with many of my creative works.)

Self-publishing taught me two important lessons.

1. The only permission I need to create is my own. There are no gatekeepers stopping me from sharing my ideas with the world. While this may be obvious to many, I did not grow up in a time of democratized media. I didn’t realize this until this year.

2. Following through on a creative goal builds confidence unlike anything else. The book I finished is not just a product; it’s proof that I can bring my big and crazy ideas to life. I can’t help but ask myself, what else can I bring into reality?

Looking ahead, I’m excited to pursue more projects and confident in my ability to follow through and share what matters most.

Family and Reconnection ❤️

One of the most heartwarming parts of this year was reconnecting with loved ones I hadn’t seen in years, in some cases over a decade. It was almost as if I had forgotten how much love I had in my life.

Unfortunately, the circumstances that brought everyone together were not ideal. This reminded me of the love surrounding me and the importance of staying close to family and those I consider family. Over the next year, I hope to reconnect with even more people I’ve lost touch with because life is too short to let distance linger.

At home, my daughters are growing faster than I can keep up. The days are long, but the years are short—everyone says this, but it’s so true. I was looking at pictures from earlier this year and could not believe the difference in my daughters. They look older and act entirely differently than just a year ago. I undoubtedly have two little toddler girls, and they are incredibly perfect.

My eldest’s 3rd birthday party was a highlight of the year. It was Gabby’s Dollhouse-themed, and it was lovely hosting a party. I also took my girls trick-or-treating for the first time. These moments are no longer just about them being babies; they’re about creating core memories that will shape who they are. Nothing is more meaningful than being part of those memories and helping craft a childhood full of joy and adventure.

More Evidence of Permissionless Creating & Giving What I Can 👏🏾

This year, I was honored to attend the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) conference, sponsored by an administrator who sees great potential in me. It was an eye-opening experience to see so many people who look like me tackling tough challenges, such as helping Black students thrive in their schools. The conference also reminded me that I don’t need anyone’s permission to publish my work. Seeing other educators share their books and ideas was profoundly inspiring and reinforced my belief that I also have something valuable to share. (I didn’t know if I would finish my book at the time, but I saw that I should.)

As the BSU advisor, I had the privilege of helping our students organize a talent show. I’ve been a musician for years, though I hadn’t performed since college. This year, I stepped on stage, not for attention or praise, but because I had skills that could enrich the community. I performed a J. Cole cover during the height of the Kendrick, J. Cole, and Drake beef, with all the students joining me on stage to sing and dance. It was a powerful moment, not just for the show but for our community. I learned the importance of developing skills and offering them to enrich others' lives and giving what I had made the event unforgettable. I will always strive to provide what I have and never hold it back.

Beyond the talent show, I’ve continued to grow as a leader. Being recognized at the Top Scholar ceremony by one of my former students and nominated by other students for more awards was an honor I can’t put into words. Knowing I’ve made a lasting impact on my students’ lives means everything to me. Much of the time, teaching is a hard job, but those moments count for a lot.

This year also marked a milestone: the graduation of my first group of students from my teaching career. Being invited to their graduation parties felt like one of the highest honors as a teacher—a testament to the relationships we’ve built. I couldn’t attend all the parties, but being invited was a huge honor.

This year taught me that I’m not just connected to a larger community; I’m part of one that sees me as a positive example. This humbling and motivating realization fuels my passion to give even more.

Sharing My Ideas with More Experienced People 🧠

At the AVID Summer Institute, I was reminded that my ideas are valuable, no matter how long I’ve been teaching. Veteran teachers told me they learned from me—a validation I didn’t realize I needed. I often think my ideas aren’t worth sharing, especially around people with more experience, but I was proven wrong. We don’t have to be old or experienced to teach something new—a truth I tell my students, but I must keep relearning for myself.

Faith, Family, and Pride ⛪️

One of my proudest moments this year was seeing my cousin Brian become a deacon. Seeing him get ordained filled me with pride and admiration. Everyone who hears him speak at mass is blessed to have access to his wisdom, thoughtfulness, and grace. It was also the first time I attended mass in years.

Being there renewed my appreciation for art, architecture, and the beauty of Catholic tradition. I can’t wait to see my cousin give a homily.

No Longer a 20-Something 🕒

Turning 30 felt different. My body doesn’t handle junk food like it used to, and exercise has become more critical. But the more significant shift has been mental. I’m clearer on what matters to me: my family and work (not my job). I want to be close to the people I love while creating work that touches the lives of others.

This year was about clarity—recognizing what I value most and where I want to focus my energy. I’m entering this new decade with intention and excited for what comes next.

As wild as turning 30 is, what I found crazier is that I have accomplished many of the goals I set for my entire life. (It turns out I was thinking so small for many years.) I’m excited to set bigger goals and see where this next decade takes me.

Closing Thoughts 💭

This year taught me the power of sharing my voice, the importance of family, and the value of believing in myself. I learned to overcome fear, trust my ideas, and lean into the connections I build in person and online.

Looking ahead, I hope to deepen my relationships, create more meaningful work, and keep focusing on what truly matters: my family, my community, and the impact I want to make.

I’m optimistic and excited to see what the future has for me!

Old Idea

More harm is caused by stupid and incompetent people than evil people.

People act stupid when they are certain that they have all the answers.

When people are certain, they act stupid. When those people have power, they are dangerous.

I take this to mean not to be so certain. I do not know all the answers. This opens me up to learning new things. The worst that can happen is being reminded of something I already knew. From what I can tell, there is almost no upside to being certain I have all the answers.

New Ideas

MIT's Revolutionary Tissue Imaging Technology

MIT researchers have developed a groundbreaking imaging method that allows scientists to study living tissue without causing damage. You can read about it here!

Here's why I think this is cool:

• Typically, traditional techniques kill cells during sample preparation; this method keeps cells alive, enabling real-time observation.

• Specialized lasers and flexible fiber optics penetrate over 700 micrometers into tissue—more than three times deeper than previous methods.

• By precisely controlling light to minimize scattering, researchers can capture detailed images of cells in action.

• The technology offers new insights into disease progression, drug effects, and immune responses.

The new imaging technique enables laser light to penetrate deeper into living tissue, capturing sharper images of cells at different layers of a living system. The left is the initial image, and the right is the optimized image using the new technique.

The team is now working on algorithms to reconstruct high-resolution 3D structures of biological samples, further enhancing its capabilities. 🤯🤯

How Every Child Can Thrive By Five

I watched a 7-year-old give a TED Talk on neuroscience, specifically on the importance of the first five years of mental health development. The video is only 7 minutes long and is a well-put-together presentation.

In the video, she said there are five things anyone can do to help their children thrive.

1. Connecting with them

2. Talking to them

3. Playing with them (I’m super big on this one)

4. Providing a healthy home

5. Connecting to a community

So, how do we implement these things?

• Early and Often - the earlier and more often we do these things, the better!

• Serve and Return - start a connection with the child and return the favor when they try to connect with us.

She also shows what happens when the connection stops, such as when a parent uses a phone while the child is talking to them.

The child starts to panic.

I did not find this surprising; panic is a universal emotion when we perceive a break in social connection.

The Dangers of Acetaminophen for Ages 65+

The Epoch Times put out an article citing a study of people aged 65 and older stating that regular usage of acetaminophen (a.k.a. Tylenol) was linked to:

• heart failure

• kidney problems

• ulcers

• and other issues

This was alarming to me because my parents take acetaminophen like candy. This is something I’m definitely sharing with them.

What I See In Markets

Fed Cuts 25 Basis Points: Early Signs of Stagflation in 2025

The Fed Cut Rates by 25bps (.25%), which was expected. However, in their SEP (Summary of Economic Projections), they announced that they plan to slow the rate cuts over the next year; they are planning to do 2 rate cuts instead of 4. Although, I think much of this isn't very meaningful because the Fed will have to adjust to a new administration in a month.

Long story short: higher rates for longer. You can read about it here!

FedWatch suggests that the Fed will probably pause cutting at its next meeting. I think this is because inflation came in higher than expected last week.

Some people think this is good because borrowing money will be cheaper; others believe it is a sign of stagflation in 2025.

In my opinion, this will not be good. Typically, the Fed cuts rates when there is economic weakness. It seems like the Fed is cutting rates partly because of the rough jobs report in October. While unemployment was steady at 4.1%, August and September job growth was revised down by 112,000.

Despite the vibes of optimism, I think the economy is weakening, and inflation is ticking up. I think there will be a market correction in 2025, meaning a massive buying opportunity. :)

Prepare the dry powder, my fellow market nerds!

Personal Update

Finally, I'm off work for a break, which could not have come sooner. Every teacher I talked to, including me, said they were burned out. I’m looking forward to resting over the next three weeks! However, one coworker told me not to start a new book over break, and now I’m tempted.

Also, my first book, The Learning Compass, is available for free download until March 4th, 2025! The print copy will be out in a few weeks.

The link is to the Kindle version. If you prefer a different platform or want it in a different form, please email me chris@chrismukiibi.com

As a subscriber to my Substack, I want to gift it to you for free!

My ebook is free to download on Kindle for the next 90 days (until March 4th).

You can get it here!

I would greatly appreciate it if you left a review ☺️

If you prefer to get the ebook for a different platform, please email me at chris@chrismukiibi.com, and I will send it to you!

The print copy will be available in about a week. I will send another email when it is finished. When it is ready, my paid subscribers will receive a signed print copy sent to their address.

I’m also planning on turning this into an audiobook, but I will start that process after the holiday season.

Thank you so much for supporting me on my journey of learning and writing!

P.S. If you didn’t see the other email, I’m turning my substack into a newsletter to share what interests me during the week. If that sounds appealing to you, keep an eye out.

Old Idea

This is especially relevant to my fellow burnt-out teachers and me this time of year. I’m currently troubled by things I know I have already dealt with.

When I feel this way, I remind myself to recharge. I need more time to do the things I love.

New Ideas

There was a lot that I found super interesting this week.

Open AI Sora Release

OpenAI's new model, Sora, is changing the game in video creation. With just text, we can generate stunning, high-quality videos up to 60 seconds long. This is super exciting because anyone can make professional-grade videos, leveling the playing field for small creators.

You can see an example of what Sora is like in action here!

I want to spend some time playing with this.

Google New Quantum Computer Chip: “Willow”

Google has unveiled a new quantum computer chip named "Willow," a significant step forward in quantum computing.

Willow can perform calculations in just five minutes, theoretically taking the world's fastest supercomputers around 10 septillion years to complete. This is a big deal. On top of this massive breakthrough, Willow can reduce errors as the system scales up. Historically, quantum computers struggled to maintain accuracy as they grew in complexity.

This much computing power could revolutionize fields such as drug discovery, battery design, and climate modeling by solving complex problems that classical computers cannot efficiently handle. This could lead to advancements in medicine, technology, and environmental science. Some people say this could be troublesome for cryptocurrencies. The future is looking exciting!

You can read more about it here!

Full Body Reanimation?

I find the idea of a neural shunt fascinating! It sounds like it’s straight out of a science fiction book, but it has real potential. If Neurolink can act as a 'wireless bridge' for neural signals, the implications for mobility restoration in paralysis cases could be revolutionary. I am curious to see how this progresses from concept to clinical application.

I honestly think Neuralink could redefine paralysis and even life itself. Maybe I’m too optimistic.

You can check this out here!

What I See In Markets

November CPI Report & Fed Watch

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for November 2024 shows

• CPI rose 2.7% year-over-year, compared to 2.6% in the previous month.

• Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is steady at 3.3% year-over-year.

• Monthly, both CPI and core CPI increased by 0.3%.

For the uninitiated, the CPI roughly measures inflation. Inflation is relatively stable but still above the Federal Reserve's long-term target of 2%. It is not accelerating but persistent.

I don’t think it’s cause for alarm or that it will stop the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates.

The CME FedWatch Tool indicates a 96.7% probability of a quarter-point (25 basis points) rate cut at the next FOMC meeting. The federal funds rate will go down, but I don’t think that will affect mortgage rates.

My Watchlist Favorites This Week

This week, I’ve been paying extra attention to AMD and HNST. I recommend everyone put these companies on their watchlists. I think there will be great opportunities over the next few years.

Admittedly, I have been steadily buying HNST since it was $3, but not AMD (yet). I want to add more HNST when it hits support or moves under the 200MA. Depending on their earnings reports, I’m considering adding more AMD next quarter.

Personal Updates

My cousin became a Deacon last week, and I went to his ordination. It was amazing to be in a beautiful church and see my cousins. I am so incredibly proud of my cousin. Every person who gets the privilege to hear him speak will be blessed with someone thoughtful, knowledgeable, and kind-hearted. I can’t wait to see him at mass.

My book is almost done. I received the proof copy, and having a physical printed book is amazing. I feel like I have accomplished something good. I cannot believe I wrote this, but at the same time, I know I have put in countless hours to make it the best I could. I need to fix a few printing mistakes, and it will be done and out in the wild!

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello close friends,

I consider those who subscribe to this publication to be the people I hold closest to my heart (besides my family, of course). You are the best among my internet friends.

I want to thank all of you deeply for subscribing and supporting my journey as I learn and share what interests me.

My book, The Learning Compass, is coming out this month, and I will send you a free copy of the ebook once it is released!

As a special thank you, paid members will receive a signed physical copy of the book. Printing and shipping may take a little more time. You are all incredible people. I would not have finished the book without you.

I will change how this publication works in light of my first book release. Since there are no more potential chapters of my book, I need to send something different out.

It may take me a bit to get used to these changes, but this publication will become a weekly newsletter covering what I read this week (hence the name change).

Every Sunday, I plan on sharing the following:

1. An old idea - some piece of wisdom that we modern people don’t encounter often

2. A new idea - as humans become more sophisticated and innovative, I come across new ideas that I think are worth sharing.

3. What I notice in markets - I am super passionate about watching markets and businesses, and I will share what I see here (many people have asked me to as well)

4. A personal update - I will share something new happening in my life personally.

I’m not sure if I will keep this format, but I will try to share what I find worthwhile. I may occasionally release a blog post separate from the weekly newsletter.

If this doesn’t interest you, feel free to unsubscribe! No hard feelings.

If you know someone who may be interested in this, feel free to share this publication with them.

I’m looking forward to these new changes!

Best,

Chris Mukiibi