The Real Recap: Youth Sports, False Promises, and Fighting for Development

As promised, here’s the update from our meeting with Lincoln’s new head coach.

Let me just say this—it went exactly how you’d expect on the surface:
Coach-speak. Promises of "fair evaluations." Performance-based opportunities.
You’ve heard it. We’ve all heard it. The usual.

But here’s what you didn’t see coming:
A complete lack of understanding of who Lincoln is as an athlete.

This wasn’t about feedback or skill sets. This was about a system.
A system that, at least in youth boys' soccer, seems less interested in developing athletes and more focused on collecting fees and chasing wins.

Tryouts? A joke.
They watch the top handful and ignore the rest. No process. No transparency. Just status and politics.

And here’s the problem: it’s not even about winning.
It’s about who looks flashy today, not who’s got the potential to be great with the right guidance.

Michelle and I sat Lincoln down and had the conversation every young athlete needs to hear:

Lincoln’s locked in for summer training. And we’re locked in for that two-week August evaluation.
Because merit still matters — and so does calling out systems that don’t serve kids.

What the Hell Is Happening in the World?

This week’s current events hit hard in three different lanes — and if you’re not paying attention, you’re going to feel the impact in your bank account and your business.

1. SBA Loans Just Got Harder to Get

The Small Business Administration made changes to the 7(a) loan program.
Translation: it just became harder and slower for small businesses to access capital — the exact opposite of what the economy needs.
Read more on Investopedia

If you’re a founder, creator, or small business owner: brace yourself. You’re being squeezed from the credit side now, too.

2. Global Systems Are Cracking Quietly

The Guardian ran a piece breaking down the global fragility behind the scenes— supply chains, political systems, financial structures all at the edge of overload.
Chain Reaction: Guardian Weekly

We’re past the "uncertain times" stage. We’re in the stage where resilience is the only real asset.

3. Cleveland Fed Still Says Inflation Isn’t Done

Inflation indicators from the Cleveland Fed show prices aren’t stabilizing as fast as the government claims.
If you’ve noticed groceries still costing more, or rent rising again — it’s not in your head.
It’s in the data.
Visit the Cleveland Fed

This Week’s Releases

🎙️ Let’s Get Real
SBA Just Screwed Small Business—and You’re Next

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

🔥 No BS Wealth
From Beijing Bars to Bestseller: How 14 Days Changed Everything

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

New Section: Invest in What?

This section is going to be a rotating spotlight on what’s really out there in the investment world — beyond stocks and what CNBC feeds you.

Sometimes it’ll be a breakdown of a misunderstood asset class.
Sometimes it'll be how private investors are moving differently from retail.
Sometimes it’ll be education that’s never taught in a traditional finance course.

No fluff. Just the truth behind the curtain.

Stay tuned. The first feature drops next week.

Soul-Check In: What Truly Matters?

You might feel like the world is attacking you from every direction right now.
Honestly? It might be. But you’ve still got a choice.

Ask yourself this:
What truly matters?

Not the title.
Not the paycheck.
Not the performance.

Your kids.
Your spouse.
Your peace.
Your self.

We’ve all done things we regret.
We’ve all fallen short of who we wanted to be.
But that doesn’t mean it’s over. That means it’s time to realign.

This week, pause and ask yourself honestly — What truly matters?
Then do more of that.

Final Thought

Coaches talk a good game. Markets lie through silence.
And the world moves whether you're watching or not.

But in all of it — you still get to choose what you invest your energy into.

That’s the real asset. That’s the real flex.
And that’s what wealth is really about.

Let’s get real.