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Life Advice I’ve Been Reflecting on Recently

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These are timeless reminders—simple ideas that are easy to overlook but always worth coming back to. Impressing The only people truly worth trying to impress are your partner, your mentors, and your team. Everyone else’s opinions often carry far less weight than we assume. Direct your time and energy toward the people who genuinely influence your life and growth. Let Go of “Unfair” Take “it’s not fair” out of your mindset. Instead, ask yourself why something happened and what you can do differently next time. This shift turns you from a passive victim into an active problem-solver. It’s a mindset rooted in ownership and humility —both powerful traits over time. Keep Learning One of the most valuable habits you can build is staying curious and committed to growth. Whether it’s in your relationships or navigating the evolving role of AI in your career, continuous learning separates those who plateau from those who progress. Final Thoughts In short: focus on impressing the right people, t...
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I Gave My Wife Every Out Before My Deployment

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This blog post is about my wife, Codie Sanchez. Before my last deployment, I told her something that might surprise you: “I know we’ve been dating and having a great time, but I don’t want you to worry about me. If you want to live your own life while I’m gone, I understand. We’ll reconnect when I return.” This ties into ideas I shared in Contrarian Thinking Capital . She looked at me like I’d lost my mind and said: “What the hell is wrong with you? We’re in this together.” And she stood by me through my fifth deployment. We spoke whenever we could. We exchanged letters, packages, and notes. Even from a distance, we stayed deeply connected—and in many ways, we rediscovered each other. It was something special, and she deserves so much credit for that. Late nights, early mornings—she never failed to reach out. It meant everything to me. I could stay focused because I knew I had someone waiting at home—someone I wanted to build a future with. We often talk about risk, but the gre...
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Why I’m Betting on Boring Businesses

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As General Partner at Contrarian Thinking Capital , I spend my time searching for opportunities where others aren’t looking. While much of venture capital chases the next big thing in AI or space tech, we’ve found the real breakthroughs are happening in places most people overlook: so-called “boring” businesses. On a recent episode of Lumos House Talks , I sat down with the founders of Blindspot , one of our portfolio companies, to talk about why these businesses are the future. Table of Contents Watch The Talk The Real Economy Generational Shift The New Moat Conclusion Watch The Talk Catch the full story and our deep-dive conversation with the Blindspot team in the full episode below—or watch it on YouTube . The Real Economy Here’s the truth: small businesses drive the U.S. economy , contributing 45% of GDP. These aren’t just startups in Silicon Valley—they’re HVAC companies, local agencies, and the service providers on Main Street. For decades, these busines...
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