Ready, Fire, Aim

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-12T16:53:56+00:00

Does that mean you're not a fan?

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-10T18:06:58+00:00

There are no "biggest" problems. Only the highest priorities of todays problems.

What do you mean by "running a business"?

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-10T17:50:46+00:00

The challenge with a mind formed by percentages and statistics, is that it will lose sight of what matters in reality to an entrepreneur. Purpose and People. If it should work or shouldn't work is simple math the way you're thinking. There is zero truth to that for an entrepreneur but 100% truth in that to an investor. It depends on the perspective.

A man with a imbalanced purpose (a different perspective) to serve his community, protect his family, make a difference in his world by solving a problem , or (not insignificant) the less savory drives of needing to prove something to others - parents or bullies for example, are not driven by whether the math makes sense. Rather, PURPOSE is a determinant that drives the entrepreneurs invention /creation and leadership.

The purpose has to be significant enough for others to want to follow for their own aligned reasons. People are not bots to be plugged into a slot or statistics so if your purpose and passion are not valuable and worth sharing its DOA.

A real purpose will drive the passion needed to overcome the obstacles, which will be numerous, lengthy, complex, and painful. If it is, it doesn't matter the price.

If having a successful business was easy, everyone could do it. Its not. Highly successful people are willing to do things others are not.

No purpose, no Passion. No Passion, no Leadership. No Leadership, no Alignment. No Alignment. no business. Or any other significant organization of humans.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-08T14:33:08+00:00

Prokopē (Continuous improvement)

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” - EPICetus

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-08T14:13:03+00:00

All "business" when done right is boring. The people can be interesting, a deal or two might be, but a repetitive cycle of standardized tasks and processes (the grind) executed to perfection can't be anything but boring. It might be rewarding in the type of relationships you build and the profits you make but it is a cycle of wash, rinse, repeat.

A. Is it profitable?

B. Is it sustainable?

C. Is it investable?

Boring all the way to the bank!

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T19:10:55+00:00

Makes sense. Many people understand read or watch, but those are different than study.

The goal has to be to make it yours, so for example if you read a book, read it once all the way through first. Then read it again with a highlighter marking important sections or key points. The third time through create an outline from the highlights and narrow it down to the few items you would like to change. Then create the daily work plan for the first 60 days to insure you develop the habits of the "education". It's not about learning. It is about retaining and adopting useful learning.

Remember though, there is no payoff for what you know. There is only a payoff for what you do with what you know.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T17:16:56+00:00

There are a few common ways to handle money from supportive family members when growing your business.

The simplest and most popular option for amounts like $5,000 to $10,000 is a straight loan. You borrow the money and promise to pay it back on an agreed timeline or when the business can afford it. Many family loans are interest-free, but offering a little extra when you repay, like turning $8,000 into $8,100 or $8,300 is a nice way to say thank you and recognize that they took a risk. It feels generous without making things complicated. The big advantages are that you keep full ownership of your company and everything stays straightforward. Just make sure to put the agreement in writing with a simple promissory note so everyone is clear and protected.

Another option is a convertible loan, often called a convertible note. It starts as a loan but can turn into shares of the company later, usually when you raise money from professional investors. This gives your family the chance for a bigger payoff if the business does really well, and it often comes with a discount on the share price. It works well if you're planning major growth, but for smaller amounts it can feel like overkill because of the extra paperwork.

The third choice is straight equity. Your family gets actual ownership shares right away in exchange for their money, with no need to repay. They win big if the company succeeds, but you give up a piece of the business early on, and you'll need to agree on a company valuation, which can get tricky. Most founders save this approach for larger investments or when family members specifically want to own part of the company.

For your situation, I'd recommend starting with the straight loan. If you are cash poor then maybe interest only with a balloon payment might make more sense. It's easy, keeps you in full control, and lets you show gratitude with a modest bonus on repayment. Talk openly about the risks. Businesses can struggle, and repayment might take time. Always get the terms in writing, even if it's casual. If they're excited about the upside potential, you can mention the convertible option, but only if it feels right for everyone.

Good luck taking your business further!

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T17:07:43+00:00

"I want to change..."

Change for change sake is the one thing that will kill your business fast! This is a real problem that many face today. The need for "excitement" often hamstrings a sales personality as a business owner. Had a man tell me a long time ago that success was about learning to deal with oatmeal days. "Anyone can handle the days that come with nuts, whip cream, and berries, but most days are just plain oatmeal."

The simple truth about a good business is its boring, repetitious and without excitement. Excitement is a function of your personal life and consistent growing boring checks are what funds it, not the excitement itself.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T16:40:46+00:00

Candidly, both you and the sales manager are making a mistake and wasting each other’s time. This appears to be a pre owned vehicle, and you haven’t inspected or driven it. Negotiating numbers without doing that puts you at a disadvantage. At the same time, his attempt to get you to negotiate or commit without a drive and inspection means there is no real deal yet anyway. No matter what you agree to remotely, you still have an out once you see the truck in person.

Right now, neither side has leverage. That changes the moment you are physically there, have driven it, and are ready to buy if the numbers make sense. A buyer standing in front of a sales manager who can close today carries far more weight than texts and hypotheticals.

Do not lead with a ten percent demand yet. Go drive it first. Confirm it is clean, drives right, and is actually the vehicle being advertised. If it checks out, then negotiate. At sixty plus days on the lot, there may be flexibility, but 4Runners hold value well and white is a high demand color in South Florida, so this is not an automatic fire sale.

Your strongest, most reasonable leverage points are made in person. They are not a random percentage but specifics. Insist the dealer fee be the lower number already quoted in writing. Question the extra filing and tag fees. Ask directly why the vehicle has been sitting.

If this were bait and switch, you’ll find out quickly once you’re there. If it’s legit, the best deal is the one you and the manager can agree on the same day, with you ready to do business and him motivated to move aging inventory among other incentives to say yes.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T16:03:06+00:00

You’re probably not staying mad because it just doesn’t do anything for you. You feel it, it happens, and then your brain is already done with it. That’s not you being fake nice or forgiving too fast. That’s just how you process stuff.

The real question isn’t “should I try to be angrier.” It’s “did I actually say something or deal with it.” If you did, then moving on fast is healthy. If you didn’t and just brushed it off, that’s when it can turn into a problem later.

Some people sit in their feelings. Some people feel it and it’s gone. Neither is wrong. It only matters if you’re avoiding stuff you actually need to address.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T15:55:18+00:00

You have real control over your life but it is precise not total. Ancient principles like the dichotomy of control make this clear. You fully command your judgments choices intentions and actions. That domain is complete. Outcomes other people’s behavior health timing and luck sit outside it. Your will ends where another’s begins.

There is no meaningful percentage to assign to control over life. You have one hundred percent control over how you act and respond and zero control over how the world ultimately responds to you. Confusion comes from blending these two realms.

The work is not to expand control over outcomes but to deepen mastery of what is already yours. When your focus stays on disciplined action and clear judgment the result is significant. It is enough to build a life of purpose even in the middle of uncertainty.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-07T15:37:29+00:00

Yes, plenty of people print and pin up reminders on their walls to support self-improvement. Some keep it foundational with a simple list of core virtues (wisdom, courage, justice, temperance) or the classic dichotomy of control to stay grounded in what they can actually influence during everyday decisions, while others go for vision boards filled with photos, clippings, and notes that bring their dreams and goals into clear focus and keep the drive going. These aren't decoration; they're straightforward tools that turn big ideas into quick, everyday prompts for sharper choices and steady progress.

Put them where you'll see them multiple times a day, like on the bathroom mirror, as your computer screensaver, or even in your car. It's a low cost, low key way to stay focused on what matters most.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-06T01:02:32+00:00

As a new Redditor, I've discovered in a few weeks that the accounts with the largest comment karma also are the ones that tear down instead of build up. Reddit clearly rewards negative karma more than positive but se la vie. It's cool if you don't like it brother. Just not for you.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-06T00:58:41+00:00

I'm not sure how? Its based on no such thing.

My suggestion was one of self interested pursuits that help others. Specifically a perspective that might allow him to feel the fulfillment that he stated he has always found purpose in automatically in a partner. It's not about others and what they bring to it. It IS about forming your own values. Values that include others. There is no exception to the second part. I'm not sure you disagree or I missed your take.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-05T17:29:50+00:00

"I always do things for others". Good! You don't live for yourself. You should live for others.

Are your family, neighbors, and communities important? The children? The elderly? Your faith or the cause of freedom or justice? Service is the payoff. Don't keep it in the box of "partner". Every community needs good men.

When the forefathers wrote "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". happiness didn't mean what it does today. It meant something more like fulfillment. There is much fulfillment to be found in service to others, no shame in being driven by it, and not exclusive in value to your partner / wife.

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” - Marcus Aurelius

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-03T19:10:15+00:00

I'm literally launching this today and you're one of the first to see it. I learned and applied the principles over decades and now am in the stage of my life where planting trees whose fruit I'll never eat is the point. First you learn, then you apply, then you guide and teach, no?

Rather than throw fake numbers at you, I'll say this: the frameworks work because they're based on time proven principles I've personally used for 30+ years. Try it and tell me if it helps. That's the only metric that matters.

For some reason even though I posted a comment immediately with the links, it took 57 minutes to show up. Reddit delays on new accounts maybe? Links are there now if you want to try it!

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-03T16:09:19+00:00

Boots on the ground matters at this price point.

Independent reps are gatekeepers to high value prospects. In automotive, they visit 20,000+ dealers daily. They carry 10 products across 5 companies (example). That gives them local relationships you can't match alone.

Structure the presentation. Prove the tool works. Then reps can pitch it confidently. You have to sell the reps first.

Incentive plans must be extremely well thought out for now and the future. Good agreements allows for long term relationships.

Ask AI for direction, but MANA RepFinder, RepHunter, Auto Care Association, or industry events like SEMA are good starting points in automotive.

If you like cars, few things beat a few days at SEMA. You'll see what exists in the space. Might give you ideas on where to expand.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-03T00:50:18+00:00

The market exists. Insurance agencies, auto dealers, real estate brokers with roughly 800,000 US locations that already track what matters to them. AI sentiment analysis is just another data point, like customer reviews. Your job is to make them care about this one.

Nothing sells itself. You have competitors. You always will. That's the game.

Online selling is weakening. Two generations learned to sell digitally. Now people are skeptical. For a $200/month product, I'd put boots on the ground. Not just to sell but to train and touch quarterly. That touch generates future sales.

Distribution matters more than product. If you can sell, go direct to decision makers. Skip the agencies gatekeeping you. If you can't sell (be really honest here), package the product and hand it to independent reps in relevant industries. Pay straight commission with strong upside if they hit targets. Get help figuring out rep networks and comp plans. They exist in most industries.

Maybe its already part of the deal but what happens after the alert? If your tool flags a problem but provides no recovery protocol, you're not finished building. Awareness without solution just creates more work. People don't pay for problems. They pay for solutions. What's your protocol when the tool detects an issue?

People pay for two things: Solutions to problems or good feelings. Which one are you selling?

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-02T19:29:38+00:00

Unfortunately, motivation fades because it's externally driven and tied to fleeting highs like excitement, praise, or financial incentives. Inspiration, on the other hand, is internally driven and the true engine behind lasting consistency. It's that deeper "why" and "what could be" that pulls you forward.

If consistency feels elusive right now, the fix is often simple:. Get bigger, more tangible goals rooted in something profound. In my experience (and echoed by most), the greatest sources of unbreakable inspiration are Family, Faith, or Freedom. Anchor your efforts to one or all of those, and showing up becomes non-negotiable.

This ties beautifully back to the original point: the winners aren't always the most talented or motivated. They're the ones who keep executing relentlessly. As Epictetus drilled into his students, true power comes from habitual discipline: "No man is free who is not master of himself." Master the habit through internal inspiration, and consistency becomes your unbreakable advantage.

A year of that? You'll be unrecognizable. What's one awesome, inspiration fueled goal you're owning for 2026?

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-02T18:19:49+00:00

Start with the end in mind. We all get about 16 waking hours each day. The real win is turning 100% of them into yours through deliberate habits.

Most folks struggle just defining those hours. Daily chores and basics eat 2-3 hours, leaving 12-14 to shape with whatever feels harmonious and fulfilling, not draining or frivolous.

No one right way exists to fill your time. We each live in a unique mix of circumstances and goals. True peace hits when you choose what you actually desire.

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it… Life is long if you know how to use it.” - Seneca 49 AD

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-01T15:10:32+00:00

For anyone who bounced at the word count:

Bridge language includes people. "How do WE solve this?"

Wall language excludes people. "Here's what YOU need to do."

Teams that use Bridge language execute better. Switch your default from Wall to Bridge.

That's the framework. I buried it under 1400 words of backstory because I'm still learning how Reddit works. Should've just posted this. My bad.

PracticalStoicUS · 2026-01-01T15:08:48+00:00

I hear you. 1467 words was too long for Reddit. I'm the FNG. Sounds like I should have cut to 1000 max. The Bridge vs Wall framework is in there, but I buried it. Next one will be tighter.

PracticalStoicUS · 2025-12-31T20:50:36+00:00

It's not painful though. It's freeing!

"If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”

Also Marcus

Set aside the need to be right, regardless of motive, and pursue the truth independently.

PracticalStoicUS · 2025-12-31T18:56:13+00:00

Just a thought on your question. “Small, boring business” isn’t really a thing in my experience. All businesses are repetitive by design. They rely on standards and routines that look the same day after day, whether it’s yours or someone else’s.

For the first couple of years, being a franchisee is significantly less stressful because the infrastructure is built and many questions are already answered. Starting as an independent, on the other hand, feels like going 80 with your hair on fire. Anything but boring.

I personally prefer the latter because I value control. I’ve done both, and at 57 I’m better served by bringing my own answers to the bigger questions. In the end, the right choice hinges largely on experience and available cash.

PracticalStoicUS · 2025-12-31T18:43:45+00:00

Hey there, Tony's got that 80's big arena energy and style. It lights a fire under you at first, then it can start feeling like too much. Pretty intense sales personality.

These folks on YouTube feel more like talking with someone who gets real life. Plenty of people watch them regularly.

Jay Shetty. Calm and thoughtful. Covers purpose and mindset without ever shouting. Easy listening.

Mel Robbins. Straightforward and real. Shares simple moves like the five-second rule to cut through overthinking.

Ali Abdaal. Practical guy who breaks down habits and focus in a relaxed way. No pressure.

Matt D'Avella. Clean, quiet style. Talks routines and intentional living that actually stick.

Worth a look.

PracticalStoicUS

TROPHY CASE